“Rear Window” An Alfred Hitchcock Film

“Rear Window” Comes very close to being the perfect Hitchcock film that illustrates nearly all of his great abilities.Comes very close to being the perfect Hitchcock film that illustrates nearly all of his great abilities. Hitchcock demonstrates that he is a great voyeur.Hitchcock demonstrates that he is a great voyeur. He loves to spy on his characters.He loves to spy on his characters. He allows his viewers to be voyeurs forcing his audience to see everything from his hero’s point of view.He allows his viewers to be voyeurs forcing his audience to see everything from his hero’s point of view.

“Rear Window” PlotPlot James Stewart as L.B. Jeffries, a photographer, is confined to his two- room Manhattan apartment with a broken leg.James Stewart as L.B. Jeffries, a photographer, is confined to his two- room Manhattan apartment with a broken leg. He passes his time spying on his neighbors through a back window.He passes his time spying on his neighbors through a back window.

“Rear Window” - Plot He is visited by his girlfriend, Lisa Carol Fremont (Grace Kelly), his officer friend Wendell, and his nurse, Stella.He is visited by his girlfriend, Lisa Carol Fremont (Grace Kelly), his officer friend Wendell, and his nurse, Stella. As Jeffries observes the comings and goings of his neighbors from various apartments.As Jeffries observes the comings and goings of his neighbors from various apartments. He watches as the people in the 31 apartments live out their little lives.He watches as the people in the 31 apartments live out their little lives.

Neighbors The tormented middle-aged bachelor, composer, songwriterThe tormented middle-aged bachelor, composer, songwriter The couple who beats the heat by sleeping on the fire escapeThe couple who beats the heat by sleeping on the fire escape The newlyweds and loversThe newlyweds and lovers The tragic “Miss Lonelyhearts” with her fantasies of entertaining gentlemen callersThe tragic “Miss Lonelyhearts” with her fantasies of entertaining gentlemen callers The hearing-impaired sculptor working day and nightThe hearing-impaired sculptor working day and night

Neighbors Cont’d The vivacious and sexy blonde dancer “Miss Torso” who does suggestive routines in bikini topsThe vivacious and sexy blonde dancer “Miss Torso” who does suggestive routines in bikini tops The hysterical “nagging wife” – lying in bed – and her grouchy fed-up husband, a jewelry salesman.The hysterical “nagging wife” – lying in bed – and her grouchy fed-up husband, a jewelry salesman.

“Rear Window” Focuses on the seduction of crime – not in committing it, but in the act of discovering it.Focuses on the seduction of crime – not in committing it, but in the act of discovering it. The urban backyard setting is the night city terrain of “Rear Window,” a night shattered by the sharp sound of a loud female scream and the sound of breaking glass…The urban backyard setting is the night city terrain of “Rear Window,” a night shattered by the sharp sound of a loud female scream and the sound of breaking glass…

Setting of “Rear Window” One of the beautiful aspects of the movie is its superb use of location.One of the beautiful aspects of the movie is its superb use of location. The whole movie, bar a couple of brief scenes, is set in Jeffries’ apartment.The whole movie, bar a couple of brief scenes, is set in Jeffries’ apartment. This could seem claustrophobic, but Hitchcock does not let this happenThis could seem claustrophobic, but Hitchcock does not let this happen His roving camera swoops down to let us see what the characters seeHis roving camera swoops down to let us see what the characters see

Setting Cont’d The apartment is just the right size and is nicely laid out.The apartment is just the right size and is nicely laid out. The real praise goes to all of the other apartments set with multiple stories where characters can be observed only as they pass their own windows (obviously they don’t care much for curtains).The real praise goes to all of the other apartments set with multiple stories where characters can be observed only as they pass their own windows (obviously they don’t care much for curtains). There is a sense of individuality in the décor of each apartment despite the fact we see only a snapshot of each.There is a sense of individuality in the décor of each apartment despite the fact we see only a snapshot of each. There is a mini soap opera contained in the movie – all observed at a distance.There is a mini soap opera contained in the movie – all observed at a distance.

“Rear Window” Hitchcock presents Stewart who sees (or thinks he sees) what he is powerless to stop.Hitchcock presents Stewart who sees (or thinks he sees) what he is powerless to stop. The insidious salesman strangely attracts Stewart’s attentionThe insidious salesman strangely attracts Stewart’s attention His past-time becomes an obsession after he suspects that the salesman has murdered his ailing wife, especially when he notices that she is missing.His past-time becomes an obsession after he suspects that the salesman has murdered his ailing wife, especially when he notices that she is missing.

“Rear Window” His girlfriend and nurse both warn him that voyeurism is a crime and is dangerous…but Stewart persists.His girlfriend and nurse both warn him that voyeurism is a crime and is dangerous…but Stewart persists. He uses a huge zoom lens to do his peeping as he monitors the murder’s activities.He uses a huge zoom lens to do his peeping as he monitors the murder’s activities. At one point, his Jeff’s friend convinces him that there was no murder, and Jeff is disappointed.At one point, his Jeff’s friend convinces him that there was no murder, and Jeff is disappointed. Not because someone wasn’t dead, but because he enjoyed the voyeurism.Not because someone wasn’t dead, but because he enjoyed the voyeurism. People do not want to commit crimes; they want to watch other people commit them. (Popular Crime shows)People do not want to commit crimes; they want to watch other people commit them. (Popular Crime shows)

Hitchcock Great movie maker and great movie watcherGreat movie maker and great movie watcher When watching “Rear Window,” it is better to imagine Alfred Hitchcock sitting in the wheelchair rather than Jimmy Stewart.When watching “Rear Window,” it is better to imagine Alfred Hitchcock sitting in the wheelchair rather than Jimmy Stewart. When camera uses longshots to watch the neighborhood, it is really Hitchcock watching.When camera uses longshots to watch the neighborhood, it is really Hitchcock watching.

Hitchcock Demonstrates that he is a great voyeurDemonstrates that he is a great voyeur Loves to spy on his charactersLoves to spy on his characters Makes his audiences into voyeurs, forcing them to see everything from the hero’s point of view.Makes his audiences into voyeurs, forcing them to see everything from the hero’s point of view. Restricted to one confined set, Hitchcock is forced to be ingenious in order to keep curiosity alive.Restricted to one confined set, Hitchcock is forced to be ingenious in order to keep curiosity alive. Hitchcock’s camera tracks out through the window – we never see close-ups of the charactersHitchcock’s camera tracks out through the window – we never see close-ups of the characters Audience can see only what Stewart seesAudience can see only what Stewart sees We feel like we are watching people through a window instead of in a movie.We feel like we are watching people through a window instead of in a movie.

Hitchcock Does not use any music…we hear natural sounds, occasional live music played in the surrounding apartments.Does not use any music…we hear natural sounds, occasional live music played in the surrounding apartments. One great shot reveals how involved Stewart’s character has become in the lives of his neighbors when Miss Lonelyhearts –during her romantic dinner for two – raises her glass in a toast to her imaginary lover, and Stewart raises his glass as well.One great shot reveals how involved Stewart’s character has become in the lives of his neighbors when Miss Lonelyhearts –during her romantic dinner for two – raises her glass in a toast to her imaginary lover, and Stewart raises his glass as well.

Hitchcock In many of his movies, “Rear Window,” “Vertigo,” “Psycho,” “The Birds,” etc., the blonde actresses are objects.In many of his movies, “Rear Window,” “Vertigo,” “Psycho,” “The Birds,” etc., the blonde actresses are objects. They rarely get close to male leadsThey rarely get close to male leads For Hitchcock, these women are ideals that should be admired rather than touched.For Hitchcock, these women are ideals that should be admired rather than touched.

Hitchcock In the span of two hours, “Rear Window” examines some of the most recurrent themes in films.In the span of two hours, “Rear Window” examines some of the most recurrent themes in films. When we watch “Rear Window,” it is really us watching someone watching someone else.When we watch “Rear Window,” it is really us watching someone watching someone else. All the while, Hitchcock is sitting on the balcony watching our reaction.All the while, Hitchcock is sitting on the balcony watching our reaction. It is an act of voyeurism layered on top of itself, and allows us to examine our own behavior as we are spellbound by Hitchcock’s world.It is an act of voyeurism layered on top of itself, and allows us to examine our own behavior as we are spellbound by Hitchcock’s world.

Hitchcock Hitchcock is a master at using his camera to create suspense.Hitchcock is a master at using his camera to create suspense. Like Stewart, the audience is restricted in movements, paralyzed inside the apartment, immobile, trapped in a room where we become anxious and uncertain.Like Stewart, the audience is restricted in movements, paralyzed inside the apartment, immobile, trapped in a room where we become anxious and uncertain. This suspense is created only by visual means.This suspense is created only by visual means.

Hitchcock Stewart is the perfect Hitchcock character, giving the performance of his life: an unpretentious photo journalist who becomes caught in a terrifying event…Stewart is the perfect Hitchcock character, giving the performance of his life: an unpretentious photo journalist who becomes caught in a terrifying event… The audience is able to feel the menacing look of the murderer staring those evil eyes at them.The audience is able to feel the menacing look of the murderer staring those evil eyes at them. Hopefully, you were able to catch Alfred Hitchcock in his customary cameo appearance, this time repairing a clock…Hopefully, you were able to catch Alfred Hitchcock in his customary cameo appearance, this time repairing a clock…