"A murderer would never parade his crime in front of an open window".
We all know it's wrong to spy on people, but we still do it. Well what else to do when you are stuck inside during a sweltering summer with a broken leg? Photographer L.B. Jeffries certainly thinks this is the best way to pass his time whilst trapped in a wheelchair. By looking at his various neighbours through the lens of his camera, we along with him become obsessed and fascinated with these people’s lives. In a more than Hitchcockian fashion this Rear Window’s suspenseful narrative unfolds and thickens rapidly.
From start to finish this unique film fuels our obsession with voyeurism, as much as it does its protagonist. As the film progresses Jeff becomes more obsessed with staring out the window at the block of flats opposite than holding his model of a girlfriend. Whether he is peering at a ballet dancer, a couple who lower their little dog in a basket to the garden or Miss Torso who cheekily throws parties for several men at a time, Jeff starts to fabricate stories about each and everyone.
Even after all these years Rear Window stands out in the vast world of cinema. With Alfred Hitchcock’s trademark classic romance and wit, it’s no wonder people still talk about this film. Rear Window now gets a 2-Disk Special Edition DVD release this Monday 3rd August 2014. A film that deserves such a release and definitely must have for any Hitchcock fan.
Do like Rear Window as much as we do? Let us know!