One of Hitchcock's best

Rating: 10/10 (28 November 2002)

This film, although ostensibly a murder mystery, is more about relationships. James Stewart marooned in his apartment overlooking the rear of his block sees into the windows of his neighbours and observes their stories. The girl dancer with the many admirers, the honeymoon couple, the woman without a partner, the couple with their beloved dog, the couple who quarrel, the happily married insurance nurse. And there is James Stewart and Grace Kelly, working out their relationship in a mature and modern way. The film weaves all these stories with the murder mystery hypnotically.

Technically it is faultless. The editing is particularly good with things happening on several levels at once. The lighting gives a real impression of the movement of the day. The dialogue is wonderful and makes each character an individual. The actors do a sterling job. It is difficult not to be drawn into this world and feel the emotions of the people in it.

Hitchcock shows himself not only as great director of the suspense film but a film maker able to see into the human heart. If we look into Rear Window we may find ourselves looking back out. More a rear mirror really.