Hitchcock's Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (5 December 2009)

A retired San Francisco police detective becomes obsessed with a woman he has been hired to tail. This is arguably Hitchcock's greatest film, a dark, fascinating mystery about obsession and control. Stewart is excellent as the befuddled detective. Novak was a limited actress but in this film her stiffness and other-worldly beauty are perfectly suited to the role of the elusive woman that Stewart must have. From the great opening scene where Stewart's vertigo is revealed to the plot twist midway to the haunting finale, this is an expertly constructed film. The on-location shooting is a big plus and Herrmann provides another of his memorable scores.