Acrophobia is an actual, sweat-provoking, heart-palpitating disease that affects thousands. It often does not seem rational, but it can be very debilitating. My son, Aaron, has this condition. Strangely, riding a roller coaster or traveling by plane is doable for him, but getting him out in the open air and taking him to new heights is another story. I think it might be about how protected he feels and how his body and brain process that downward descent.
I love heights. It makes me feel free and one with the universe. Obviously, Aaron did not inherit this condition from his mother. I remember when he was around ten, I made him ride the parachute jump at Knottsberry Farm. Up, up we would go so slowly, then as soon as we hit the top, it became an incredible race back to the ground again until the parachute expanded. I felt exhilarated. So did his sister, Ilisa, who was eight. Repeatedly, I subjected Aaron to going on that ride. He hated it and protested, but it was one of those mommy moments I just wasn’t listening. I wanted him to experience the wind blowing his hair and tickling his eyelashes. Instead, Aaron just got paler and paler. We finally did stop, but not before riding it at least half a dozen times in a row. It wasn’t my finest parenting moment, but every parent knows what I am talking about and the mistakes we make along the way. Aaron has never grown out of acrophobia or a fear of heights, yet he manages to live a full and exciting lifestyle.
James Stewart, as the police detective character Scottie, had a different diagnosis after witnessing a traumatic death high up on a rooftop beam in San Francisco. He was told he had VERTIGO, and it would hamper him to such a degree he had to retire from the force. He could not handle looking down from imposing heights, which made his job impossible when chasing bad guys. VERTIGO is not caused by trauma. Doctors now know it is an inner ear condition and can make the world spin out of control. But in 1958, science didn’t have enough facts or answers…yet. VERTIGO is not fun and can be very nauseating. Banging into walls in a straight hallway or trying to aim for sitting on the toilet seat can be frustrating and overwhelming. I ought to know. I have been told that as we age, short bouts of VERTIGO are normal. Getting old is not for the weak of the heart or inner ear.
I often think Sir Alfred Hitchcock’s film VERTIGO was misnamed, but titling it with acrophobia wouldn’t be as exciting or cause a box office smash. Actually, it was still not a huge hit since soon after it was released, the film was placed in a vault for thirty years due to a copyright issue. Three other Hitchcock movies suffered the same fate until Hitchcock bought the rights to all four and brought them out of hiding. It had been a bumpy ride in VERTIGO’s beginning, but it was nominated for several Oscars before being tucked away. Over the years, it has risen to astounding critical and public acclaim. Hitchcock used to describe the movie as “an obsessed man who wanted to go to bed with a dead woman.” This is a short and sweet assessment but very accurate.
Hitchcock also believed he miscast both his leads. Stewart was 25 years older than his leading lady, Kim Novak, who played Maddie and Judy. There are moments I would agree, but even so, the entire film had such a bizarre plot line. It was really out in left field, touching upon reincarnation, mental health, and comatose spells. Details mattered to Hitchcock right down to the haunting, dull, gray suit and black heels he forced Novak to wear even though she protested. He told her the visual effect was more important than the actor. They never worked together in another film.
The cinematography of the landscapes and skylines was breathtaking. It added another layer of content to peel away. The background designs for the opening credits were the first to be computer-generated for a feature film. The music was intense. The long, silent, stalking scenes were formidable due to the underlying musical score. We, as viewers, traveled every mile with Scottie as he sought the truth and, once we found it, went over the edge. It was mesmerizing.
VERTIGO is a delicate classic that hints at obsession and control. It taunts greed and murder at every rest stop. It will surprise the modern audience to see how quickly and easily one can be immersed along a devilish car ride. For me, Stewart personified Scottie’s off-kilter path with those larger-than-life bulging baby blues. I was hopelessly spellbound deep within VERTIGO. It will transport viewers to the highest bell tower and then simply let go. Oh, Aaron, don’t watch the descent.
VERTIGO is available on TCM.
