Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writer: John Michael Hayes (Screenplay) Cornell Wollrich (Short Story)
Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, Judith Evelyn
Plot: A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbours from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Vintage Suspense Thriller
Story: Rear Window starts as L.B. Jeff Jefferies (Stewart) stuck in his apartment with a broken leg who has been spending his time watching his neighbours waiting to heel up. Jeff gets daily visits from his nurse Stella (Ritter) who offers him life advice when it comes to Jeff’s love life with the beautiful and in his words perfect Lisa (Kelly) who wants to settle down but Jeff just can’t see it happening.
When one of his neighbours goes missing and Jeff sees the husband leave 3 times during the night he becomes suspicious that something much more foul has come into play. Jeff brings in Lisa to help look for clues but what can they find out?
Thoughts on Rear Window
Story – We have seen films that have overcomplicated stories and become a mess this film here keeps everything very simple as one man is trying to solve a potential murder from his apartment. The story follows how he must figure out what has happened without being able to go and see himself which is all good too keep us on edge.
Mystery/Thriller – When you look for a good mystery film this one does keep you guessing throughout the film as you are kept on edge wondering how the truth can come out.
Characters/Performance – Jeff is an interesting character that finds himself having to play detective from his own room, he builds a new dimension for the hero character who is unable to go and solve the crime. Lisa does feel out of place in this film because she comes off way to high class for be involved in the story.
James Stewart does single handily carry this film with his performance while Grace Kelly adds the beauty to it all.
Settings – The whole film is shot from the room that Jeff is stuck in as he is watching his neighbours but when he sees the murder we see how he can’t do anything because of his broken leg but still wants to play detective, this all adds another dimension to the film.
Final Thoughts – This is one of the most influenced and important thrillers you will ever see.
Overall: A must watch for all the fans of Hitchcock, thriller or mystery fans.
Rating
