William Friedkin Explains Why ‘Vertigo’ Is “One Of The Greatest Mystery Stories Ever Filmed”

Hey, it’s #ThrowbackThursday and each week we look to the past and highlight something in cinema history that’s fascinating, amusing, perhaps something you never knew or have seen, you name it.

Believe it or not, one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most celebrated films, “Vertigo,” was released exactly 60 years ago, yesterday.

In celebration of this, for this week’s #ThrowbackThursday, we have a clip of filmmaker William Friedkin talking about his love of Alfred Hitchcock, and particularly “Vertigo.” In the clip, Friedkin calls the Hitchcock film “one of the great mystery stories ever filmed.”

READ MORE: Throwback Thursday: William Friedkin Laughs At Nicolas Winding Refn Calling ‘Only God Forgives’ A “Masterpiece”

“The director who most influenced me, and almost everyone else is Alfred Hitchcock because he basically invented suspense for the cinema,” explains the director. He goes on to describe exactly why “Vertigo” is the greatest example of this, in his eyes. By going over the plot in detail (with spoilers, obviously), Friedkin is able to illustrate why the psychological thriller starring James Stewart and Kim Novak stands out for him.

“The Exorcist” filmmaker goes on to briefly detail the history of “Vertigo,” as a film that received mixed reviews upon its initial release. However, over time, the film has grown more and more impactful in the eyes of cinephiles and is now ranked as one of the best films ever made. In 2002, Sight & Sound ranked “Vertigo” just behind “Citizen Kane” as the top two films of all time.

Overall, the clip is a wonderful example of one legendary filmmaker discussing another, with Friedkin gushing over Hitchcock. He ends by giving advice to those interested in pursuing a career in film.

“Just watch the films of Alfred Hitchcock. That’s all you need to know about how to make films,” he concludes.