I also saw both films with packed audiences when they were reissued in the 80s after being unseeen for decades. Rear Window was MUCH more popular with "ordinary" people. In fact they actively DISLIKED Vertigo. Even the reissued The Trouble With Harry was liked more then Vertigo.
Vertigo is a critics' and pretentious persons' favourite. To normal people it's cold and boring, and no-one can relate to the "hero" and "heroine".
Back in the 50s, Rear Window was a big hit and Vertigo a huge flop, one of Hitchcock's least popular films. Most people, who aren't hipsters and don't read film theory, still react the same as people in the 50s and 80s.
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hickshotel
7 years ago
Well I have to disagree with you that only pretensious and cold people like Vertigo, what a ridiculous claim to make since I'm sure you have met all those people. I'm a huge Hitchcock and Stewart fan and I prefer Vertigo to Rear Window even though I like them both. I found Vertigo completely interesting throughout and actually found Rear Window to be a little dull and repetitive with Jeffries looking into appartments for most of the movie. It did get more interesting in the second half and has great performances and dialogue.
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