The talents of producer-director Alfred Hitchcock are working on a cylinders in the classic motion picture thriller “Rear Window.” Considered by many to be the greatest motion picture of all time, Hitch’s suspenseful story centers on James Stewart, confined to a wheelchair in his apartment, who thinks he has witnessed a murder in one of his neighbor’s apartments across the courtyard. The suspense from The Master of Suspense draws in the audience immediately and does not release us until the conclusion of the picture. Part of the appeal is no doubt Stewart’s voyeurism.
The screenplay was superbly written by John Michael Hayes, with tight direction by Hitchcock. The beautiful Grace Kelly plays Stewart’s girlfriend, arousing jealousy on the part of males in the audience as she spends a lot of time with him in his apartment. The supporting cast includes Thelma Ritter as Stewart’s nurse, Wendell Corey as his policeman friend, and Raymond Burr as Lars Thorwald, the neighbor/suspect.
Production values are extremely high, with Oscar nominations going for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound. Franz Waxman composed the brilliant musical score, and Edith Head was in charge of costumes.
Look for Hitch to make his usual cameo appearance, this time in another neighbor’s apartment, a songwriter playing the piano with Hitch nearby. The extremely watchable “Rear Window” is no doubt Alfred Hitchcock’s best film, a big hit at the box office in 1954 for Hitch and Paramount Pictures.
Rear Window (1954)
cinema
My Review
The talents of producer-director Alfred Hitchcock are working on a cylinders in the classic motion picture thriller “Rear Window.” Considered by many to be the greatest motion picture of all time, Hitch’s suspenseful story centers on James Stewart, confined to a wheelchair in his apartment, who thinks he has witnessed a murder in one of his neighbor’s apartments across the courtyard. The suspense from The Master of Suspense draws in the audience immediately and does not release us until the conclusion of the picture. Part of the appeal is no doubt Stewart’s voyeurism.
The screenplay was superbly written by John Michael Hayes, with tight direction by Hitchcock. The beautiful Grace Kelly plays Stewart’s girlfriend, arousing jealousy on the part of males in the audience as she spends a lot of time with him in his apartment. The supporting cast includes Thelma Ritter as Stewart’s nurse, Wendell Corey as his policeman friend, and Raymond Burr as Lars Thorwald, the neighbor/suspect.
Production values are extremely high, with Oscar nominations going for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound. Franz Waxman composed the brilliant musical score, and Edith Head was in charge of costumes.
Look for Hitch to make his usual cameo appearance, this time in another neighbor’s apartment, a songwriter playing the piano with Hitch nearby. The extremely watchable “Rear Window” is no doubt Alfred Hitchcock’s best film, a big hit at the box office in 1954 for Hitch and Paramount Pictures.