Review of Rear Window (1954) by Lawrence G — 08 Jul 2013

Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 film Rear Window has been called a masterpiece but does it deserve that distinction? If so then why? In answer to the first question, in a word, yes. The film is as high cinema as a director can achieve and very brilliantly paints a picture out of each frame.

As many have pointed out the film uses it's basic premise of a handicapped man's only connection to the world being through captivating beautiful girlfriend, Lisa, (played by the gorgeous Grace Kelly) landlady and detective as well as the neighbors around his apartment. This gives the audience the feeling of watching several different mini movies in one although the murder mystery takes the main portion of the film.

The film also greatly uses Hitch's popular less is more style of suspenseful film making barely giving any information to indite the movie's antagonist as a killer despite his profile and the fact he has knives and a saw and a disappearing wife and gradually builds tension as more becomes unveiled. It also allows the characters to be meta participants in this situation letting them voice their opinions on what's happening like an audience would in a horror film.

The film also greatly benefits from it's very jazzy and catchy pre Bernard Hermann soundtrack. The film is further enhanced by Hitch's masterful use of angles and lighting as well as his relationship with actor Jimmy Stewart and their proven symbiosis as an amazing actor/director team. All in all this film is a masterpiece and demonstrates the brilliance of a master of his craft.