Designing the Movies: Vertigo
Master filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock’s dreamlike psychological thriller may have been knocked from its #1 spot on the latest Sight and Sound list but the lasting influence of its themes and expressive visual style—on movies from Mulholland Drive to Park Chan-wook’s critically-acclaimed Decision to Leave—is undeniable.
As the woman who obsesses Jimmy Stewart’s San Francisco police detective, Kim Novak is the ultimate icy Hitchcock blonde. With Novak playing dual characters Madeleine and Judy, the exploration of identity and appearance hinges on self-presentation through costume: Eight-time Academy Award-winning costume designer Edith Head collaborated with Hitch on several of his films but her work on Vertigo blends psychology and fashion to create what are, arguably, some of the most important costumes in movie history. The 4K restoration of the 1958 film is presented with an introduction by series host Nathalie Atkinson. $16/$14