The screenplay for Vertigo was based on the French novel D'Entre les Morts, translated means From Among the Dead. The two French mystery writers, Narcejac and Boileau, also wrote Les Diaboliques, which Hitchcock wanted but lost to French director Clouzot. Paramount purchased the right to D'Entre les Morts before the book was even translated so Hitchcock could do the movie.
Hitchcock rejected the first screenplay adaption. The second writer, Alec Coppel's screenplay did not please Hitchcock either. The third writer, Samuel Taylor's version was accepted.
Conflict arose when writer Samuel Taylor wanted sole writer's credit. Taylor claimed that he did not read the French novel or Coppel's screenplay but wrote his screenplay solely from what Hitchcock had told him. Taylor had added a new character, Midge, who wasn't in the novel. Taylor also made the atypical choice not to have the major plot twist revealed at the end, but two-thirds of the way through. The reason for this can be found in Hitchcock’s description differentiating suspense from surprise in the François Truffaut interview.
Alec Coppel took his complaint to the Writer's Guild. After examining the two screenplays the Guild decided that Coppel and Taylor both deserved screen credit.
3 окт 2024
