Review of Rear Window (1954) by Sidney S — 12 Sep 2012

Pure classic cinema, and no doubt pure genius! The master of the thriller genre Alfred Hitchcock crafted this amazing story of claustrophobia, murder, and mystery of a wheel chair bound man whose new hobby is watching his neighbors daily routine, believes to have witnessed a murder.

James Stewart gives a great performance he plays the nosy neighbor but at the same time has concern after witnessing the questionable events of that one night. From his facial expressions seen when looking through the binoculars or camera you see his dedicated performance, the horror to what he has witnessed, fear and no doubt fascination with the situation and intrigue in wanting to solve it.Grace Kelly gives a great performance as Lisa, Jeff's girlfriend who also becomes intrigued of the sketchy circumstances, and Thelma Ritter as Stella is a great addition as comic relief.

The story itself is very thrilling it gives you the closed in environment feel by showing scenes only from within Jeff's view of the apartment building area and through various people's windows. Once the story picks up when watching Raymond Burr as Lars Thorwald leave his apartment 3 times in the middle of the night along with disposing of a saw, knife and the disappearance of his wife. With no one seeming to believe him and the cop making every excuse not to investigate it starts to make you wonder perhaps Jeff over reacted? maybe he just has too much time on his hands? spying on neighbors is unethical? Jeff thinks otherwise.

Once Jeff and Lisa devise a plan to search Thorwald's apartment the thrills pick up from herself getting caught, to Thorwald being led to Jeff, to the police and the climatic ending. Alfred Hitchcock truly crafted a cinematic masterpiece and one that has influenced many films in the thriller genre.