Rear Window

1954 *****

Jeff, a field photographer who is confined to his home with a full leg cast entertains himself by spying on his neighbors. Sitting propped in his wheelchair he watches the daily antics of Miss Lonleyheart, Miss Torso, the old couple and their pet dog, the musician, the sculptor and the salesman who constantly bickers with his invalid wife. Late one rainy evening he spies the salesman exiting his flat with his sales case then shortly after, return home. As Jeff drifts in and out of sleep he sees the salesman repeat this routine several more times. He becomes suspicious of his behavior. He then sees the man wrap a knife and saw in newspaper so he calls a detective friend to pass on the info. At first no one believes Jeff, his girlfriend and nurse just write it off as his bored mind creating something of interest. Eventually, the salesman’s bizarre behavior convinces Jeff's girlfriend Lisa and Nurse Stella to join forces with him to try and get some evidence to prove something is amiss.

I absolutely adore this film. The chemistry between Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly is amazing, as it should be. I can’t imagine how anyone could not like Jimmy Stewart; he is always such a casual, likeable fellow. I can fully understand him watching the neighbors to pass the time, who wouldn’t? We are talking back in the days of no video games or DVD’s or 172 cable channels so one had to be creative to keep from going stir crazy. His neighbors are some interesting characters and most of them leave their blinds open all the time so they are just asking for it. I always feel like a voyeur myself when watching this, like a fly on Jimmy Stewart’s wall. The entire film is shot from that perspective, we never leave his apartment until he does. It’s really what makes this film work so well, as we become a part of it ourselves.