Vertigo : The McKittrick Hotel

Viewers and critics concerned with narrative logic of VERTIGO focus on the McKittrick Hotel scene, where Madelyn apparently enters the hotel without being seen by the desk clerk and then vanishes without being seen by the clerk or Scottie.
Was the hotel clerk part of Elster's plot? Did Madelyn sneak out by a back stairway? More likely, this scene introduces an irreducible "uncanny" element to Madelyn. From another perspective, the hotel scene is an example of Hitchcock's "icebox factor": an anomaly that, assuming the director has done his job well, won't be noticed by the audience until the movie is over and they're discussing it in the kitchen.

Former Henry J. Fortmann Mansion location, as seen in 2002. Corner of Eddy and Gough Streets.

Deception in shards

Alfred Hitchcock was born at 517 High Road, Leytonstone, in the east of London on 13th August 1899. To mark 100 years since this event, and to commemorate the director's link with the area, 17 mosaics have been installed in the entrance corridors of Leytonstone tube station. They were made in vitreous glass tesserae, using the reverse method, by Greenwich Mural Workshop. The work required some 80,000 tiles, took seven months to complete, and the final installation took place during April 2001. Amongst the scenes from films, there are also images of Leytonstone, portraits of Hitchcock and even trademark cameo roles. Leytonstone is on the Central underground line, five stops east of Liverpool Street.

The Vertigo mosaic features Gavin Elster clutching the quite dead Madaline Elster as Judy Barton stands witnesses to her own foreshadowed death.
Judy suffers so much here. This is the moment she must kill her love for Scotty. Judy also kills her "impression" of Madaline. A persona that she does not want to kill. Judy's Madaline is the person Scotty loves. But its going to be ok right? After all the reason Gavin killed the old shrew was to keep the young beautiful Judy by his side right? Wrong. Gavin ditches her. She is forced to resurrect the old thick browed Judy Barton and forever live the rest of her short life as the single shop girl. Judy just wants to be loved and sacifices herself in the process.
Judy is not the villain in this story she is just another victim.
A victim of lying cheating drinking men.

Gavin is the villain.

Vertigo -at the mission

Scottie: We're going up and look at the scene of the crime. Come on, Judy!

(They move on through the trap door to the top of the tower)

Scottie: And this is where it happened. The two of you hid back there and waited for it to clear, and then you sneaked out and rode back to town. Is that it? And Madeleine, you were his girl, eh? What happened, Judy? What happened? Did he ditch you? Oh Judy, with all of his wife's money and all that freedom and that power, and he ditched you. What a shame! When he knew it was safe, he knew you couldn't talk, did he give you anything?

Judy: Just some money.

Scottie: ... and the necklace. Carlotta's necklace. There was where you made your mistake, Judy. You shouldn't keep souvenirs of a killing. You shouldn't have been - you shouldn't have been that sentimental. - I loved you so, Madeleine.


The 50th Anniversary of the filming of VERTIGO at OLD MISSION SAN JUAN BAUTISTA will be celebrated with fundraising events the weekend of October 5, 2007 through October 7, 2007.



"It's all there. It's no dream...100 miles south of San Francisco, there's an old mission, San Juan Bautista it's called, and it's been preserved exactly as it was 100 years ago as a museum."

"Scottie" John Ferguson
(Jimmy Stewart's character in Vertigo)


10/05/07, Friday
7:30 pm Showing/Discussion of movie Vertigo - 7:30 pm

10/06/07, Saturday
9:30 am Mass in memory of Mr. Hitchcock and his wife Alma -

10/06/07, Saturday Symposium in the Mission with various guest speakers - in the afternoon

10/06/07, Saturday
6:30 pm Dinner / Silent Auction / Gala Fundraiser at Casa Maria. $125 per person - 6:30 pm
Pat Hitchcock O'Connell and her daughter and family will be attending the gala dinner and they are currently trying to get other movie people related to Hitchcock movies to attend. (7/01/07)

10/07/07, Sunday Vertigo Bus Tour to start at Mission San Juan Bautista with highlights of the movie locations.


For more info click on the title of this post.

From Among the Dead

Personality Hotels has expanded and purchased the York Hotel. In 1958 The York Hotel, then named The Empire Hotel, was featured in the film Vertigo.
Company President Yvonne Lembi-Detert said Personality plans to relaunch the 96-room York as the Vertigo, a nod to the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name.
Personally I think it is a horrible idea. Rename it "The Empire" and return the neon sign.
Don't name it Vertigo. Naming places after adverse medical conditions is never a good idea.

Vertigo - From Among the Dead.

Vertigo was screened at the Hollywood cemetery this evening. It was an interesting screening. The print was not any print I have seen in the past. It appeared to be restored however the audio was the unrestored correct audio. This was not the Harris/Katz version. That "restored" version is the one that Universal has released. I have no idea what I just saw but I can tell you...
I liked it!

Yes, Dave at Daveland I took the above photo thinking of you.
I have to say that seeing this film in a cemetery is pretty great. This was a pretty big turnout and a nice respectful crowd.

The problem with the official "restored" cut is the foley. The foley has been replaced. This changes the feel of the film. You can clearly hear the replaced foley during the opening rooftop scene. The gunshots are from current semi automatic guns and not revolvers. The Spanish tile roof they jump onto takes on a shake tile sound in the restored cut. This screening offered up the original audio. It was a wonderful surprise. The film started with the Paramount logo and not the Universal logo, an indication this was a special screening even jaded film buffs could enjoy. This was the perfect place to see this film. The graveyard next door to the studio that made the film. I guess the only other place that could top this location would be a screening at Fort Point .
Thanks Luke, Michael and Ricky for a wonderful evening.

Faith No More (remember them?)

Its from 1997 but hell... Nobody has done a better vertigo themed video since.