Rear Window

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2005)

Oscar nominated Sir Alfred Hitchcock has created another masterpiece, my second favourite after Psycho. Basically L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies (the great James Stewart) is the reporter who is spending his last weeks in his apartment with a broken leg, and all he can do to pass the time is stare out the window watching his neighbours enjoying the hot weather (with no blinds down). During his time though, he is occasionally visited by the nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter), and his model girlfriend, Lisa Carol Fremont (the beautiful Grace Kelly). While he is watching the individual occupants of the windows, he has given them all nicknames and is consumed by their private dramas. But one particularly window has caught his attention, when Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr) is looking very suspicious with knives, saws and ropes, going out late at night, and his nagging wife has disappeared. Jeff is convinced that he has murdered his wife, and is constantly trying to watch the action, and prove Throwald's guilt. Det. Lt. Thomas J. Doyle (Wendell Corey) is convinced he is overreacting, but more and more incidents with Thorwald make Jeff, and you (the audience) believe this accusation. The best moments are when Jeff gives Thorwald a note and a phone call, the investigation of the patio, and the concluding fight. Hitchcock's cameo is the man in the songwriter/pianist's studio winding a clock. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Sound and Best Writing, Screenplay, and it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Film from any Source. Grace Kelly was number 86, and James Stewart number 12 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, Stewart was also number 3 on 100 Years, 100 Stars - Men, Kelly was number 13 on 100 Years, 100 Stars - Women, Stewart was number 13 on The World's Greatest Actor, Hitchcock was number 75, and Kelly number 92 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, the film was number 14 on 100 Years, 100 Thrills, and it was number 42 on 100 Years, 100 Movies. Outstanding!