On May 9, 1958, Alfred Hitchcock's seminal psychological thriller "Vertigo" premiered in San Francisco, California. The film, which starred James Stewart and Kim Novak, has since become a classic in the history of cinema and is widely regarded as one of Hitchcock's greatest works.

"Vertigo" tells the story of John "Scottie" Ferguson (Stewart), a retired police detective who suffers from acrophobia (a fear of heights) and vertigo. He is hired by an old acquaintance, Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore), to follow his wife, Madeleine (Novak), who has been behaving strangely. As Scottie becomes increasingly obsessed with Madeleine, he finds himself drawn into a complex web of deceit, manipulation, and psychological trauma.

The film is renowned for its innovative cinematography, particularly the "dolly zoom" effect, which creates a disorienting visual sensation that mimics the feeling of vertigo. This technique, also known as the "Vertigo effect," has since been widely imitated in countless films.

"Vertigo" also features a haunting score by Bernard Herrmann, which perfectly complements the film's unsettling atmosphere and psychological depth.

Upon its initial release, "Vertigo" received mixed reviews and was not considered a commercial success. However, over time, the film's reputation grew, and it is now widely recognized as a masterpiece of cinema. In 2012, "Vertigo" displaced "Citizen Kane" as the greatest film of all time in the British Film Institute's Sight & Sound critics' poll, a testament to its enduring legacy and influence on the history of film.