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Summary: Rear Window, the film that changed the art of movie-making.
Review: This classic film is recognized as not only Hitchcock's most ingenious achievement, but as one of the most ingenious films in the history of Hollywood. It's the best example of Hitchcock's brilliance, and Hitchcock made it at a time he hit his creative peak in the 50's, which spawned a number of classics like Vertigo, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and North By Northwest.On a psychological level it causes the audience to feel what James Stewart feels for the most part because you see what he sees; and therefore, the audience feels guilty for being curious like James Stewart, sometimes, feels. The voyeurism drags the audience in from the beginning right until the end, but the audience can't help but be captivated by what they (or James Stewart) sees out of the rear window. The way Hitchcock puts his audience into an unusually enjoyable seat from beginning-to-end, is remarkable. Though he makes the audience feel guilty for being voyeurs, Hitchcock saves his audience from all of the shame and guilt with humor and comic relief that's added by the strange love-hate relationship between Grace Kelly and James Stewart. Thelma Ritter also adds humor to the film with her charm and, sometimes, brash honesty. She is the character that the audience wants to relate with the most because she's quite loveable and easy going. In a classic line, she describes her husband and herself as "a couple of maladjusted misfits." However, most of the audience can only bond with Grace Kelly and James Stewart because, like most people, they lead complicated lives and are very different maladjusted misfits, who aren't proud of it. Sexuality in this film is also rather strangely unique because it's there, but it's not all there. Between the two main characters, the sexuality in Rear Window is still considered the most unusual in any film, which is once again, because of the odd love-hate relationship between Jeff and Lisa. In terms of suspense, the master doesn't fail. In fact, some people argue that Rear Window is the most suspenseful film Hitchcock ever created, while others say it was Psycho. Either way, this film is one of the most thrilling pictures ever made, even by today's standards. The suspense is uniquely based around the most basic human action. The reaction. It's very simple suspense, and Hitchcock doesn't use the brilliant camera angles or pans that he uses in other pictures. The camera shows James Stewart watching a neighbor. The camera shows what the neighbor is doing. The camera shows Stewart's reaction, and Hitchcock's use of guilt adds tension to the suspense, which builds and builds until the climaxing moment when Lisa gets caught in the neighbor's apartment. Even the extraordinary climax uses the same suspense, James Stewart watching, James Stewart reacting. The genius story, wonderful actors, amazing set, stylish clothing, and the simple use of the cameras makes this film more suspenseful and terrifying than any other film of its genre, with the exception of a few other Hitchcock films. This film represents the genius in Hitchcock.
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Summary: In Praise of an Irreplaceable Character Actress
Review: Hitchcock's most cinematically intricate film boasts some many wondrous images, from the exquisitely detailed apartment from which voyeur Stewart watches to the beautiful Grace Kelly to an early "heavy" performance from Raymond Burr. But, Thelma Ritter as Stewart's private nurse (and aide-de-camp) adds another memorable character to her arsenal of scene-stealing performances. Although her screen time is limited, she makes the best of it. Another may have written her lines, but her execution is typical Ritter: sarcastic, witty, and oh-so-Ritteresque.
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Summary: Restored Hitchcock classic is refreshing in its intelligence
Review: Almost impossible to view this restored classic on its own merits because almost every scene reminds me of similar scenes in other copycat movies. I imagine that back in 1954, the subject of voyeurism was relatively risque, although it was probably becoming more and more relevant as the popularity of TV allowed ample opportunities to peer into other people's lives. But voyeurism is such a banal topic today in our constantly online world. And don't forget that voyeurism is also a major plot point in most trashy films made since the 60's. But it was nice to see a film that was so respectful of the audience's intelligence. The opening sequence gave more background information about the protagonist than 15 minutes worth of expository dialogue. The climax, although not pumped with as much adrenaline as contemporary thrillers, was refreshing for its simplicity.
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Summary: A Hitchcock Masterpiece
Review: Rear Window is a landmark film that is a must for anyone. My older kids were mesmerized by this classic thriller. I enjoyed discussing with them why this film is so great in so many ways. Tell me who today can make a film that takes place in one room in which you are viewing it mostly from Mr. Stewart's perspective, where not much action takes place unitl the end, and you are on the edge of your seat for most of the film? The DVD version has some nice added features that any Hitchcock fan will enjoy. This is a no-brainer. Get it! Enjoy
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Summary: James Stewart and Grace Kelly in Hitchcock's one set classic
Review: "Rear Window" is rightly regarded as one of Hitchcock's best films and has been written about and analysed many times. Hitchcock considered it would be a challenge to make a film using just one set (he had done something similar in "Rope" also starring James Stewart in 1948). "Rear Window" is considered to be one of James Stewart's best roles even though he was confined to a wheelchair throughout the film. Grace Kelly was elegant as Stewart's girl friend and Raymond Burr made an impressive villain. Jeff Jeffries (James Stewart) is a photo journalist who is recovering from a broken leg and he passes the time by looking out of his window which overlooks several other apertments. He thinks that a murder has taken place in the apartment directly across from his. He has observed his neighbour Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr) arguing with his wife and later becomes convinced that Thorwald has killed her and disposed of the body. He shares his thoughts with girl friend Lisa Fremont (Grace Kelly) but she is reluctant to believe him and tells Jeffries that his imagination is getting the better of him. However, after observing Thorwald for some time she also becomes suspicious and agrees to help Jeff find evidence to support his theory. Jeffries is unable to leave his apartment due to being in a wheelchair with his broken leg so Lisa volunteers to break into Thorwald's apartment to look for clues when he is out. Naturally, Thorwald returns and catches her in there which places Lisa in great danger with Stewart helpless to do anything while watching from across the courtyard. Some favourite lines from the film: James Stewart (to Grace Kelly): "I've seen it through that window - I've seen bickering and family quarrels and mysterious trips at night. Knives and saws and ropes, and now since last night not a sign of the wife". Kelly (to Stewart): "Start from the beginning again Jeff. Tell me everything you saw - and what you think it means". Wendell Corey (to Stewart): "You didn't see the killing or the body - how do you know there was a murder?". Raymond Burr (to Stewart): "What do you want from me?. One of the delights in watching a Hitchcock film is to be clever enough to spot the director's cameo appearance. (In "Rear Window" he was winding a clock in the music composers apartment about an hour into the film). In his early films he sometimes did not appear until near the end (as in "The Lady Vanishes" for example). However, as people became aware of this gimmick Hitchcock realised it would spoil the audiences concentration of the film if they were watching for him to pop up so he began to make his cameos earlier in the films to get them out of the way. James Stewart appeared in four films for Hitchcock - the others were "Rope", "Vertigo" and "The Man Who Knew Too Much". Grace Kelly made two other films for Hitchcock - "Dial M For Murder" and "To Catch a Thief". Raymond Burr went on to have great success on television in both the "Perry Mason" and "Ironside" series. "Rear Window" was remade in 1998 with Christopher Reeve and Daryl Hannah.
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Summary: Peer In!!
Review: Rear Window is one of Alfred hitchcock's best films. The opening shot of the community is hard to believe that it's not NYC!, but a back-lot at the studios where the picture was filmed. But this is more than just a film its Hitchcock's autobigraphical celluloid version of his life! Hitchcock wasn't a pleasent man, he was very sardonic and on several occasions was very cruel to the people who worked with him even going as far as to chain a camera man over night to a camera and give him coffee laced with ex lax before hand! Even the films characters are based on people he hated for instance in the film Burr looks ever so much like Selznick the notorious producer who brought Hitchcock over from England and watched over him with a hawks eye. But as it stand the film is a perfect thriller the only downer is Stewart with his shirt off!! Kelly looks amazing as usal though she was never the best actress in hollywood she was one of the best movie stars. Stewart plays a photographer stuck in a wheelchair with a broken leg. After time he becomes obsessed with the ongoing lives of his neighbors peering in on them with a zoom lensed camera. When he believes he witnessed a murder across the yard he tells his elitest girlfriend grace Kelly about it who in turn gets wrapped up in the world of voyeristic pleasure. The plot tsists and turns so tightly around the stroy that sweat and confusion pours out of your pours! The climax is jus eye popping! Flashes of color admist a darken room as teh suspected killer finally caomes out of the shadows to bump Stewart off! Hitchcock never takes you inside of the houses he leaves always on the outside looking in on everything. Rather it's a lonely woman trying to kill herself or a loose dance who has more male friends than all of New York City. hitchcock makes you look through Stewart lense and turns you not into Stewart but a pervert out for a night of arousal!
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Summary: Timless Classic
Review: Rear Window in my book comes close to being the greatest films of all-time. I liked it better than Casablanca. Stewart playes his role fantasticly and Grace Kelly is simply georgus. Hitchcocks finest films! Buy it you wont be disapointed
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Summary: Great movie making here!
Review: I don't feel like saying a whole lot. The only thing that needs to be said is that this is a fricken brilliant piece of film history and one of stewarts best.
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Summary: It would be fun to have Rear Window neighbors.
Review: Rear Window is excellent. I love this movie. You may find yourself watching Rear Window more than once.
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Summary: The greatest movie of all time
Review: This is Hitchcock at his best. I believe that this movie was also the peak of James Stewart's and Grace Kelly's career. Everything in the film is perfect, and the basic cinema is brilliant. Thelma Ritter was superb and hilarious, also. The suspense was perfect, especially when Grace Kelly gets involved and of course the most suspenseful part is when Tharwald looks out of the window and sees that he is being watched. I love this movie so much.
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