Love story!

Rating: 10/10 (23 May 2006)

One of the four movies that are my favourite from Hitchcock along with Psycho, Lifeboat and Birds. This latter shares with Rear Window what I express in the subject, and I believe is quite overlooked.
Yes, though it is about a criminal investigation on its face value with plenty of suspense, mystery and with some humor added, there is a second story in this movie: how the two heroes learn and find out that they can be partners despite some 'differences' in their backgrounds, life styles.
When we meet the couple first we observe obvious attraction between them, however Jeff explicitly points out that he is a danger seeking journalist, occasionally traveling abroad in conditions that would not please Lisa who is a member of the high society, never wears a dress twice etc.
Due to Jeff's accident though he is prisoned in his home and stumbles upon a murder while peeping at neighbours. And here the transformation begins. Lisa becomes a private detective, she takes serious risks in order to confirm Jeff's suspicions and acquires evidence. This results in a bonding, that is rarely recognized and which is IMO is a major pillar of this movie.
This compares to Birds, where very similarly a married couple has some marital problems when the movie starts, but through the ordeal of the Bird 'problem' they become more bonded than before.