In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #9 Greatest Movie of All Time.
In a later interview Alfred Hitchcock said he believed Kim Novak was miscast and the wrong actress for the part.
It was rumored - and even written in Alfred Hitchcock's script notes - that Kim Novak dubbed the last line of the film, which was delivered by the nun. However, she denied this in an interview.
John Ferguson's apartment is located at the corner of Jones and Lombard, just one block west of the famed steep switchback block of Lombard Street.
Many critics attributed the film's failure to James Stewart, who was considered miscast as the romantic lead, partly due to his age.
Midge's remarks about the "cantilevered" brassiere designed by an aircraft engineer are a reference to the story that Howard Hughes had an engineer invent a new type of underwired bra for Jane Russell.
Numerous uses of repetition and reflection throughout, including:
- The mirror on the way out of Ernie's restaurant; Scotty sees Madeleine reflected in it right after he has seen her for the first time.
- The numerous reflections and repetitions of Madeleine throughout, including at least two women whom Scotty mistakes for her.
- The metaphorical or dream mirrors that Madeleine describes as lining the corridor of her life.
- Midge paints herself into the portrait of Madeleine's ancestor, and, in one shot, sits next to the self-portrait, as if doubled.
- After showing Scotty the portrait, Midge sees herself reflected in the glass of the window.
- Judy as Madeleine's reflection.
- Madeleine as repetition or reflection of her ancestor.
- Scotty repeating his former life.
- Judy falls from the tower to her death the same way Madeleine did
- There is a motif of spirals in the film, as literal shapes in the opening credits, and as the more abstract shape of the movie's plot, as well as the shape of the pivotal tower staircase.
On-location filming lasted 16 days.
Poorly received by U.S. critics on its release, this film is now hailed as Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece.
Ranked #1 on the American Film Institute's list of the 10 greatest films in the genre "Mystery" in June 2008.
San Juan Batista, the Spanish mission which features in key scenes in the movie doesn't actually have a bell tower - it was added with trick photography. The mission originally had a steeple but it was demolished following a fire.
Scottie's car is a white 1956 Desoto Firedome Sportsman Hardtop Coupe. Madeleine's is a green 1957 Jaguar Mk. VIII. Midge's is a gray 1956 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe.
Scotty's apartment actually exists, and it boasts the improbably stunning view of Coit Tower through its living room window, which looms over Scotty and Madeleine in the apartment scenes. True aficionados can find it (near Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco) by positioning themselves in the same relation to the tower that is seen through the window.
The building exterior used for Madeleine's apartment building is located at 1000 Mason St., across the street from the Fairmont Hotel.
The Empire Hotel where James Stewart eventually finds Kim Novak is today (2009) the Hotel Vertigo ( formerly the "York") located at 940 Sutter Street in the heart of San Francisco. Kim Novak's character lived in room 501, which still retains many of its aspects captured in the film.
The film is based upon the novel "D'Entre les Morts" (From Among the Dead) which was written specifically for Alfred Hitchcock by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac after they heard that he had tried to buy the rights to their previous novel "Celle qui n'était plus" (She Who Was No More), which had been filmed as Les diaboliques.
The film was unavailable for decades because its rights (together with four other pictures of the same period) were bought back by Alfred Hitchcock and left as part of his legacy to his daughter. They've been known for long as the infamous "Five Lost Hitchcocks" amongst film buffs, and were re-released in theatres around 1984 after a 30-year absence. The others are The Man Who Knew Too Much, Rear Window, Rope, and The Trouble with Harry.
The lighting changes when important events occur. For instance:
- When Scotty first sees Madeleine in Ernie's restaurant, the light around her becomes unnaturally bright for a moment.
- While Scotty is listening to the story of Madeleine's ancestor in the book shop, it gets very dark; once he exits the store, it brightens again.
- When Scotty first sees Judy made up completely as Madeleine, she is lit by a blurred, ghostly green light (the reflected light from the neon sign outside the window).
The movie's poster was as #3 of "The 25 Best Movie Posters Ever" by Premiere.
The only one of Alfred Hitchcock's films in which the killer is not punished. An ending in which Scottie and Midge hear news over the radio that Gavin Elster was caught was tacked on for European distribution.