Rear Window

Rear Window, released in 1954 and directed by Alfred Hitchcock is a classic, still as interesting today as I’m sure it was in the fifties. Considered to be one of Hitchcock’s best and most thrilling films, Rear Window takes us on a journey human curiosity and voyeurism. From the point of view of a lonely man in the city named L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies (James Stewart) who is confined to his wheelchair in his apartment because of a broken leg, he passes his time by watching his neighbors.

Mostly from the point of view of Jeff, we see what he sees. We see his neighbors, Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr), a salesman, Mrs. Anna Thorwald (Irene Winston), Jeff’s wife, Miss Lonelyhearts (Judith Evelyn), a middle-aged woman who lives alone and acts out her romantic fantasies of men, Miss Torso (Georgine Darcy) who is a young dancer that practices in her underwear, the Husband and Wife (Frank Cady and Sara Berner) who live above the Thorwalds, a woman with a poodle (Bess Flowers), a newlywed man and woman (Rand Harper and Havis Davenport), along with others.

Armed with binoculars and a high-powered telephoto lens, Jeff is obsessed with watching these people. We are pulled into their lives through Jeff who starts to piece together an ironic happening where he believes a murder has taken place by Mr. Thorwald. Not actually seeing the murder himself, but instead piecing together what he thinks are odd behaviors, he calls on Tom (Wendell Corey), an old buddy from the Air Corps, who is now a detective. While not believing his friend that a murder could have taken place, Tom leaves.

As the film proceeds, we travel along with Jeff and his spying. Eventually it catches up to him and he is almost attacked by the presumed murderer. After a much-anticipated arrest of Mr. Thorwald, Jeff seems to end the spying on his neighbors, finding that maybe he shouldn’t be so consumed by voyeurism.

Originally intended for entertainment, this film has become known for it’s thrilling suspense. A must see for anyone, this Hitchcock film will never be forgotten and will remain a classic for years to come.