Photo Credit ( Greety image )

Here is my very first review of an Alfred Hitchcock film! We’re going to be exploring the timeless 1954 thriller Rear Window, which starred Grace Kelly and James Stewart.

With Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock—dubbed the “master of suspense”—lived up to his reputation. Although the first forty minutes of the movie may seem a little slow, as it gains momentum, it becomes clear why it is regarded as a timeless classic. As of this writing, the film has an amazing 8.4 rating on IMDb, so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Although we love James Stewart, it can get a little boring watching him go around in a leg cast for the first twenty minutes. As the novel progresses, patience does pay off, though.

Overview of the Plot
Rear Window has a distinct viewpoint since it forces viewers to see everything through the eyes of James Stewart’s character, L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies. Photographer Jeff is currently confined to a wheelchair after suffering a fractured leg in an earlier accident.

His only amusement becomes watching his neighbors from his apartment window, which overlooks a courtyard. If only our own quarantines were half as interesting! (well, without the murder, of course!)

Equipped with binoculars and a strong camera lens, Jeff immerses himself in the lives of his neighbors, bestowing on them peculiar monikers. Jeff enlists the assistance of his fashionable love interest, Lisa (Grace Kelly), to look into his suspicions that a neighbor, Raymond Burr, killed his wife and disposed of her remains in a suitcase.

In keeping with Hitchcock’s formula, the suspense develops steadily to a nail-biting finale as Lisa confronts the killer and the killer learns of Jeff’s suspicions, setting up a dramatic showdown.

The Source of Inspiration
Inspired by two true stories of men who killed their wives or mistresses and dumped their bodies in a macabre way, Hitchcock’s Rear Window is partially based on Cornell Woolrich’s short tale of the same name.

The Group
Hitchcock spent little money on the set of the movie, which ended up being the biggest indoor set at Paramount Studios. Thirty-one apartments were completed after months of painstaking planning and building—eight of which had running water and electricity.

Personas
L.B. ‘Jeff’ Jefferies, played by James Stewart
James Stewart portrays a nomadic photographer who, as a result of a broken leg, is now limited to a wheelchair. His current circumstances conflict with his spirit of adventure, so he starts spying on his neighbors for amusement. Even in their most private moments together, he displays a glaring lack of interest in Lisa, in contrast to his preoccupation with his neighbors.

Lisa, played by Grace Kelly Carol Fremont
Lisa is portrayed by Grace Kelly as a gorgeous socialite with a love of fashion. She desires for Jeff to give up his traveling ways and move in with her. Kelly was interviewed by screenwriter John Hayes to help design the character, and her answers served as inspiration. Fun fact: Considering that Grace Kelly always avoids smoking on screen, this is the only movie in which she is seen smoking.

Lars Thorwald, played by Raymond Burr
The antagonist of the movie, Lars Thorwald, is portrayed by Raymond Burr in a terrifying performance. As the story goes on, Lars—a traveling diamond dealer with a tumultuous marriage—becomes more and more frightening. Burr is a figure who Hitchcock expertly creates tension around; at first he seems innocuous, but as time goes on, he shows his true, terrifying nature.

Chemistry and Romance
The dull love chemistry between Jeff and Lisa is one of the film Rear Window’s most noteworthy features. Rather than being an engaging romance, their interactions frequently seem more like a setting for the main mystery. In the movie’s finale, though, Jeff and Lisa do experience danger together, which makes Jeff’s love for Lisa grow stronger. This suggests that a murder to solve and a way out of danger could be the secret to starting a romantic relationship.