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Rear Window (1954)

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2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Of all Hitchcock's films, this is the one which most reveals the man. As usual it evolves from one brilliantly plain idea: Stewart, immobilised in his apartment by a broken leg and aided by his girlfriend (Grace Kelly at her most Vogue-coverish), takes to watching the inhabitants across the courtyard, first with binoculars, later with his camera. He thinks he witnesses a murder... There is suspense enough, of course, but the important thing is the way that it is filmed: the camera never strays from inside Stewart's apartment, and every shot is closely aligned with his point of view. And what this relentless monomaniac witnesses is everyone's dirty linen: suicide, broken dreams, and cheap death. Quite aside from the violation of intimacy, which is shocking enough, Hitchcock has nowhere else come so close to pure misanthropy, nor given us so disturbing a definition of what it is to watch the 'silent film' of other people's lives, whether across a courtyard or up on a screen. No wonder the sensual puritan in him punishes Stewart by breaking his other leg. CPea.

Author: CPea

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

Camila said...

Posted on Feb 26 2009 12:32 At least after reading this review, there is no need to watch the movie as it tells mos of it!

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Kristen said...

Posted on Mar 26 2008 18:09 This movie was great. I loved it. First time I have ever seen it, and we watched it for Intro to Film class. The way Hitchcock put you in the wheelchair and then thru the lense you see the slow turn of Thornwald, i gasped! haha it's such a creeped out feeling, like he actually spotted you spying on him! I LOVE IT!!!

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