Vertigo

Three days before, in his office, I had asked Harris whether he'd achieved any profound insights into Vertigo as a work of art. He demurred. "You've got to realize," he said, "when we're in the middle of a project like this, we're not dealing with `a movie,' we're dealing with pieces of film." He spoke as if he were a Renaissance mason intent on polishing every bit of filigree before he would judge his cathedral. Post-screening, he was pleased to proclaim, "It's a great film."

The restored Vertigo plays in 70mm and DTS Stereo at the Castro Theater, Castro and Market, from Oct. 18 to Nov. 7. The Friday, Oct. 18, screening is a "Opening Night Gala Premiere" benefit for a number of film organizations, including the San Francisco Film Society, the Pacific Film Archive, the American Film Institute, and Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation. Tickets for the 7 p.m. film are $25; $175 buys your ticket and gets you a post-film supper and party with special guest Kim Novak. Call 931-3456 for details. The film continues through Thursday, Nov. 7 with daily showings at 1, 4, 7, and 9:40 p.m. Admission is $6.50 ($4 for the 1 p.m. show), $4 for kids and seniors at all times. Call 621-6120 for more information.