REAR WINDOW

Opening with a amazing crane camera shot which takes us right round the square and into Jeffrey's (Jimmy Stewart) Rear Window from his apartment we are quickly introduced to the location that will serve the entire movie. Set on one location, a lot which was especially built by Hitchcock in Paramount Studios (32 apartments, 12 fully furnished), the confined location gives this film it's sense of freedom and release. We don’t see the outside world, simply the characters which perpetrate this street. It's gives us a similar feeling as Jeff has, confined to a wheel chair with a plaster cast on one leg. He spends his time looking at his neighbors day to day and rather eccentric lives inside there own  apartments.

Through Jeff's lens the film invites the Viewer to become the Voyeur as we constantly look into the streets lives. In one sad scene we see Miss Lonely Hearts set a table and talk to a imaginary partner, we see and hear the gifted Songwriter who has lost his love and even though he is surrounded by loads of friends is lonely. There's Miss Torso, the ballet Queen who is stringing along various associates to benefit her career, but loves none of them. We get a wonderfully but immoral look at relationships with Rambling, slightly comedic Jimmy Stewart as our guide. The film makes the audience become the participating act and see something we shouldn't.

Underlining it all is Jeff’s suspicion of  Mr. Thorwald’s (Raymond Burr) killing his wife. As Jeff becomes increasingly paranoid about Thorwald’s foul play. Thorwald makes 3 trips in the Pouring Rain carrying a large suitcase. His partially invalided wife disappears yet she has left all her belongings. Jeff brings his own Girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) on the act, as the couple with the help of Jeff's Nurse Stella unravel Mrs. Thorwald’s disappearance. At the same time there constantly debating about the absurdity  of what they are doing, spying in. Especially when Jeff brings in his detective friend, the Skeptic Doyle.

In a scene were Lisa sneaks into Thorwald’s apartment when he's away the film brings us on the edge of our seat. We wait his arrival as Lisa runs around looking for his wife's wedding ring. In one of my favorite scenes in cinema history Thorwald catch's her as Jeff unable to do anything rings the police. Lisa foolishly signals to Jeff behind her back which Thorwald spots, looking directly into the Jeff's lens hence the camera this is the moment we he spots us, the audience. It's a chilling moment. There's also a creepy moment were we here Thorwald’s footsteps as he walks up to helpless Jeffrey's apartment.

Rear Window is a masterpiece, pretty much tied with Vertigo for my favorite Hitchcock movie. I just love Jimmy Stewarts acting. He's realistic and he always plays the same sort of character.

That's probably because he lets out a bit of himself in every role he plays. Its a far cry from Brando, Clifts form of Method acting but in it's own familiar way, equally amazing. This film has fine performances from both Grace Kelly and Raymond Burr. Hitchcock would move on to greater commercial highs then this with Psycho and The Birds, both great but for me this remains his greatest film.

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