Mystery and intrigue were the topics of discussion when the State Theatre presented a screening of Vertigo Sunday, the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film starring James Stewart and Kim Novak.

The screening, hosted by the State Theatre Film Collective, included both a pre- and post-film discussion, which State Theatre Development Director Carol Falke said was a great addition to seeing the older film on the big screen.

"The conversation and the dialogue is the important thing," Falke said.

Penn State professor Sanford Schwartz, who has previously taught courses on Hitschcock's work, led the pre-film introduction with a "no-spoiler" photo tour of San Francisco sights used in the film.

"Hitchcock loved the Bay Area," Schwartz said. "Vertigo is very much a San Francisco film. He captured the beauty of the city and its mystery."

The photo slide show included an image of Lombard Street, where Stewart's character lives in the film, the Coit Tower, which Schwartz explained is seen out of Stewart's window but wouldn't actually be visible from that spot in reality. It also included photos of the Mission San Juan Bautista, which has a bell tower in the film -- but not in reality -- and the Empire Hotel, which is now called the Hotel Vertigo in memory of its place in the film.

Schwartz said the film usually has a strange effect on first-time viewers because of its slow pacing.

"You, the viewer, have to relax and let the film proceed at its own rhythm," he said.

Ryan Disanto, Class of 2009, was interested in attending the screening and discussion after seeing the film as part of a Hitchcock course at Penn State.

"It's not one of those films that works on the first screening," he said. "But you become more obsessed with it. It really draws you in."

Danielle Morelli was interested in attending the screeining after seeing parts of the film at home.

"My parents always talked about Vertigo," Morelli (junior-advertising) said. "It was nice to see it all in one piece and on the big screen."

The screening was followed by a group discussion in which 24 attendees, led by Schwartz, discussed a range of topics, including the portrayal of women in the film and Hitchcock's interest in the presentation of color throughout the film.

Falke, who said the Film Collective previously presented a screening of Citizen Kane, was pleased by the turnout.

"What I loved was the diversity of ages," she said, noting that both students, younger viewers attending with their parents and a mature group were in attendance. "That's what we hoped would happen -- a diversity of the audience."

She also said that it is the presentation of the older film on the big screen that made it special.

"People see it on T.V.," she said, "but it's the screen, the sound -- that's what kept the action."