Rear Window

The Master of Suspense At His Best

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Release Date: 1954

Rating: PG

Running Time: 112mins

Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly

'6 weeks I've been stuck in this apartment with nothing to do but look out the window at the neighbours.'

The legendary Alfred Hitchcock teams up once again with the brilliant Jimmy Stewart to produce the fascinating ‘Rear Window’. This film for me is such a classic ‘Hitchcock type’ film in the way that it’s shot and directed, I was amazed at the simplicity of the idea but the overall complexity of the story. The audience are really made to focus on this film and are left asking question throughout as we continue to see the events unfolding outside the rear window. Hitchcock is able to do this in such a unique way that really makes ‘Rear Window’ stand out as a real timeless piece.

When Jeff Jefferies (James Stewart) breaks his leg, he is made wheelchair bound for the next two months and is therefore trapped in his apartment with nothing to do other than look out the window at his neighbours lives. The film is able to capture a number of different stories and characters from the point of view of James Stewart and really make the audience feel like they’re seeing the world through his eyes. It’s amazing how Hitchcock is able to capture the frustration of being in one room for the whole film, but furthermore how he can keep the audience intrigued for the whole film.

What’s so great about Hitchcock’s work is the originality of it all and arguably how ahead of it’s time his films are. In ‘Read Window’ the film can be said to be a representation of how nosy and interested in other peoples business the world was becoming at that time. This is shown through the way the camera keeps panning to other apartment windows and we see a new story that keeps being returned to as the film progresses making us interested in what’s going on with all the neighbors and what’s more impressive is how Hitchcock is able to almost make the audience feel guilty as they too are spying.

James Stewart, known from other films such as ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘Vertigo’ is able to once again able to deliver high standard performance in this bizarre mystery thriller. The majority of film takes place in his character’s apartment, as he is unable to leave, so the camera for the most part will pan around the various sights out the window from his perspective and then cut to show his reactions adding elements of comedy and humor, but also suspicion as the film develops. Once again we are able to see James Steward do what he did best, be James Stewart in front of a camera, due to his character being similar to other roles he’s done prior, none the less carrying out a superb performance.

Alfred Hitchcock also uses another trademark featured in all his films, the ‘blonde heroin’. This time performed by Grace Kelly who is able to bring a coating of romance and sexuality to the part making ‘Rear Window’ quite a broad film in terms of it’s genre. The film does focus quite heavily on the relationship between Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. Despite the age gap between the two actors (21 years) they are able to perform very well together and effectively convey the intimate relationship of the two characters.

In spite of the year this film was released, much like all of Hitchcock’s films, there is a real sense of agelessness about it, meaning that it could be set in any year. The originality and experimentation with the effects in those times made the film appear to be very much ahead of it’s time and was a main reason why it was able to gain it such a high rating among audiences. ‘Rear Window’ is a classic piece of Hollywood cinema depicting both Stewart and Hitchcock at their best, a film I strongly recommend checking out.

10/10