Rating: 
Summary: suspenceful and nicely structured
Review: Rear Window is one of Hitchcock's most suspenseful films, and, I believe, the first to use a winning formula that he would repeat in some of his later films. The formula combines a mystery with a love story with some minor subplots. The mystery serves as the main storyline, the vehicle that creates the dramatic tension and suspence. The love story is a secondary storyline and the affairs are always troubled in some way. The resolution of the mystery decides the outcome of the love story - the couple either gets it together or they fall apart. The subplots are carefully scripted to add commentary on the love story, to give dimensions to the love birds.In RW, the mystery is 'did the Raymond Burr character kill his wife?' This is the backbone of the film and it's in the ebb and flow of the solution of this mystery that suspence is created, built up, and sustained. The love story is the affair between Stewart and Kelly. It's troubled because these two couldn't be more unalike. And in the beginning of the film, Stewart is convinced the differences are irreparable, and is ready to call of the whole thing. As the mystery unfolds, however, Kelly is drawn into Stewart's world of suspicions, and by the end, she plays such an instrumental part in forcing the denouement that Stewart is forced to completely revise his opinion of her and their relationship. In other words, the mystery saves the relationship. Along the way, the lives of Stewart's neighbors (the subplots) act as a running commentary on Stewart and Kelly and their relationship. The ups and downs of the unknowing neighbors also adds a lot of fun and humor. This formula would be repeated in some of Hitchcock's later films. Vertigo, North By Northwest, The Birds, and Marnie all share the same underlying structure. In The Birds, for example, the mystery is 'what is up with them birds?', the love affair is between Tippi Hedren and Rod Taylor, and the subplots are the jealousies between the women in the film. Same structure, just different characters and storylines. If the structures were the same, however, the results were quite different. Rear Window, for example, is particularly successful at creating suspence. I think the reason for this is that the mystery storyline is literally kept always before the viewers' eyes. There are few moments when Stewart isn't peering out his window obsessing about the supposed murder, few moments when the characters aren't talking about the murder. Compare this to The Birds when the only time the birds are really talked about is in that one restaurant scene. Notice that that is also one of the most interesting scenes in the film. So it's a case of 'out-of-sight, out-of-mind'. In RW, we are never allowed to lose sight of the murder, it's ALWAYS in our minds, and as such, the mystery - and the suspense it engenders - the grows in stature. On the whole, a good film. The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star film is the confusion surrounding the movements in the murderer's apartment. For example, we actually see a woman leave Burr's apartment early in the morning of the day after the crime was committed. If Burr really killed his wife in the apartment, as Stewart claims, then who is that woman? This is never explained. A film worth seeing, and if you're a Hitchcock fan, even worth owning.
Rating: 
Summary: A Chilling Work of Art
Review: Rear Window is among the top Hitchcock films. I have seen Shadow of a Doubt, The Birds, Strangers on a Train, Dial M For Murder, Rope, and The Man Who Knew Too Much which were very good films. But none of them can even come close to the sheer brilliance and the excellence of Rear Window. I first saw Rear Window about a year ago and I can remember being enthralled, thrilled, and very entertained by it. I would consider Rear Window to be one of the most chilling movies Hitchcock ever made. I remember feeling a little nervous when Raymond Burr came over to Jeff's apartment to try to kill him and Jeff was totally defensless. I also loved the wit, and style of this film. Grace Kelly was as beautiful as ever in Rear Window. Stella who was the nurse really made me laugh with all of her wisecracks. I can't praise Rear Window enough. Buy the DVD and watch it. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Hitch at his chilling best
Review: Rear Window is one of the classic Hitchcock films, made in the latter part of his career, where he could almost do no wrong. It ranks up there with Psycho, The Birds, Vertigo, North By Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and in my opinion the only movie of Hitch's that is better than Rear Window is North By Northwest. Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly give one of their better performances. The action in this movie takes place in Stewart's apartment or viewed from his apartment. Stewart plays a photographer who has broken his leg and is pretty much immobile (the cast is from the pelvis to foot) and witnesses what he suspects to be a murder. The film can be truly horrifying. Imagine what it would be like to watch a man attack the woman you love (there is only one way a man should be allowed to put his hands on Grace Kelly) from your window and not being able to do anything about it. Or having a hulking man (the size of Raymond Burr) coming to kill you and not being able to flee or adequately defend yourself. It gives a level of creepiness that you won't find outside of Psycho or The Birds. Rear Window is one of Hitch's more chilling works. The DVD gives a better picture and sound quality over VHS and it is nice to be able to skip around the movie quickly. Unfortunately there is no commentary, but with Hitch dead and virtually no action who would be the logical choice? Probably better that no one attempts a commentary. In addition to trailers and production stills there are production notes, which give you that little bit of trivia that you can use to impress your friends with. There is also a featurette "conversation with screenwriter John Michael Hayes" which is interesting. And an hour long documentary titled "Rear Window Ethics" which is a commentary on the film (including audio interview excerpts with Hitchcock) and Restoring the Film. The two added featurettes are a definite plus for the DVD. Also, if you have a DVD-ROM on your computer you can get to a copy of the screenplay, which plays the section of the movie (in a little box in the corner) that you are reading. Makes for a nice addition to your DVD collection.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: Rear Window is flawless, a work of art unparalleled even by Hitchcock himself (although Vertigo is close). I've seen the film more times than I can remember, but it holds up, just gets better.
A satire and commentary on marriage and male/female relationships, Rear Window is several stories in one. Each apartment contains its own narrative which we dip in and out of during the film. Each of them tells us something about love, marriage, betrayal, and, in the case of the room across the way, murder.
If you haven't seen this film, you haven't experienced the best that cinema can offer.
Rating:
Summary: A great film and transfer
Review: It's hard to believe how this still holds up. I could watch it again and again and I do! It's a classic and you should really seek it out, everyone I've showed it to loves it. Also try: Hitchcock's 'Vertigo'.
Rating:
Summary: Alfred Hitchcock at his best!
Review: Alfred Hitchcock is a master of suspense, and was right on the ball with this film.
All the action takes place in one apartment complex. Jimmy Stewart stars as a wheelchair bound photographer with a lovely girlfriend, played by Grace Kelly, whom he thinks is too superficial to marry.
The plot involves murder, sexual tension and action, and is done so tastefully and skillfully, unlike movies today.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite Hitchcock
Review: I've wavered on this over the years. First Rear Window. No, Vertigo. North By Northwest. Psycho. Now back to Rear Window. And I credit the new DVD release with its excellent documentary feature. All the discs in this series are excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Better than ever
Review: Looking and sounding better than ever is Hitch's masterpiece REAR WINDOW in this stunning collector's edition. And the EXTRAS on this one make it a must for any collection. The hour long documentary features interviews with Herbert Coleman, Pat Hitchcock, Peter Bogdanovich and Curtis Hanson; there's a photo gallery; trailers; the complete screenplay; and a stand-alone interview with the screenwriter John Michael Hayes. The Hayes interview was all too brief and it would have been great to have him on a commentary track throughout the feature, like Ernest Lehman did on the NORTH BY NORTHWEST dvd, but the recent book on the Hitchcock/Hayes films, WRITING WITH HITCHCOCK, more than makes up for that. It's Hitchcock at his very best.
Rating:
Summary: Trapped
Review: In Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, we view from a distance and up close a number of people trapped in their lives: the struggling songwriter, the woman looking for companionship, the salesman and his invalid wife, and a photographer confined to a wheelchair following an accident, looking at all the other trapped people through his window into theirs. James Stewart is that photographer, a man who has become more of a voyeur than he wants to admit. He's feeling trapped by his wheelchair, but also by his relationship with beautiful rich girl, Grace Kelly. And then he begins to suspect that one of the neighbours has committed a murder, and from his perch at his window, he begins to piece it altogether. Rear Window is an amazing film. Like he was in Lifeboat, Hitchcock is limited to a small physical space to play out his action, and he does it here with even more success. The suspense, the suspicions, and the evidence builds gradually in a plot perfectly paced for maximum effect. Stewart gives a very assured performance here, just as effective in his reaction shots as he is delivering dialogue. Kelly is sophisticated, beautiful, and very real in her performance, and both are matched by the always great Thelma Ritter as the to-the-point nurse who visits daily, and who also becomes involved in the goings on. This is clearly one of Hitchcock's top achievements - a smart, romantic, sexy, funny, scary, mystery film that delivers on all those levels. Make a point to see this one!
Rating:
Summary: Yeah, I'd already seen it., but...
Review: I remember watching this Hitchcock masterpiece the first time. I was mesmerized. It was and still remains my favorite movie of all time. This version takes the classic I first watched on a 25" TV and says "you ain't see nothin yet." Yes, the details of the story are the same, but the visual and audio details almost make this a different movie. Watching it now on a proper widescreen TV, I can imagine what it would have been like to see it in a 1954 theater. The restoration is not just window dressing. If you taped this or even bought a pre-restoration VHS, you owe it to yourself to see it in this lovingly restored version.
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