The window to secrets

Rating: Null/10 (29 November 2001)

Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 movie, Rear Window, starring James Stewart is a one of a kind. L.B. Jeffries one room apartment is the only stage for the one hour and twelve minute movie. Jeffries a magazine photographer, with a broken leg, is confined to the apartment for six weeks and the movie tells us how he spends his long days. Jeffries' late girlfriend Lisa, played by Grace Kelly, is his most frequent visitor. Lisa dreams of one day marrying L.B., yet he hopes to fall in love before he marries. L.B. is often alone with no company, with the exception of his neighbors who reveal their personal affairs to anyone who might be watching. Jeffries has nothing to do but watch, he becomes obsessed with his neighbors lives and takes every chance to spy on them. L.B. will even wait up in the night to find out what someone might be doing out in the rain at three a.m. L.B. becomes so interested that he begins to compare his self to their lives. Lisa finds his constant spying revolting at first, yet she too becomes wrapped up in his compulsive need to know what they are doing. L.B. is particularly interested in the lives of the Thorwald's across the courtyard from his rear window. The Thorwalds are an older married couple, Mr. Thorwald is a touchy drinker, while his wife is in bed with what appears to be an illness. The Thorwald's constant fighting with each other is extremely interesting to L.B. and Lisa as well. L.B. even convinces his nurse Stella that there is something peculiar going on in the Thorwald's apartment, and he is determined to find out what. The movie presents a classic mystery case that is even difficult for L.B.'s detective friend to penetrate. Rear Window, although produced in 1954, is an excellent Thriller with wonderful ability to keep you on the edge of your seat. I recommend this movie to anyone that enjoys a classic suspense.