#63 Rear Window

In Summary

Perhaps one of the greatest films set in one room, Rear Window is a sweltering, paranoid story of a man trapped in his bedroom due to an injury who has become obsessed with watching his neighbours, eventually stumbling upon some very suspicious activity from one in particular.

The brilliance of Rear Window is that it manages a layer of elegance upon what is a sordid tale. With Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly in the lead roles and a swooning jazzy soundtrack, the film swelters with as much class as it does intrigue and suspicion.

For much of the film, Jimmy Stewart's, LB Jefferies appears to have reached delusional levels of paranoia as a result of his enforced isolation in his bedroom. His obsession has consumed him, seeing him turn away any vestige of a life outside his room, including his impossibly beautiful socialite girlfriend, Lisa Fremont.

That is until LB hears a suspicious scream from across the street and begins to piece together that one of his neighbours has killed their wife. It is only Lisa who seems willing to listen to LB's suspicions, seemingly to humour him, as she offers to investigate the neighbour further.

This then leads to the dramatic finale of the film, as LB is left to watch as Lisa walks into a trap of his own making.

As unique as the concept of Rear Window is, it is Alfred Hitchcock's directorial assurance and eye for the glamourous that elevates this film beyond being a straightforward thriller. Bold, colourful and swaying to its diegetic soundtrack, Rear Window brings strong reminisces of long, sweaty summer nights.

A Memorable Quote

Intelligence. Nothing has caused the human race so much trouble as intelligence.

Things You May Not Know

• The entire film was shot on one set, the apartment complex, with each of the apartments featuring running water and working electricity.
• Alfred Hitchcock never left LB's apartment as he directed the film, communicating with the actors in the other apartments through earpieces.
• This is the only film in which Grace Kelly is depicted smoking, she refused to do so for any other film.

One of the Greatest of All Time?
Despite the paranoid tone of the film, I found the experience of watching this film immensely calming. Perhaps it was how it evokes memories of long summer evenings, the jazz soundtrack, the quality and assuredness of the acting and directing, but I found Rear Window a strangely reassuring watch.

A classy and intriguing film, Rear Window is the work of several masters at their respective peaks.