One of Stewart's Best, One of Hitchcock's Best

Rating: Null/10 (20 August 2011)

It's a high insult that Jimmy Stewart did not win an Oscar for this role. He gives by far one of, if not his best performance yet. His role is cynical, and a true anti-hero in almost all senses of the word.
Stewart's role suffers from acrophobia. When he is asked to follow a man's wife of whom the husband believes is having suicidal tendencies- he becomes obsessed with her to the brink of madness. The whole story, like many films from Hitchcock, is to show the psychological point of view, rather than from actions alone.
Kim Novak is somewhat angelic in here. She gives a great performance as well, as a mysterious woman with many issues of her own. You will see how all the characters tend to be disturbed.
The scenes where Stewart's role experiences vertigo have mesmerizing special effects and camera tricks thought only by the master. The story develops slightly faster than most of Alfred Hitchcock's films, therefore it is very easy to spoil the outcome. Knowing the obsession, every time Novak and Stewart kiss, it is more disturbing than romantic.
Sometimes the academy should think twice before selecting nominees. This film deserves much more than credited.