One view of the world

Rating: Null/10 (25 September 2003)

'Rear Window' tells the story of an interesting, though sarcastic and sometimes bitter L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart), who's leg was broken in an accident. The film starts off with the first day of his last week in the class, and eventually characters such as his girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) and his Insurance Nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter). The film is shot mostly, if not all of it, through the view of Jeffries' rear window. He has a view of many apartments one of them belong to the Thorwalds. However, something mysterious has happened to Mrs. Thorwald and Jeffries soon suspects murder. From then on, this film takes the path of a mostly noir, with the audience in it's heels trying to figure out what is going on. Several interesting twists are thrown to the characters (and the audiences) way by Jeffries' friend LT. Boyle (Wendell Corey). 'Rear Window' is a suspense film, but at the same time a work of blazing originality. There is little violence, sex, or swearing used at all to get the audience's attention into the film. It relies purely on the effects of the plot, writing, directing, and performances And it all works too. James Stewart brings a balance of blunt honesty but humor to his role as a man who's got nothing better to do then observe his neighbors. As Jeffries' love interest, Kelly brings great charisma and beauty to the screen, and her performance is worthy of mentioning. Corey and Ritter offer interesting support, but their roles aren't too demanding. The screenplay crafts detail after detail with greatness. As mentioned before, the audience too is trying to figure out what is really going on, and the choices of what to believe are theirs to make. However, the main beauty of this film is Hitchcock's direction. He gives an original feel of great power to the film, and he shows a perfect example of not having excess. Overall, 'Rear Window' stands out to be one of the great films of our time, and should definitely pave it's way into cinema history. 10/10