Today is my favorite Hitchcock film, Rear Window.
The story of a photographer (James Stewart) who is laid up with a bum leg in his apartment. His apartment looks across the backyard of an apartment complex. Bored, he takes to watching his neighbors.
And then one day, he thinks he discovers that one of his neighbors may have killed his wife...
Okay, there a couple of reasons why this movie is so great. If you ever read the short story upon which it is based, you'll find that Hitchcock lifted the basic premise, and then ratcheted the suspense up to about 11. I did a comparison paper in college between the book and the movie, and this one, the movie wins, hands down.
The set is ingenious.
There is so much action that takes place outside of the window, and yet the entire movie is shot from the interior of Stewart's apartment. Like the hero, you too are sucked into his voyeuristic world, and the edge of your seat suspense comes from knowing only what you think you've seen along with Stewart.
Then there is Jimmy Stewart's performance. He anchors the picture even when he is not onscreen. Literally, if you're not seeing him in the shot, you're seeing what he would be seeing. He is a great actor, and in many cases in this film, a re-actor to what is happening.
Along for the ride is Grace Kelly, as the woman who loves him so terribly much, and yet she can't get him to stop looking out the window and pay her any attention.
Again, like many dramas, this one doesn't get watched too terribly often, but it's always fun to watch once in a blue moon. The kids also really enjoyed seeing the inspiration for the film, Disturbia and how good the overall premise of this story really is.
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