Hitchcock’s haunting tale of deception, madness, and death. John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart) is a retired detective, his career ended by the onset of a paralyzing fear of heights. An old friend hires Ferguson to follow his wife (Kim Novak). The assignment, however, draws Ferguson out of his comfortable role as observer and into a complex web of intrigue, mingled with the detective’s own fantasies and fears. Another star of the film is its San Francisco setting. Vertigo is considered one of Hitchcock’s most complex, finest films.