Review of Rear Window (1954) by Dave B — 30 Jan 2014

Alfred Hitchcock is without question the most influential director in film history. More than most directors out there, he seems to recognize that the most important elements of a timeless motion picture are a great story and great characters to accompany it. Very few films of Alfred Hitchcock's demonstrates these essential aspects more successfully than his 1954 masterpiece Rear Window, which is not only his greatest film, but is also my personal favorite film. Period.

In Rear Window, we follow L.B. "Jeff" Jeffries (James Stewart), a professional photographer who is confined to a wheelchair after undergoing an accident trying to photograph a big race car crash. With nothing to do in his temporary state except look forward to visits from his gorgeous girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) and his wisecracking nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter), he kills time in his apartment by keeping an eye on his neighbors in the middle of a summer heat wave. When he begins to become convinced that one of his neighbors (Raymond Burr) has possibly committed a murder, he tries to convince Lisa and Stella that something rather fishy is going on in his neighborhood.

Everything about this film is simply perfect. The screenplay by John Michael Hayes is impeccable, from the witty exchanges between all of the characters to the conversations these characters have in regards to dissecting what it is about this neighbor that makes them suspicious. On top of that, I really love these characters since I can really relate to them and identify with whatever issues/conflicts they have with their lives.

The acting is also terrific, from James Stewart's intriguing complexity to his character, to Grace Kelly's natural beauty and wonderful screen presence. But it's Alfred Hitchcock's direction that truly makes this film so amazing. Hitchcock does great justice to this picture in terms of telling the story, bringing these colorful characters to life, and incorporating nail-biting suspense when it's most needed. When you're seeing a character sneak into the antagonist's home and you're automatically on the edge of your seat and caring about what happens to that character, you know the director is doing his part.

What also makes Rear Window stand the test of time so well is that you can see it again and again, and not only enjoy it as much as the first time you've seen it but also notice something new that you didn't notice before. For example, you might pick up underlying messages regarding the consequences of invading one's privacy, notice the relationships/similarities between a certain character and the environment they live in, or whatever other original analysis you can randomly obtain.

Rear Window is a must-see for anyone who loves movies. I am aware that everyone's entitled to their own opinion regarding what is the greatest film ever made. I'm proud to say that this is my choice and I look forward to repeated viewings of this picture in the very near future.