Reviews of Rear Window

A classic thriller from the Master of Suspense!

Posted : 1 year ago on 29 November 2008 09:29 (A review of Rear Window)

"When two people love each other, they come together - WHAM - like two taxis on Broadway."

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, James Stuart

Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller

Running time: 112 minutes



My review:

A wheelchair bound photographer thinks he witnesses a murder from his apartment window. Gradually he fleshes out the crime, drawing others into his intrigue until the film culminates in a perfect hero / villain showdown.


Rear Window is in my opinion one of the best thrillers ever made. Every single scene of this film made me feel really tense and made my heart pound so fast, it hurt. It took my breath away and couldnt let me breath very much because it was so tense. One of the things that I loved about Rear Window was that the mystery and suspense wasnt really between the characters but was mostly about what the characters were doing. The tensest moment was when Lisa sneaked over to Lars Thorwolds flat to investigate what the truth is but when he starts to come back, it becomes even tenser which made my heart race really fast.

James Stewart delivers an awesome performance as photographer L.B. Jeffries. His performance is one of those underrated performances I find. I personally think that Stewart doesnt earn enough credit for his roles in the Hitchcock films. I think that this is his best film with Hitchcock as director. I really liked Vertigo too. Grace Kelly was absolutely awesome too as Jeffries lover Lisa Carol Fremont. Grace Kelly is almost perfect for Lisa because she is like a real action packed young woman with such a beautiful and sexy style that not many actresses have. She makes Lisa a completely irrestistable woman who anyone can fall for.

The direction was absolutely outstanding from Alfred Hitchcock. I think Hitchcock directs every single film that he has done almost to complete perfection which probably has made him the greatest director of all time. This is one of those Hitchcock films that shows Hitchcock can never be rid of his classic masterpieces. The written screenplay was really clever not because obviously it is a complex mystery but because it is a short story and of how they adapted into an ordinary feature film.

I think that this film changed everything about what thrillers are really like. I personally think that this started to make Hitchcock the master of thrillers but after seeing Psycho (which is Hitchcocks best) and the release of Psycho completely determined Hitchcock as the Master Of Suspense.

The chemistry between Jeffries and Lisa is really good because I could tell that they were in love and I could tell that they both felt that they had to work together to try and investigate what happened opposite the other side of the flats. There wasnt really any chemistry between Jeffries and Lars because they only met properly around the end of the film.

The main twist was when Jeffries witnesses Lars returning home without his wife and that is the moment when Jeffries starts to become suspicious and tries to investigate the mystery.

This film was not violent at all really but had a few violent references. There wasnt really any bad language involved but there was quite a few moments that were quite crude with the language. There werent any sex references but there were quite a few making out scenes between Jeffries and Lisa.

As I already said, this film had simply outstanding writing with the clever screenplay. I also said about the awesome direction of the great and late Alfred Hitchcock. The cinematography was simply superb with amazing photography and the clever sound sequences used too. It had awesome sound and scenery. It made it like it was really happening.

This film earned four Academy Award nominations. It earned Best Director for Alfred Hitchcock (lost to Elia Kazan in On The Waterfront), Best Writing Screenplay (lost to The Country Girl), Best Cinematography (lost to Three Coins In The Fountain) and Best Sound Recording (lost to The Glenn Miller Story). I think that this film should have been a close nomination for Best Actor for James Stewart and a close one for Best Supporting Actress for Grace Kelly too.

This is my second favourite James Stewart film after It's a Wonderful Life and it is my second favourite Alfred Hitchcock film after the obvious one Psycho. Grace Kelly hasnt been in many films really so I have to call Rear Window her best film then. The thing that really annoys me that involves me with Rear Window is that they made a remake of such a great masterpiece and it turned out to be a complete disaster just like the Psycho remake did. I really hope that there won't be any more Hitchcock remakes like Vertigo, Shadow Of A Doubt, Rebecca nor North By Northwest. Rear Window is a complete masterpiece that will always be remembered as one of the best of Hitchcock and also one of the greatest suspensful thrillers ever made.

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Hitchcock's greatest masterpiece...

Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 31 July 2008 03:40 (A review of Rear Window)

"We've become a race of Peeping Toms. What people ought to do is get outside their own house and look in for a change. Yes sir. How's that for a bit of homespun philosophy?"

Rear Window is an undemanding lesson in accomplishing perfection from simplicity. This classic film was the creation of Alfred Hitchcock during one of his last grand creative spells. In the years to follow, the all-time master of suspense produced such classics as Vertigo and Psycho.
Rear Window is Hitchcock's supreme cinematic creation, his crowning triumph and the feather in his cap. With this particular production, the director influenced thrillers and their formulas still decades following its release. Rear Window is a film that invents the clichés. Preceding Hitchcock's masterpiece, said clichés didn't exist. The certain formula didn't exist either. Ergo, a modern audience labelling the film as "clichéd" or "predictable" is both unjust and unfair. Taking the film's age into account, this is a faultless production that unfortunately gave birth to millions of subsequent reproductions. The film is a multi-faceted production enriched and permeated with screenplay integrity, realism, credibility and originality. On top of this, Hitchcock's competently entrancing direction is capable of keeping an audience enthralled from start to finish.

Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece, Rear Window, is a riveting thriller pervaded with tension and a spellbinding atmosphere. It's truly a gem and a half! Everyone has at least heard of this production. If one hasn't seen it, they're probably sick of the hype, praise and acclaim. Be that as it may, there is a reason why Rear Window is held in high regard over 50 years since its initial release. The crux of its perfection is within its straightforwardness. It's probable to argue that the film is supported by an exceedingly boring concept, as the film's events concern one person in one room. Mind you, that one person is actor James Stewart...and that one room is an intricate creation augmented with authenticity and absorbing panorama. Moreover, this is Alfred Hitchcock we're discussing. That director has forever been regarded as the master of suspense. Although countless have endeavoured, no other directors can competently tackle the genre like Mr. Hitchcock. His filmmaking allure lies in his ability to keep an audience captivated and interested. This is achieved by employing attention-grabbing camera movements and a succession of proceedings grounded in gripping realism.

This simple story is set in the apartment of successful, professional globe-trotting photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies (James Stewart). After an unfortunate incident during an assignment, Jeff becomes confined to a wheelchair in his boring apartment. Jeff is faced with sheer boredom and, with nothing else to do, he begins spying on his neighbours. With the occasional visit of his nurse (Ritter) and beautiful girlfriend Carol (Kelly), there's plenty of time for Jeff to become consumed in the private dramas of his neighbours. One night his voyeuristic activities pay off when Jeff believes that he witnesses a murder. Salesman Lars Thorwald (Burr), living in the neighbouring apartment building, begins acting suspiciously after the unexplained disappearance of his nagging wife. Gradually, Jeff builds his investigation and he becomes increasingly convinced that the salesman is guilty of murder. While he steadily gathers evidence, Jeff draws others to his intrigue.

Witty, enthralling, poignant, comical and prudent - Rear Window challenges an audience with its connivance in the stories witnessed. Hitchcock also works up the film to one of cinema's greatest hero-and-killer confrontations. This confrontation is particularly memorable for Thorwald's acquiescent perplexity that a stranger would be interested in his certain life, let alone keen to expose his secrets. Flawless...essential.
Hitchcock's camera remains in one apartment, with very few exceptions. Despite sounding quite boring as we remain in one location for the film's entirety, Rear Window is an absorbing film crammed with limitless suspense. Hitchcock is of course the master of suspense, so you'll find many moments here when it's difficult to draw a breath. The director keeps his audience enthralled and engrossed until the unforgettable climax. The classic touches from a classic director are truly hard to beat. He can raise a clever grin occasionally while keeping an audience riveted and on the edge of their seat.

The single location is also an extremely fascinating one. Cleverly, the focus isn't directly on the murder plot. The characters are occasionally entangled in the dramas unfolding in other apartments. We are introduced to a cavalcade of people, and the short character development is effective despite being brief. The script is always taut and there is never a wasted frame. Hitchcock always uses his visuals to tell his story with further intrigue and suspense without relying solely on music. Silence, in fact, provides some of the film's most terrifying moments. Even better, the focus is on the protagonist and his story. The ending may seem rushed as the explanation is revealed very quickly, but this is one of the best decisions on Hitchcock's part in my opinion. It reminds the audience that we're following Jeff, and only a few moments of pure exposition were necessary. It also shows the build up of tension in Thorwald that eventually bursts open forcefully...he becomes ready to confess. This is a rare film that flaunts excellence and perfection in just about every aspect.

James Stewart's performance was absolutely essential. As we're spending the duration of the film in a single location with a chief protagonist, it was a necessity for Stewart to exude charm and charisma to keep the audience enthralled. Stewart has always been one of the screen's greatest performers. Partner him with Alfred Hitchcock and you simply cannot go wrong. For every shot...every frame...Stewart never strikes a false note. He's also fascinating and he possesses a particularly engaging voice. The eminence of his performance is demonstrated in the nuances, and none are superior to the expression of reprieve as he relieves the itches caused by the plaster cast. Stewart is simply so darned excellent in any role he tackles! Alongside Stewart, the beautiful Grace Kelly appears as the love interest that becomes entangled and obsessed with uncovering evidence to prove a man guilty of murder. At the time of release, Grace Kelly was one of the screen's greatest beauties and she abundantly reminds us of this. Thelma Ritter brings a delightful comedic sense to her role as Jeff's nurse. Across the entire film, there is an evident ring of excellence around the entire cast (no, not the cast on Jeff's leg).

Not only is Hitchcock a master of the thriller genre, he's also one of the greatest directors of all time. In his career he directed several memorable masterpieces such as North by Northwest, Psycho, Rebecca, Vertigo and several others. No-one then or now could match Hitchcock's large quantity of quality masterpieces. They say it's impossible for a director to helm more than 2 or 3 masterpieces in his career. Hitchcock transcends this expectation. Rear Window is his best film in my opinion. Everything about the film is pure perfection. If there was a rating higher than 5/5 or 10/10, then Rear Window would undoubtedly wear that rating with aplomb.

Several film buffs and cinema enthusiasts would concur that there's no such thing as a perfect movie. In my opinion, that statement is highly incorrect. This is a masterpiece of the highest order: a faultless marriage of tension, romance, drama and mystery with undertones of intrigue. Cunningly manipulative in optimum Hitchcock elegance, as well as managing to offer us with a complete gamut of human emotions and intrinsic idiosyncrasies all from the vantage point of just the one room: there is good reason why Rear Window is regarded as a classic masterpiece. With an impeccably selected cast, a virtuoso script courtesy of John Michael Hayes and a man who was probably the most creative director to ever draw breath...it simply lacks nothing. The best aspect is in its ability to build effectively until you abruptly realise that you're completely engrossed in this cinematic universe and you don't want the film to end. You cannot afford to miss this one.

10/10

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Rear Window

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago on 23 January 2008 03:45 (A review of Rear Window)

How many Masterpieces can one artist concieve in a lifetime? One? Two? Three if much? To most that's about it. But in one time or another, comes one that can turn everything he touches into gold. Shakespeare was like that, Da Vinci was like that, Chaplin was like that, just to name a few.

Another person that had this gift was Alfred Hitchcock. He's the kind of movie maker that knew exactly what he was doing and what he wanted.

He could turn a story about birds who attack people without any reason in a great thriller, and he did the same with the story of a man in a wheelchair, who can't walk or leave his room.

Rear Window is the story of L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart) a photographer who broke his leg in an automobile accident and now has to stay never ending weeks inside his appartment, in the company of his girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly), his maid Stella (Thelma Ritter) and his camera.

So to ease the boredom, Jeffries begins peeking at his neighbors. What seems like an innocent hobby, turns into a police investigation when he believes that he's the witness of a murder.

A typical Hitchcock movie, it's loaded with suspense and plot twists.

It's difficult to say if this is Hitchcock's finest, because of all the other films he did, but Rear Window deserves all the recognition and fame it has.

It will work for the audience 50 years from now as well as it did 50 years ago.

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A compact movie

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago on 19 January 2008 04:11 (A review of Rear Window)

Rear View Window is about a world-class photographer who was injured in the line of duty and bound to a wheelchair and a cast on his leg. So, for entertainment of being stuck indoor, he begun to be an observer of his neighbours' daily activities through his window. In one of the occasion, he believed that one of his neighbour had murdered his wife and so began to do a stake-out on the guy and his movements for proof that the murder was real.

This movie has joined my list of all time favourite movies because of the suspense I felt throughout the movie and the way the plot is arranged is so interesting. You know there are some movies where you can predict what is going to happen in the end. Well, in this movie, you know what will happen but you are not confident if it will really happen the way as expected.

For a movie done in 1954, this is a very good one especially the set apart from the entertaining performances of the James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Through watching the movie, you will know that it is a set but that is one freaking huge set as tall as 3 or 4 storeys high.. and having 5 blocks of apartment building was mind-blowing of the scale used.

A movie that is a must to watch!

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Rear Window

Posted : 2 years, 4 months ago on 21 July 2007 11:20 (A review of Rear Window)

It is amazing how Hitchcock was able to create movies that are timeless...this movie was brilliant.

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Great classic Hitchcock

Posted : 2 years, 11 months ago on 10 January 2007 07:10 (A review of Rear Window)

Just saw this recently: it's slow paced but thats the beauty of it. Since the main character is wheelchair-bound and has nothing to do all day but to stare at his neighbors lives, the viewer also becomes a peepin' tom, and since you can't hear what any of the neighbors are saying, this movie just draws you right in and forces you to participate by trying to imagine whats going on in all their lives. And when one man's wife goes missing and the husband looks suspicious, the viewer is fully engrossed along with the main character trying to figure out if he killed or if she just moved out of town. The dialogue is snappy and the chemistry between Jimmy and Grace is adorable, with many of their scenes almost making this feel more like a romantic film rather than a murder-mystery.

Only drawback why I didnt give it a 10/10 is the ending is extremely rushed, with everything neatly being resolved and fully explained all in the last 2 or 3 minutes. I guess it was typical of films back in the day, but I almost wished this movie had an unresolved ending or a big twist or something more typically found in today's films.

Anyways, I highly recommend this classic. This film has it all; suspense, comedy, romance, and even a bit of action at the end.

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