Rear Window
heart break kid
Posts: 447 Forum Member
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I recently revisited this film, what a classic. Every single element of it is pure cinematic joy.
The cast and performances are great and for the first time I realised how good Thelma Ritter's early dialogue was and how it sets the scene and gives some insight into Jimmy Stewart's character. Grace Kelly is majestic and really pops in the carefully chosen Edith Head costumes. The score and sound elements work really well and were recorded in a unique way to give the whole soundtrack that 'live' feel.
Finally, the master himself. The pace, the characters reactions to each moment, the framing, all amazing. Every single scene adds to the characters or the drama. Hitch really was a master story teller.
Any other Rear Window or Hitchcock fans? How do you feel this rates in terms of his body of work, your own personal favourite films, or just how does it stack up in a list of all time greats?
For some reason, I don't enjoy current films as much as this (barring a few exceptions such as the Sunrise / Sunset trilogy). Not sure if I am just too nostalgic or if it's a style thing (I hate cheap use of jump cuts and quick edits) or some other reason. Anyone else feel like this?
The cast and performances are great and for the first time I realised how good Thelma Ritter's early dialogue was and how it sets the scene and gives some insight into Jimmy Stewart's character. Grace Kelly is majestic and really pops in the carefully chosen Edith Head costumes. The score and sound elements work really well and were recorded in a unique way to give the whole soundtrack that 'live' feel.
Finally, the master himself. The pace, the characters reactions to each moment, the framing, all amazing. Every single scene adds to the characters or the drama. Hitch really was a master story teller.
Any other Rear Window or Hitchcock fans? How do you feel this rates in terms of his body of work, your own personal favourite films, or just how does it stack up in a list of all time greats?
For some reason, I don't enjoy current films as much as this (barring a few exceptions such as the Sunrise / Sunset trilogy). Not sure if I am just too nostalgic or if it's a style thing (I hate cheap use of jump cuts and quick edits) or some other reason. Anyone else feel like this?
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The ones I might still watch:-
The 39 Steps
The Lady Vanishes
Strangers On A Train
Rear Window
North By Northwest
Psycho
6!
I love Rear Window, and I speak as someone who is not a big fan of either James Stewart or Grace Kelly, but I enjoyed both of their performances in this. Of course, Thelma Ritter was a joy to watch in everything she appeared in, especially in A Letter to Three Wives, All About Eve, and Titanic (1953).
I don't like all of Hitchcock's films, I watched Marnie this weeks and loathed it, I hate Vertigo too. I am probably the only one who lists Stage Fright as their favourite Hitchcock, along with The Lady Vanishes, Strangers on a Train, Psycho, and Rope.
I just can't be bothered watching recent films, maybe I am stuck in the nostalgic past, but that is my choice, and I would rather watch my favourites of the '40's and '50's than anything released recently/
But although the film is really about James Stewart's character, it was Grace Kelly and Thelma Ritter who steal the film. Thelma Ritter was one of those actresses who didn't try too hard in her performances, as if they came naturally. While Grace didn't let her sexuality overpower her performance and allowed them to combine both so well. Especially as Alfred Hitcock reportedly only ever hired Grace for her looks and not for her acting. Which is rather sad, as i think Grace was a terrific actress in her short career.
And it is all about watching, quite sick really. But that's Hitchcock for you!
And it's amazing how many pastiches of the storyline appear in TV series... so maybe that makes it a classic...
[Castle, CSI NY... fairly sure the Simpsons must've done it]
I do agree with much of the above - you can certainly tick all the right boxes regarding Hickcock's handling of it - but it's still one I have issues with. The static setting perhaps, or maybe the cosy familiarity of James Stewart - an element used brilliantly to both offset and draw us into the weirdness of Vertigo, but here doesn't seem to add much. It also seems oddly pitched, somewhere between Hitchcock's thriller-entertainments and his darker work.
Speaking of which, we perhaps need more love for Frenzy. An initially dislikeable piece, yet with the same grim appeal as a particularly nasty scab you can't stop picking at. Of his later work, it's the one I'm strangely drawn to the most.
Bart of Darkness - Back in the days when The Simpsons was worth watching.
It's a favourite of mine.
The tv series Due South did an episode along the lines of Rear Window & 1 of the episodes of the comedy series The Detectives did a version of Rear Window.
Rebecca and Notorious are both very good.
Rear Window
Psycho
Frenzy
Strangers on a Train
The Birds
Best use of "You bastard," ever heard in a movie
Horrible villain played brilliantly. The scene where he murders the dating agency woman is a masterpiece of cinema, the way the camera pans out, without showing you what happened was genius.
Ashamed to admit I haven't seen it! I'll certainly seek it out on your recommendation.
Superb last line as well.