tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post1216522412940979715..comments2024-02-05T21:23:49.249-08:00Comments on Lady Eve's Reel Life: Hitchcock Biographer Patrick McGilligan Discusses VERTIGO with John GrecoThe Lady Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-33991444574787571552012-01-26T06:04:35.277-08:002012-01-26T06:04:35.277-08:00Thank you very much for sharing a very interesting...Thank you very much for sharing a very interesting interview with us Vertigo fans. I never really thought of it before, but Scotty does become less like able as the film progresses. Especially in the scene where they say:<br /> <br />Judy: Couldn't you like me, just me the way I am? When we first started out, it was so good; w-we had fun. And... and then you started in on the clothes. Well, I'll wear the darn clothes if you want me to, if, if you'll just, just like me. <br />Scottie: The color of your hair... <br />Judy: Oh, no! <br />Scottie: Judy, please, it can't matter to you.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-32450166987924866832012-01-21T19:22:13.555-08:002012-01-21T19:22:13.555-08:00Thanks CFB, appreciate it and glad you enjoyed it....Thanks CFB, appreciate it and glad you enjoyed it.John Greconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-83807150950718800812012-01-21T12:31:59.528-08:002012-01-21T12:31:59.528-08:00Hi John, I really enjoyed this interview, as this ...Hi John, I really enjoyed this interview, as this is the biography I like most of Hitchcock. Reading Mr. McGilligan's views on this film was fascinating. I liked how he discussed Vera Miles and how Hitchcock would have tailored the role for her. Thank you for an excellent job.Classicfilmboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278928051994100842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-34279789593861804262012-01-20T19:22:12.801-08:002012-01-20T19:22:12.801-08:00I want to thank everyone for the kind words and gl...I want to thank everyone for the kind words and glad you all enjoyed the interview.It has been an honor to have been included in such fine company.John Greconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-41544600253059446202012-01-20T13:24:58.277-08:002012-01-20T13:24:58.277-08:00John, thank you for providing an in-depth look at ...John, thank you for providing an in-depth look at “Vertigo” the film and Alfred Hitchcock the director. Your questions and Patrick McGilligan’s responses add yet another dimension to “A Month Of Vertigo,” which is developing into a profound reflection on a career defining film. You have explored elements such as Hitchcock’s Victorian and Catholic background, and the film in light of a “resurrection parable.” In my research on Bernard Herrmann, I read of the importance of the music for J.M. Barrie’s “Mary Rose” in Hitchcock’s early life. He had attempted to locate the music for use on both “Rebecca” and “Vertigo,” and I wonder if the idea was a lifelong fascination for Hitchcock since the play essentially tells of the return of a lost love. I feel that Kim Novak’s performances in other films suffer when compared to “Vertigo” and her dual roles. Her lack of a distinct personality suits the story’s somewhat circular logic, and her character is a means to markedly different ends for both Elster and Scottie. She never reveals her motivation, but she gives brief glimpses of her humanity in her appeal to the audience and her appeal to Scottie. I think enigma is not quite the word to describe her, an enigmatic person is perhaps so by choice; Kim Novak’s Madeleine/Judy is unknowable by design. I think it is also a tribute to Hitchcock and his instincts as a director that the passage of five decades has not diminished the character’s fascinating quality.whistlingypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126688373252306609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-23316338558847865342012-01-19T23:59:31.931-08:002012-01-19T23:59:31.931-08:00This is an amazing interview. McGilligan definitel...This is an amazing interview. McGilligan definitely has an innate sense of film history. It is amazing you were able to interview him.hepclassichttp://fan.tcm.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=7681590&as=66470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-60521921607613829442012-01-19T21:15:39.609-08:002012-01-19T21:15:39.609-08:00John - This may be a compact interview, but there ...John - This may be a compact interview, but there is an incredible amount of information and sharp insight packed into your Q-&-A with Patrick McGilligan. His, by the way, is the Hitchcock bio I prefer and I reference it often.<br /><br />"Vertigo," I believe, is at least appreciated by most film lovers and I don't think it's inaccurate at all to say (to quote David Thomson yet again), "It's a test case: If you are moved by this film, you are a creature of cinema..."<br /><br />I'd like to thank you, John, for crafting another very fine interview and to thank Pat McGilligan for sharing his special understanding and observations on Hitchcock and "Vertigo" with us. Thank you both for contributing to "A Month of VERTIGO."The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-68588476919539803752012-01-19T20:54:15.974-08:002012-01-19T20:54:15.974-08:00Fascinating conversations. Mr. McGilligan seems li...Fascinating conversations. Mr. McGilligan seems like a great guy to talk Hitchcock with! And of course, John, excellent questions and insights! Both of you are equally knowledgeable about Vertigo and both get down to the pressing questions everyone wants to know! I think Patrick's opening line "I admire Vertigo more than I adore it..." is quite telling. I too have an immense love for Vertigo, but I don't find myself rewatching it half as much as North By Northwest (my fool-proof choice when I invite friends over) or any other Hitchcock film. Yet, Vertigo is so vastly different than anything he ever made, its enigmatic and eerily graceful. I admire it with such intensity. Mostly, it is curiosity of how such a film as this was ever made in the first place. It is quite overwhelming. I must have seen Vertigo at least a dozen times by now, and every time I am still overcome by its magic. Your conversation with Patrick was very interesting. I certainly enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.<br /><br />- Brandon Kyle The Cinephile, @bkthecinephileBeatlebrandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16003409576171128178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-21525058238293737902012-01-19T17:56:42.226-08:002012-01-19T17:56:42.226-08:00A very interesting interview - I would have enjoye...A very interesting interview - I would have enjoyed it at twice the length. <br /> <br />"Vertigo" is the most overtly poetic and surreal of Hitchcock's films - it's less concrete, in it's plot and tone, and I think because of that there is much less of a mass audience appeal than a number of his other films. The connection between the sublime and the ridiculous is a close one - perhaps this is one reason why some undergraduates snicker. Not to come off unpatriotic, but this paradox might also be an aspect that the french are more likely to embrace (in the past and in the present) but that american audiences are often prone to reject. It's easier for a film like "Vertigo" to offend one's sense of reason - for some that's a negative, for others that's a definite plus. Fortunately, over time, "Vertigo" has been able to reveal it's powerful message to an ever widening audience.Motorcycle Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-52427416045654023812012-01-19T15:12:13.738-08:002012-01-19T15:12:13.738-08:00Thanks to everyone for the responses. If anyone ha...Thanks to everyone for the responses. If anyone has not read McGilligan's book, I must say please do, it is one of the few essentials for anyone interested in Hitchcock.<br /><br />Allan - I'm sure Hitchcock's inner demons were at work here and in his other films. I think many, if not all artist express their inner self in their art.<br /><br />Kay -You're right, Novak's career was "plagued" by directors who used her, or maybe just did not know how to use her correctly as Hitchcock did here. I know she hated being thought of and sed as a mere sex symbol.<br /><br />Kim - Glad you enjoyed the interview. James Stewart is an actor I have come to admire more and more with every film I watch him in. As Patrick says in the interview, "Stewart was a brave actor, willing to try anything and risk falling flat." I personally like that in an actor.<br /><br />R.D. - Thanks very much for the kind words. I have enjoyed doing these interviews and hopefully there will be more in the future. I think many of Hitchcock's films have a layer of eroticism to them going way back to THE 39 STEPS. Hitchcock always seemed to be pushing the censors buttons which is part of the fun in his films.<br /><br />Yvette - It does seem that people either love VERTIGO, thinking it one of Hitchcock's best or they hate it. There seems to be no in between. I do like your selection of his films that you did like.John Greconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-40255288669769622852012-01-19T13:12:12.780-08:002012-01-19T13:12:12.780-08:00Even though I'm not really a fan of the film, ...Even though I'm not really a fan of the film, Eve, I did enjoy reading this interview. I love stories about the process of film-making. It's so interesting to me to learn new things about a director I admire. (My favorite of the Hitchcock films are REAR WINDOW, THE 39 STEPS, THE LADY VANISHES, SABOTAGE, REBECCA, SHADOW OF A DOUBT, NOTORIOUS and DIAL M FOR MURDER.)<br /><br />I mentioned a Hitchcock book on my blog today - really in passing - on a post I did about author Paula Marantz Cohen. <br /><br />She writes fiction and is also the author of several non-fiction books. Among them, ALFRED HITCHCOCK: THE LEGACY OF VICTORIANISM.<br /><br />I haven't read it yet, but I'm wondering if you have.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-32676892746833214612012-01-19T11:57:32.275-08:002012-01-19T11:57:32.275-08:00John, I've admired the interviews you've d...John, I've admired the interviews you've done at Twenty Four Frames, and this one continues the tradition of quality of those. As I've told you before, the quality of the questions is as important as that of the responses, and this interview certainly confirms that. Mr. Gilligan, clearly very knowledgeable about Hitchcock, gives some great answers to your well-chosen questions. You covered all the points of interest in this film that are important without becoming too arcane--San Francisco, Novak, Stewart, the reason for the film's lackluster reception at the box office, how it relates to the perennial Hitckcock issues. I was especially intrigued by the part about the eroticization of certain elements. A great interview that adds yet another layer to "A Month of VERTIGO."R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-57440433632388851722012-01-19T11:25:02.612-08:002012-01-19T11:25:02.612-08:00Loved reading this interview. McGilligan gives ve...Loved reading this interview. McGilligan gives very insightful answers. I agree that Stewart lacked the romantic appeal for this role--maybe twenty years earlier he would have fit that mold. Still, I also think it sort of works because he was obviously out of Madeline's league, but somehow, in his mind, she loved him. Then, when he finds Judy (a woman a little more in his league) he wants to change her into his ideal. I'm sure Hitch noticed this as well.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-57734900257282621202012-01-19T09:39:34.756-08:002012-01-19T09:39:34.756-08:00I especially like your references to Kim Novak bei...I especially like your references to Kim Novak being the unwilling Galatea to Hitch's Pygmallion--she really does represent so many actresses who veer between wanting the fame and exposure soooo much, then realizing that in many cases, they are just a paperdoll, a "visual element" to the directors who manipulate their on-screen presence. Kim's career was plagued with such inferences, wasn't it? Consider her performace with Jimmy S. in Bell, Book and Candle for a nice comparison...<br /> Very nice insights, John. Well done!<br />Kay<br /><br />www.moviestarmakeover.comMarlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04442632575933706511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-86451421350610675712012-01-19T08:04:12.933-08:002012-01-19T08:04:12.933-08:00Great interview, John. You tried to bring out opin...Great interview, John. You tried to bring out opinions on many of the themes we have been discussing here, and it is always good to hear another view.<br /><br />I found the simile to the resurrection to be a most interesting thought. It makes perfect sense, if Hitch was a catholic. In the early days of his life, I am sure many religious doctrines were pounded into his mind.<br /><br />I really think that the director may have had inner demons that drove him to include many subliminal things in his films. I am also glad he was so good at it!Allen Hefnerhttp://bitactors.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com