Another Hitchcock Masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (21 April 2011)

think that the storyline for this movie was magnificent. Hitchcock, forever known as a great storyteller, created an interesting story that keeps the audience on their feet the entire movie. The character progression in this movie is meritorious. Jeffries, the protagonist, quickly turns from a curious photographer into an obsessed detective/paparazzo. The suspense scenes in this movie are phenomenal. Scenes like the confrontation of Jeffries by Thorwald makes this movie one of the best suspense stories of all time, created by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.
Rear Window contains some of the best cinematography I've ever seen in a film. For this time period, the cinematography in this movie was extraordinary, and even today it continues to be a shining example of excellent cinematography. Rear Window's use of color imagery is phenomenal. Perhaps the best example of this is in the opening scene when we see Jeffries' view from his rear window. In this opening scene, we see a wide array of colors, different colors to represent different neighbors. If you look closely, you can see that the main color around Thorwald's apartment is red, symbolizing the bloodshed and overall evil that will occur in that small apartment. The editing in Rear Window is also very well done. Every scene in this movie seems serve a specific purpose, and all of the actors seem to know their role in every scene. The movie seems the perfect length, the length where you get the full effect of the movie without being hackneyed by the same characters and setting. Overall, I think that the cinematography and editing in this movie are outstanding, and they are two of the many things that add up to make this movie great.
The acting in Rear Window is some of the best I have ever scene in a movie. Every role seems to have an important purpose in the movie, and every actor seems to execute his or her role perfectly. It seems that Hitchcock and the actors were on the same page, and their geniuses combined to make this outstanding movie. Jimmy Stewart plays L.B Jeffries, a stubborn man unwilling to change his lifestyle to benefit those around him. Jeffries is an extremely tough character to portray. The man's obsession with getting to the bottom of his neighborhood dilemma borders on insanity, and his inability to love his beautiful and caring girlfriend make him one of the most diverse characters in all of Hollywood. Stewart executes this role with perfection. He displays Jeffries obsession easily and with aplomb, he also perfectly displays an underlying sense of depression that comes with being disabled and out of contact with the world. Grace Kelly plays Lisa Fremont, a loving, caring woman that wants nothing more than to settle down and live a life of leisure with her lover Jeffries. Kelly deservingly won best actress for her portrayal of Fremont. She displays Fremont's motivated, caring personality perfectly. She also gives the sense that Fremont is obsessed with something, as well. Although, unlike her lover, she makes it clear that she is obsessed with something completely different, she is obsessed with intimacy. This may sound far-fetched, but Kelly subtly makes it known throughout the movie that her only motivation for putting up with all of Jeffries shenanigans is the hope that one day they will become married. From the beginning of the movie to the end, she focuses all of her attention on convincing Jeffery to conform and settle down just like everybody else. Overall, the acting in this movie is unbelievable. This star-studded cast makes the movie one of the best movies ever made.
I believe that the music and sound effects in this movie are breathtaking. The music sets the course of the movie, and is most effectively used in suspense scenes throughout the movie. For example, the famous scene where Thorwald approaches Jeffries at the end of the movie. I believe that this scene is the most effective use of music and sound effects that I have ever seen in a movie. The scene begins with eerie music playing, and Jeffries sitting alone in his wheelchair, helpless. Then, the audience hears the soft, increasing sound of Thorwald's footsteps slowly coming up the stairs. Then you hear the door slowly creak, and suddenly intense music starts playing as the villain appears. In this scene, the music and sound effects create a chill in the viewer's spine, and it continues to linger there until the conclusion of the movie.
The direction of Rear Window is unmatched. Alfred Hitchcock, arguably the best director of all time, directed this movie. His famous filming techniques like use of color imagery, pieces of plot, and long, drawn out suspense scenes make this movie a classic. Through Hitchcock's exceptional characters and casting, he has effectively portrayed the overall emotion and conflict of the story line. This movie is just one of Hitchcock's great movies, and I believe it is by far his best. Movies like Psycho and Vertigo put up a good fight; by ultimately I believe that Rear Window was Hitchcock's best movie.