You Know When You Are Watching A Hitchcock Film

Rating: 9/10 (13 November 2014)

Hitchcock is of course the master of suspense and psychological warfare and at the top of those elements is Rear Window. Many will call it voyeurism or Peeping Tom...but understand back in the mid 1950's, there was a new movement taking hold, the open, social common garden complexes, apartment buildings. Having your blinds open, lights on was common practice and way of living. In Rear Window you can see this wonderfully, and James Stewart character was more of a people watcher for entertainment. This is when neighbors used to be more social, borrowing the "cup of sugar". Having cocktail parties was a way of life much more prevalent than they are today.
It's only when Stewart's suspicions were peaking, of something being wrong, not quite right, did he become a honed in peeping detective, trying to put all the pieces together of where, and what happened to the woman, the victim. Hitchcock was brilliant in giving just enough information to chew on, but not enough to completely solve the case, and you can see this in Stewart's eyes. It may seem odd that it took the villain some time before he glanced across the garden courtyard to spot Stewart eyeing him, but again, this was somewhat more normal behavior back in the 1950's, post WW2 people were much more active, maybe even happier than we are today, busier, unlike today where we sit and watch TV or sit on the computer for hours...blinds drawn. Typical for a Hitchcock film, the colors were vibrant, the cast was neatly dressed, hair perfect, women beautiful...a key trait for a Hitchcock film, and also a signature director's move on his part, the bright, cheerful lighting when the mood was happy and slowly transgressing into darker, moodier lighting when the film becomes more intense and suspenseful. Many viewers will not even notice as it is so gradual, but the effect it has on the viewer is there.
For the money, Alfred Hitchcock was the best, 1 or 2 locations and getting the most out of his cast, no other director was better, so for me, he is at the top.