A few months ago it was announced that the classic 1958 Alfred Hitchcock psychological thriller Vertigo was going to get a remake with Robert Downey Jr. producing, and most likely also taking on the lead role that was previously played by James Stewart. The script for the remake will be written by Peaky Blinders Creator Stefano Cavaliere.
The film is a fan favorite of Hitchcock and the story centers on former police detective John “Scottie” Ferguson, who suffers from an intense fear of heights and is hired by an old college friend to follow his wife , Madeleine, who appears to be acting strangely. As Scottie investigates, he becomes increasingly obsessed with Madeleine.
Downey Jr. will likely play the role of Scottie, and when asked in a recent interview with The New York Times Magazine if he thought it was risky to remake such a beloved classic, Downey said:
“Not even risky. Advisably ridiculous to even consider. Great, let’s look into it! First of all, who would our partners be? Love them, respect them. Second, let me re-read the original synopsis. I think he can do better.”
The film’s title comes from the condition that afflicts the main character after he almost falls off a building during a rooftop foot chase in his cop days. Now he is terrified of heights and becomes engrossed with dizziness when he even looks down from a ladder. Downey Jr. compared the sensation to how he felt while rock climbing:
“I’ve rock climbed before and got stuck in that panic freeze, and if it wasn’t for sheer embarrassment, I would have asked to be hoisted off that rock. I lost faith in my positioning, the drop was too far, my body reacted. It wasn’t a fight or flight, it was freezing and about to pass out. I’ll never forget it, and it got me thinking that there are filmmaking devices yet to be fully utilized that I think would provide a experience trying to say, “How does it feel to be psychologically foolish with fear of something that should be manageable?” It might be fun.”
Hitchcock was able to capture that feeling of Vertigo in the film by zooming in on the camera while moving it backwards at the same time, creating a bird’s-eye view. As someone who suffers from the phenomena from time to time, it’s fascinating to see him portrayed on screen. I can’t wait to see how this new movie captures the feeling too.
Can’t wait to see a new retelling of Vertigo?
by Jessica Fisher
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
