Vertigo Midge – The Most Underrated Female Character in Vertigo?

Jan 27

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Vertigo Midge, short for Marjorie Wood, was masterfully played by Barbara Bel Geddes in Alfred Hitchcock’s romantic thriller Vertigo.

How old was Barbara Bel Geddes in Vertigo?

She was 36 years when the film was released and her practical character is best known by her catchy nickname Midge, which she is called throughout by her best friend from college, John Ferguson (James Stewart).

John had his own arsenal of fun nicknames, ranging from Scottie, to Johnny or, Midge’s personal favorite for him: Johnny-O.

One can’t but appreciate the subtle humor from Hitchcock that the “boring” secondary character of Midge is the one that dishes out the catchiest nicknames for others, or that her “plain-Jane” character is the creative advertising guru for sexy lingerie, or that her “blah” fashion sense (she is not the mysterious elegant Madeleine) lives in a colorful and Bohemian inspired San Francisco flat.

It’s time we get to know Vertigo Midge better, so when you’re rewatching this classic, you can be certain you’re rooting for the right heroine and love match for Johnny-O!

Is it time for Midge to take her rightful place in the front seat of Vertigo’s cast?

This post is all about Vertigo Midge

Vertigo Midge - Barbara Del Geddes Vertigo

Before we talk more about Midge, let’s better understand who Barbara Bel Geddes was in real life.

Was she born in San Francisco and live in a colorful bohemian loft? Not precisely... she was actually born on the opposite coast, in New York City. She started her creative career in Broadway, before moving to California in her early twenties to star in Hollywood. She later said: "I went out to California awfully young" although I’d been coached not to go, but rather to learn my craft “But I loved films."
Although she didn’t meet the “look” qualifications to land a coveted Hitchcock blonde sexy role, Hitchcock recognized her talent and cast her not only as Midge in Vertigo, but also in in four TV episodes of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”
Was Bel Geddes’ love life as doomed offstage as it was onscreen? In Vertigo she had a failed engagement, whereas in real life she had an ill-fated first marriage to a theatrical manager. (Was he in love with a dead woman too?) However, the same year Bel Geddes divorced her first hubby, she tied the knot with a stage director.
Bel Geddes was actually an artist in real life too! Not only did she author a couple of children's books, but she created a popular line of greeting cards (maybe redwoods, or missions and bell towers?). I wonder what her artist studio looked like in real life--was there a view of the Hollywood hills rather than the San Francisco hills?

Vertigo Movie Summary

In Vertigo, the main character John Ferguson or “Johnny” (James Stewart) falls in love with the beautiful and mysterious Madeleine (Kim Novak), whom he has been hired to watch.

After Johnny falls in love with Madeleine, she appears to fall to her death from the bell tower, and Johnny is hospitalized suffering from dark depression and self blame; his recovery appears to leap forward upon meeting Judy. (again Kim Novak in her stunning dual performance)

But, in true Hitchcock fashion, not is all as it seems, and Johnny discovers he was targeted to be the fall guy in a murder.

Johnny’s best friend, and former fiancee, Midge, makes frequent appearances throughout and tries to help Johnny see reason and--most importantly--fall in love with her again.

Vertigo Midge Apartment - The San Francisco Artist’s Loft

We first meet Midge in her adorable cozy and colorful bohemian artist flat overlooking the scenic San Francisco.

Johnny (James Stewart) comes to visit her and chat about what he plans to do in the future, or really his lack of plans, as he’s decided to quit the the police force, due to his debilitating vertigo.

Although the setting for the tête-à-tête between the two ex-lovers, is the artistic and vibrant loft, yet Practical Midge is just the opposite from her setting and is “plain” and matter of fact.

Her passion for art also contradicts her practical personality. She is a talented artist creating advertising designs for a sexy pink plunge bra.

Johnny, oblivious to his surroundings and any underlying sexual tension one would expect from the display and discussion of provocative lingerie with one’s ex-fiancee, spends the time discussing his vertigo.

Johnny: What’s this do-hickey?

Midge: It’s a brassiere! You know about those things. You’re a big boy now!

Johnny: I’ve never run across one like that!!

Midge: It’s brand new. Revolutionary uplift. No shoulder straps, no back straps. But it does everything a brassiere should do. It works on the principle of the Cantilever bridge.

Johnny: It does???

Midge: Uh hum. An aircraft engineer down on the peninsula designed it. He worked it out in his spare time…

Johnny: Kind of a hobby… a do-it-yourself type of thing!

Ironically it seems a bit far-fetched to imagine Midge wearing the sexy lingerie she is so confidently sketching.

But wait, there’s more… The romantic tension, which she feels and he doesn’t, is highly evident.

Johnny is self-absorbed in his woeful story of his near death experience and on-going struggle with acrophobia (vertigo), totally oblivious to the fact that his confidant (and ex-fiancee) is still in love with him.

Clueless, he forges ahead and mindlessly probes into her love life.

Johnny: How’s your love life ?

Midge: It’s following a train of thought.

Johnny: Well?

Midge: Normal.

Johnny: Aren’t you ever going to get married?

Midge: You know there’s only one man in the world for me Johnny-O!

Johnny: You mean me?! We were engaged once though, weren’t we?

Midge: 3 whole weeks

Johnny: Good ol’ college days, but you were the one that called off the engagement. You remember?

Midge: …

Johnny: I’m still available. Available Ferguson.

Midge is reminding Johnny-O (her pet nickname for him) that she’s not interested in going out with anyone else, as he is the one for her!

Check out those coy glances she tosses in his direction…

But Johnny, who is the observant investigator on the job, in his personal life is oblivious that his pal has the hots for him… and he simply responds to her confession with a lame joke about still being single.

Vertigo Midge - The Detective & Jealous Lover

Although Johnny is supposed to be the detective, Midge is actually more attuned to reality than Johnny, who lets his emotions cloud his judgment.

Again this characteristic is in contrast to their chosen career paths--should Johnny have been the artist and Midge the detective? She takes him to see Pop Lieble at the bookshop to research Carlotta and she investigates Scottie’s actions, similar to how he investigates Madeleine.

Excited to share the results of her investigation of Carlotta’s history, Midge heads over to Johnny’s house.

As she is about to pull up to his house, she sees Madeleine leaving and is engulfed in hot flame of jealousy: “Well now, Johnny-O…. Was it a ghost… was it fun?” She then storms away from Johnny’s house, without going in to see him.

Her jealousy spurs her to action, and she puts her creative talents to work.

The next time Johnny comes to visit Midge, she starts by casually asking him what he’s been up to, as he’s been conspicuously absent.

She knows, but he doesn’t know that she knows, that Madeleine has been at his house. Johnny’s responses are vague and evasive.

Midge: Where do you go these days?

Johnny: Just wandering.

Midge: Where?

Johnny: Around about…

Johnny: What was this desperate urge to see me?

Midge: All I said in my note was: where are you?

Johnny: Uhhh… I detected a little undercurrent….

Midge: What have you been doing?

Johnny: Wandering.

At this point, Midge decides it’s time for the big reveal and motions for Johnny to take a look at the portrait she has been slaving away on.

As soon as Johnny sees the portrait she has painted of herself as Carlotta, he shuts down, hurt and angry.

The scene is alive with raw emotions, as one feels bad for Johnny in his hurt over the fantasy Madeleine/Carlotta love mystery and for Midge the real flesh woman who’s very much in love with him!

Midge: Johnny!

Johnny: That’s not funny Midge.

Midge: Johnny….!

Johnny: No…. Let’s make that movie some other night!

Midge is so distressed that her work has upset Johnny, that she dissolves in tears and then destroys the painting in a fit of anger.

Midge: Stupid… stupid… stupid….

Vertigo Midge - The Healer & Forlorn Lover

In Midge’s next scene, which is quite a bit later in the movie, she is visiting Johnny at the sanatorium.

Johnny has been hospitalized after his breakdown following Madeleine’s death.

Midge tries to insert humor in the situation, tossing in some Mom-jokes (his favorites!) in her attempts to awaken him from the grip of his comatose.

Midge: You’re not lost, mother’s here!

She had researched that listening to Mozart would be healing, so she’s playing him a Mozart record, while interspersing the visit with upbeat chatter, but Johnny remains in an unresponsive stupor, not even aware she’s visiting. Midge then marches over to the doctor’s office to demand answers.

Doctor: He’s suffering from acute melancholy, together with a guilt complex… he blames himself for what happened to the woman. We know little of what went on before.

Midge: I can give you one thing… he was in love with her…

Doctor: That does complicate the matter, doesn’t it?

Midge: ...and I can give you another complication…he still is…. And you want to know another thing Doctor? I don’t think Mozart is going to help at all!

Midge tries to insert some humor into her heartbreak, and is then seen retreating down the long corridor of the sanatorium, which are the last shots of her in Vertigo.

Vertigo Midge - Johnny’s True Love?

Vertigo is missing its finale scene critical to close the story on Johnny and Midge.

Originally Hitchcock had an additional final scene with Johnny back in Midge’s apartment at the end of Vertigo (after the bell tower scene), but it got removed from the producers’ final cut!

So the million dollar question still remains a mystery; did Midge end up with Johnny, the love of her life? Did he finally realize his true partner in life (who was loyal, loving, selfless, talented, cute, and funny) was right in front of him the entire time?

It’s time Midge take her rightful place in the limelight as one of the most talented and critical Vertigo characters.

What are your thoughts?

This post was all about Vertigo Midge

What did you think about Midge in Vertigo?