

James Stewart sided with Hitchcock, associate producer Herbert Coleman disagreed, but it was only when Paramount boss Barney Balaban told the director to “Put the picture back the way it was” that the scene was restored. However, after the first test screening, the director got nervous that he was giving the game away too early, and decided to excise the scene. Hitchcock had decided when the script was being written that it should be revealed two-thirds of the way through the film, through the scene where Judy writes a confession to Scottie, only to rip it up, in order to give the audience better insight into her state of mind. Perhaps most importantly was the revelation of Judy’s role in Madeleine’s death.

Both the crucial reveal and the ending were nearly changed in post-production.ĭespite having a novel to work from, several crucial aspects of the story remained in flux until very close to release. I couldn’t get the rhythm going with her again.” Despite that, the director did show a little loyalty, casting Miles in her best-remembered role, Lila Crane in “ Psycho” in 1960.ģ. He later told Francois Truffaut in “ Hitchcock/Truffaut” that “She became pregnant just before the part that was going to turn her into a star. In fact, by the time Novak had finished other commitments, Miles was available again, but Hitchcock, perhaps a little prideful, stuck with his new ingenue. The lead in “Vertigo” was intended to fall to Miles, but she became pregnant not long before filming was due to begin, and Hitchcock elected to go with Novak instead.
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After trying her out in “Revenge,” the pilot for his new TV series “ Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” Hitchcock was duly impressed, and cast her opposite Henry Fonda in 1956’s “ The Wrong Man,” which won her acclaim. After his favorite lead actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956 and retired from acting, Hitchcock had picked up on “ The Searchers” star Vera Miles, and signed the 25-year-old actress to a five-year contract. Hitchcock’s propensity for favoring certain actresses is well documented, and it’s no surprise that Kim Novak wasn’t his first choice to play Judy/Madeleine. Kim Novak’s part was originally intended for future “Psycho” star Vera Miles Taylor (“ Sabrina,” “ Avanti!“) was brought in, but despite having started from scratch, the latter was forced to share credit with Coppel after the earlier writer took it to WGA arbitration.Ģ. His take didn’t wash for Hitch either, and Samuel A. He turned in a script called “ Darkling, I Listen” but Hitchcock hated it, and replaced the writer with Alec Coppel (“ The Captain’s Paradise,” “ Mr. It passed muster, and the studio soon snapped up the rights, with playwright Maxwell Anderson (“ Key Largo,” “ Anne Of The Thousand Days,” “ The Bad Seed“) hired to write the adaptation. As a result, Hitchcock kept a close eye on any new material from the writers, and when follow-up “ D’entres les morts” was published, he got Paramount to commission a synopsis before the book had even been officially translated into English. He had tried to buy the rights to “ Celle qui n’etait plus,” the source material novel by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac, but Clouzot got in there first. The film is based on a novel by “Les Diaboliques” authors Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejacĭid you ever watch Henri-Georges Clouzot‘s classic thriller “ Les Diaboliques” and wonder what Alfred Hitchcock‘s take on the material would have been? Well, so did Hitchcock.

The film, which examines an ex-cop with a fear of heights ( James Stewart) who becomes embroiled in the mysterious case of a woman ( Kim Novak) who may be possessed and kills herself, only for him to fall for a woman who looks nearly identical to his target, was released on this day, May 9th 1958, and to celebrate the occasion, we’ve rounded up five facts you might not know about what is arguably Hitchcock’s greatest achievement. 'Obi-Wan Kenobi': Everything You Need to Know About the Disney+ Series
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