Speed Cinema Presents: Vertigo
Thursday, October 26, 7:00 pm
Speed Art Museum Cinema
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
“One of the landmarks—not merely of the movies, but of 20th-century art.” —Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Hypnotic and intense, no film has ever elicited so many theories of interpretation than Alfred Hitchcock’s dizzyingly compelling Vertigo. One of Hitchcock’s finest films delves into a web of obsession and deceit.
Scottie (James Stewart) is a detective who develops a fear of heights after viewing the death of a colleague. During his recovery, he’s taken on the case of Madeline (Kim Novak), a woman who may be possessed by the spirit of a suicidal 18th-century aristocrat. This launches a trajectory of myopic compulsion as he tracks her, leading to tragedy and twists that completely upend our preconceptions about the characters.
With a hypnotic score by Bernard Hermann that is woefully underappreciated, the film was nominated for two Oscars: Best Art Direction and Best Sound. 1958, U.S., DCP, 128 minutes. Rated PG.
Don’t forget to bring your Speed Art Museum membership card to verify your membership.