Rear window ethics

Rating: 10/10 (4 November 2007)

Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" starts with a shot of its setting, a small apartment square compromised of bright Technicolor yet ageing brick buildings. It seems as though it could be the setting for an adaptation of a Broadway musical, but as this is a Hitchcock film it's not too surprising that no one starts singing and that darker designs lie beneath the benign surface. The people that live in the confined apartment setting have a captive audience, L. B. Jefferies, who is confined to his room in a wheelchair with a cast on his leg. Jeff occupies his time by scrutinizing the lives of those around him by peering through their windows. Eventually he sees what he deems to be suspicious conduct from one of his neighbors and conjectures that something sinister is afoot.
James Stewart lends his usual charm to the role of Jefferies, but is appropriately also somewhat unnerving as well. We are frequently left with a sense that he crosses moral boundaries, yet we can't help being equally fascinated with what he observes. Grace Kelly is dazzling in her role as Liza and creates an admirably persistent character. Wendell Corey is well-cast as a cynical detective and Thelma Ritter also as the vocal Stella. Raymond Burr manages to make an impression despite performing largely at a distance from the principal characters.
The mystery story developed draws in viewers as the main characters are drawn in, which is the film's main appeal. Various subplots are developed and are interesting without detracting from the film's overall story. The film also develops suitable tension, in particular near the ending. Impressively, "Rear Window" manages to be consistently engaging though confined to a small setting.