Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954): USA

Reviewed by Jeremy Del Bianco. Viewed at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, AFI Film Festival, Hollywood.

Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock is suspenseful brilliant.  It’s a film that takes on the ideas of love, marriage and murder in a unique New York City courtyard.  An adventurous magazine photographer (Jim Stewart) is confined to his apartment due to a broken leg, leaving him plenty of time to snoop around his neighbors.

The action takes place in a village courtyard where we can see the action taking place in many neighboring apartment windows, a small garden and an alley that exits to the street.  From Jeffs point of view we see all the action happening in each window, as he views his neighbors form his apartment. The audience only sees what Jeff can sees.

Jeff is obsessed with spying on his neighbors, occasionally using binoculars or a zoom lens to get a better look.  Jeff neighbors include a ballet dancer, a composer, newly weds, and possibly a murderous husband.

Jeff’s quest is to gather evidence to put convict and put this possible murderous husband behind bars.  Due to his broken leg Jeff is unable to investigate this matter on his own so he gets his girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly), his nurse (Thelma Ritter), and his police detective friend to help gather him evidence in order to solve the case.

James Stewart plays an amazing role as Jeff, a character who is cool, calm and hilarious.  Jeff’s girl friend played by grace Kelly was exceptionally good and her costumes were hot.

Rear Window is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most impressive films.  If you enjoy watching classic humorous films, this is the one to watch.