Chaplin
Better off silent
Fans of Hitchcock generally consider 4 movies to be his best: Psycho, Vertigo, North By Northwest and this movie, made in 1954 and very much ahead of its time.
James Stewart plays LB "Jeff" Jeffries in the film, a photographer who breaks his leg while trying to shoot and action-packed car race. Suffering from extreme boredom, he does what most journalists do, give in to his voyeuristic side. Day by day he looks out the window through his professional camera, spying on the daily lives of his neighbors. During this stagnant time, Jeff has two visitors, his nurse Stella and his girlfriend, Lisa Fremont, played elegantly by the luminous Grace Kelly.
Due to Jeff's observations, he begins to suspect that the neighbor across the way might have killed his wife. What follows is a lengthy investigation--with Jeff wheelchair-bound in his apartment and Lisa and Stella doing the "dirty work". (Sometimes literally)
This movie is a study in perfect filmmaking. The set you see outside of Jeff's window, is exactly that--a set. But it is a REAL set--those buildings ARE several stories high, and they do have depth in them. Up until this time, the set of Rear Window was one of the most ambitious (and expensive) ever made.
The acting is uniformly perfect. As always, Jimmy Stewart provides the audience with the perfect hero, even though he is hampered by a huge cast on his leg. Thelma Ritter is terrific as Stella, and of course, even today, few actresses can beat the stunning Grace Kelly. Even today, a full 50 years since the film, Grace appears to be one of the most beautiful women to ever grace the planet, let alone the silver screen. And Perry Mason himself, Raymond Burr, is suitably creepy as the man who may or may not have murdered his wife.
The film was nominated for Director, Writing, Cinematography and Sound, but failed to win any of them. The movie wasn't even considered one of the top 5 movies of the year, as it was outbid for Best Picture by hree Coins in th Fountain, The Country Girl, The Caine Mutiny, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and the eventual winner, On The Waterfront. Hitchcock was beaten out for Best Director by Elia Kazan, who also directed On the Waterfront--so perhaps that year wasn't such a travesty.
But I hope those of you that haven't seen the film give it a chance--it might seem somewhat dated, but it IS 50 years old, after all!
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000056PWV.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
James Stewart plays LB "Jeff" Jeffries in the film, a photographer who breaks his leg while trying to shoot and action-packed car race. Suffering from extreme boredom, he does what most journalists do, give in to his voyeuristic side. Day by day he looks out the window through his professional camera, spying on the daily lives of his neighbors. During this stagnant time, Jeff has two visitors, his nurse Stella and his girlfriend, Lisa Fremont, played elegantly by the luminous Grace Kelly.
Due to Jeff's observations, he begins to suspect that the neighbor across the way might have killed his wife. What follows is a lengthy investigation--with Jeff wheelchair-bound in his apartment and Lisa and Stella doing the "dirty work". (Sometimes literally)
This movie is a study in perfect filmmaking. The set you see outside of Jeff's window, is exactly that--a set. But it is a REAL set--those buildings ARE several stories high, and they do have depth in them. Up until this time, the set of Rear Window was one of the most ambitious (and expensive) ever made.
The acting is uniformly perfect. As always, Jimmy Stewart provides the audience with the perfect hero, even though he is hampered by a huge cast on his leg. Thelma Ritter is terrific as Stella, and of course, even today, few actresses can beat the stunning Grace Kelly. Even today, a full 50 years since the film, Grace appears to be one of the most beautiful women to ever grace the planet, let alone the silver screen. And Perry Mason himself, Raymond Burr, is suitably creepy as the man who may or may not have murdered his wife.
The film was nominated for Director, Writing, Cinematography and Sound, but failed to win any of them. The movie wasn't even considered one of the top 5 movies of the year, as it was outbid for Best Picture by hree Coins in th Fountain, The Country Girl, The Caine Mutiny, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and the eventual winner, On The Waterfront. Hitchcock was beaten out for Best Director by Elia Kazan, who also directed On the Waterfront--so perhaps that year wasn't such a travesty.
But I hope those of you that haven't seen the film give it a chance--it might seem somewhat dated, but it IS 50 years old, after all!
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000056PWV.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
