Robert Downey Jr. Talks About Wanting to Remake VERTIGO and Compares the Condition to Rock Climbing
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 also most likely taking on the lead role that was previously played by James Stewart. The script for the remake will be written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
The movie is a favorite among Hitchcock fans, 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 seems to be behaving strangely. As Scottie investigates, he becomes increasingly obsessed with Madeleine.
Downey Jr. will likely take on the role of Scottie, and when asked in a recent interview with the New York Times Magazine if he thought it 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 in it? Love them, respect them. Second of all, let me reread the original synopsis. I think we can do better."
The title of the film comes from the condition that afflicts the lead character after he nearly fell off a building during a rooftop foot chase back in his beat-cop days. He is now terrified by heights and becomes engrossed with dizziness when he looks down from even a stepladder. Downey Jr. likened the sensation to the way he felt when rock climbing:
"I have been rock climbing before and gotten stuck in that panic freeze, and if not for the sheer embarrassment, I would have asked to have been hoisted off that rock. I lost my confidence in my positioning, the drop was too far, my body reacted. It wasn't fight-or-flight; it was freeze-and-about-to-faint. I'll never forget it, and it made me think there are cinematic devices that have yet to be fully utilized that I think would provide an experience in trying to say, 'What does it feel like to be psychologically silly with fear over something that should be manageable?’ That might be entertaining."
Hitchcock was able to capture that feeling of Vertigo in the film by zooming the camera in while moving it backward at the same time, creating a plunging visual. As someone who suffers from the phenomena off and on, it is fascinating to see it portrayed onscreen. I am looking forward to seeing how this new movie captures the feeling as well.
Are you looking forward to seeing a new retelling of Vertigo?