REAR WINDOW (1954) A Film Review by Ted Prigge Copyright 1997 Ted Prigge
Director: Alfred Hitchcock Writer: John Michael Hayes (from a story by Cornell Woolrich) Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelley, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr
Watching a movie, viewing a story featuring characters alien to you, is a lot like voyeurism. This is what Hitchcock's film, "Rear Window," is claiming. And like any bold statement, it backs it up with a suspense filled story that drawls us, and the protagonists, into its web. What results is, in essence, one of the greatest films ever made. I'm talking top 10 or 20 here. Of course, it's from the greatest director of all time, Alfred Hitchcock, who made, maybe, one bad film in his 50 film career.
Anyway, the film deals with a photographer (James Stewart) who has wounded himself in an accident and is confined to a wheelchair for a couple months, whereas he has become pretty much attracted with watching his neighbors from his back window for hours upon hours, since he has very little to do. He names some of the people who do several things, like naming a woman who lives alone, and suffers a bad date "Miss Lonely Hearts."
However, one thing he sees is shocking. He spies on a husband (a young Raymond Burr) and wife, the latter who has disappeared suddenly. He starts to suspect foul play as evidence keeps turning up. But what can he do? He's a voyeur, which is illegal and everything. But like him, we're obsessed with the story, which is very intriguing.
Also in his life is his gorgeous girlfriend (Grace Kelley), who he has come to ignore and put down, since she's not as interesting as watching the people from his window. Not until she goes ahead and ventures out as part of the world from his window, does he take notice. And when she comes back, he's infacuated with her. There's also his physical therapist (Thelma Ritter), who warns him about the dangers of being a voyeur, and eventually joins with him and Kelley in their fascinatoin and obsession with the world from the window.
To be brilliant, Hitchcock shoots the entire film (save a small bit at the end) from the inside of his apartment, not allowing the viewers to see the people from any close shots, and with no sound. We, like Stewart, are in a seat watching the events form across the way like we're in a movie theater. The fact that he's a photographer is also very intriguing. This whole film is filled to the brim with symbolism, so that while we're watching a satisfying suspense/thriller, we're also intrigued by the meaning of the film.
Unlike "Sliver," this film shows voyeurism in an intelligent light. It's fascinating, and the film does not totally condone it. It can get us into trouble though, when we start having trouble differentiating the real world from that of the TV world. With people watching more and more TV these days, this film shows us a bunch of sick people who have an obsession with other people's more fascinating lives.
The acting is, of course, wonderful. Come on, it's a Hitchcock film. Stewart (who sadly passed away recently...but you already knew that) is awesome as usual. And Kelley is fantastic, as, well, she always has been. She was a gorgeous woman, but she wasn't all just looks, but she could act too. And Thelma Ritter almost steals some of her scenes with Kelley and Stewart.
Did I forget the awesome screenplay? These characters don't have a lot to do in terms of action wise. They're basically watching and talking about the people they see, kind of like an audience. And the talking they do is almost as fascinating as the things that go on in the lives of the other people.
And, of course, the direction is near-perfect. Not only does he create a greatly intriguing film, and give it a great theme and message, but he doesn't take a negative view of his protagonists, much like what another lesser director would do. These people are us, and we're watching ourselves on screen. They're just normal people, with a lot of time on their hands. Kind of like us, since we're taking 2 hours to watch this. If he were to put them down, they'd put us down. Good man, that Hitchcock.
I love Hitchcock's films, and this is probably his best work. I'm not saying it is, it can be argued it's another one as much as it can be this one. But anyway, "Rear Window" is an entertaining masterpiece, a film of style AND substance.
MY RATING (out of 4): ****
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