when movies had dialogue, not car chases

Rating: 10/10 (2 September 2005)

I first saw Rear Window when I was teenager in the '60's, babysitting on a Saturday Night and it's lucky the kids were in bed and asleep, because I was completely enthralled. I'd never seen anything so wonderful and didn't know that movies like that existed. It held me from the first moment and the way it made you look at the people was amazing. Then it went into hibernation for years and years, and I was very happy to see it back. It still is a masterpiece and is a sorry comment on movies today which rely more on technology and violence to hold an audience rather than characters and plot. A really talky film, it's an entire four course meal that truly satisfies. What has always impressed me is the final scene with Thorwald where you actually feel sorry for the guy. It's a rare film maker that can make you do this, after setting him up as the villain for two hours. This film can be studied for the wonderful use of camera alone and still be compelling. And was there ever a woman as hauntingly lovely as Grace Kelly? She already acted like a princess.