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(photo from quintessenceblog.com) Rear Window, starring the utterly gorgeous Grace Kelly, and the indomitable 'every man', James Stewart.
The Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, brought us Rear Window -- a movie that is still as fascinating as it was in 1954! Even though it was released over 60 years ago, it still presents questions of ethics that are as valid today as they were then: Does a casual observer really know what is going on in the apartment behind him? Is someone who spies on their neighbor justified if they discover a crime?
L. B. "Jeff" Jeffries, (James Stewart), is a professional photographer, who is trapped in a wheelchair, following a broken leg from an accident at a race track. With nothing else to do, "Jeff" has taken to watching the world outside his apartment window for entertainment-- and what a world it is!
The world around the apartment quadrangle offers Miss Torso, a dancer who has an unending parade of men in to visit, a composer who is having trouble writing a song, "Miss Lonelyheart", a middle aged woman who is alone and lonely, and then, there are the mysterious events that take place in the apartment across from "Jeff", in the Thorwalds' apartment.
Lisa Fremont, (Grace Kelley), is "Jeff's" girlfriend, a fashion editor and gorgeous icemaiden-- unapproachable-- yet "Jeff" has her heart, and one sees the fire behind that cool exterior. "Jeff" an international photographer is very hesitant about his relationship with Lisa-- how can she fit into his world? Does he really want to be tied down? Can "Jeff" continue to see Lisa, if their relationship isn't really going anywhere?
But Lisa, aided by the sensible insurance nurse, Stella, (Thelma Ritter), discovers just what happened to Mrs. Thorwald. In their discovery of the facts, Lisa becomes the perfect partner to "Jeff"-- but not before a terrifying confrontation with Mr. Thorwald, (Raymond Burr). Will anyone who has ever seen this movie forget the flashbulb camera?
Everytime I watch this movie, I notice a detail that I've never noticed before! Hitchcock's movie set was brilliant-- the plot is set intirely inside "Jeff's" apartment, but the panorama behind his apartment is a window to an entirely different world. The strangely shaped sculptoress, whose odd concoctions of clay offer a rather 'unique' view of the world. The newly married couple that vanish behind their window shade. The sweet couple above the Thorwald's apartment, whose little dog likes to dig in the garden.
Movie Cast:
- L. B. "Jeff" Jeffries -- James Stewart
- Lisa Fremont -- Grace Kelley
- Stella -- Thelma Ritter, (How the West Was Won)
- Detective Lt. Thomas J. Doyle -- Wendall Corey, (Sorry, Wrong Number, another spine-tingling movie)
- Lars Thorwald -- Raymond Burr, (Perry Mason)
Why I LOVE this Movie:
(photo from members.toast.net) Who could guess beneath this demure business-lady attire, lay the seductive halter top?
While the plot unwinds with perfectly logical and sensible steps, it still manages to surprise me, after all these years! The movie set details are so painstaking, one really feels as if one were in "Jeff's" apartment, watching the details of everyone's lives around him. Yet, they, like all other subjects of Peeping Toms, have no idea they are being watched...
My only squeamishness is that upstanding Perry Mason, (Raymond Burr), plays a bad guy-- but he does it so well! The seemingly innocent, hard-working salesman is really a devil in disguise... "Jeff" and Lisa's investigations carefully unravel completely the 'normal' demeanor of an average man to a level of horror.
There is no blood in this movie. And, frankly, it is MUCH better to never see any blood-- but to imagine it. Today's filmmakers should take a tip from Mr. Hitchcock-- our own imaginations are much worse than anything real life could possibly offer!
(photo from rear-window-screenshot) Raymond Burr as Lars Thorwald.
Watch for Mr. Hitchcock's cameo-- it's great! Watch for Grace Kelley's wardrobe-- Edith Head, who designed it, knew her subject very well, perfectly capturing her ladylike loveliness that banks a fire of passion! Watch for Stella, (Thelma Ritter), who could steal the camera's eye away with every piece of business available to her!
This movie is perfect for that rainy night, when all is a little "too" quiet!
Watch the movie trailer below:
Trailer for Alfred Hitchcock's film starring James Stewart,Grace Kelly,Wendell Corey,Thelma Ritter,Raymond Burr,Judith Evelyn,Ross Bagdasarian,Georgine Darcy,Sara Berner,Frank Cady,Jesslyn Fax,Rand Harper,Irene Winston,Havis Davenport,Marla English,
Thanks for coming by!
