The main character, played by james stewart, has a broken leg in plaster courtesy of hitchcock at the end of the film he has both legs broken. Analysis of themes in rear window essay 1436 words. And there are a lot of cinematic elements at play in rear window that help put audiences into the role. A wheelchairbound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. In rear window, jeff is not a moralist, a policeman or a dogooder, but a man who likes to look. This setting is a description a scenes in the plot of the films, rear window by alfred hitchcock 1954 and disturbia by d.
So when it came time to expose my collegeaged children to the works of the master of suspense, it was a nobrainer as to which film it would be. The photographers curiosity is merely hitchcocks means to a thoroughly. Rear window, being buttressed by an allstar cast, and a very wellcalculated story, is still a satisfying mustwatch in his seminal film canon. Alfred hitchcocks 1954 thriller rear window encapsulates his masterful use of controlling information to create deepseated suspense in the audience. There are two main purposes for his use of optical pointof view shots in rear window. Apr 01, 2018 as with any other text, the social conditions at the time of rear windows release in 1954 inform and shape the interactions and events of the film. It hasnt been seen anywhere in the world legally, at least in more than 10 years, because hitchcock pulled it off the market to increase its eventual value to his estate. Narrative analysis of rear window by alfred hitchcock 965 words 4 pages. One of alfred hitchcocks very best efforts, rear window is a crackling suspense film that also ranks with michael powells peeping tom 1960 as one of the movies most trenchant dissections of. There are two main purposes for his use of optical pointof view shots in. Trailer for alfred hitchcocks film starring james stewart,grace kelly,wendell corey,thelma ritter,raymond burr,judith evelyn,ross. Originally released by paramount pictures, the film stars james stewart, grace kelly, wendell corey, thelma ritter, and raymond burr.
In rear window, he is in love with the occupation of photography, and becomes completely absorbed in reconstructing the images he has seen. Rear window proves that theres no need to rush at 160 miles per hour to make a good thriller. This film masterpiece was made entirely on one confined set built at paramount studios a realistic courtyard composed of 32 apartments 12 completely furnished. Hitchcock used her a lot in notorious, to catch a thief, vertigo, and the birds, among other films, and her fantastic clothes were all over hollywood in the 50s and 60s. In other words, we are simply seeing the world directly through the characters eyes. One of the prime examples of hitchcocks use of optical pointofview shots is his 1954 film, rear window. Rear window by alfred hitchcock lisas study guides. Now sir alfred has passed away, the estate has been settled, and the movie is back in. Find out where rear window 1954 is streaming, if rear window 1954 is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. The film negative was considerably damaged as a result of color dye fading as early as the 1960s. How hitchcock used editing to turn rear window into a.
Without criticizing or supporting these roles, rear window puts every gender stereotype in play in one neat package and offers them for observation on a platter. The analysis of the cinematography and miseenscene in the opening sequence in rear window alfred hitchcock, 1954. Made in the midst of a decade in which the master of suspense was churning out a classic or two every year, it is consequently startling that rear window is so deplorably, atrociously bad. Is there any photograph more hybrid, less aesthetically pure than the film still. Once the page has finished loading, click on any of the frames to view a larger image. Vanderbilt universitys feminism and film blog poses an interesting take on gender dynamics in rear window, arguing that the film outwardly offers images of generalized gender roles, but uses its two main characters to reverse the traditional maleactive, femalepassive paradigm. Theme of rear window and disturbia 779 words 4 pages. Jimmy stewart in alfred hitchocks rear window 1954.
The costumes for rear window were designed by edith head, one of the most famous costume designers in hollywood history. Set design the set is designed to give you an easy map to follow of their surroundings. Despite fears that the film had been irrevocably damaged, preservation experts were able to restore the film nearly to its original coloration. At that time i could enter any warner brothers movie theater free. Micro elements such as cinematography and miseenscene can be used to create all sorts of effects and feelings within a screen play. Parents need to know that rear window, considered a classic alfred hitchcock mystery, reflects the social and ethical values of the 1950s when it was made. As demonstrated by rear window, hitchcock can transform what may seem like a mundane way to film a moviethrough a window in a limited space in a single apartment roominto a work of suspenseful art. Alfred hitchcock taught us all the dangers of spying on your neighbors with rear window, the criticallyacclaimed thriller that was released on september 1, 1954. This week, by special request from patreon supporter anna. How does hitchcock use rear window to define gender. Jefferies, a photographer bound to a wheelchair in his apartment as his broken leg heals.
Jeffries played by james stewart whom after breaking his leg in a reckless and dangerous photographing accident, is bound to a wheelchair in his tworoom apartment in new york for several. James stewart keeps watch in hitchcocks rear window. It is a film about looking, and hitchcock, as always, was canny on several levels. In the earliest days of cinema, the russian director kuleshov performed a famous experiment in which he juxtaposed identical shots of a mans face with other shots. Rear window 1954 employed an iconically unique tactic to validate the authenticity of the large production set being an actual apartment courtyard. Hitchcock had a rather concrete opinion of how men and women fit into society in the 1950s, particularly as was represented in film. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. How does hitchcock use rear window to define gender roles. Every open window in the blistering apartment complex that hitchcocks camera resides in leads to another character, another emotion, another scene, and another mystery. Hitchcock told the man to pull the mattress in one direction and told the woman to pull in the opposite direction.
Released in the postwar period, the film is undoubtedly characterised by the interpersonal suspicion which defined the era. In alfred hitchcocks enthralling film, rear window, set in manhattan, new york in the 1950s, hitchcock draws attention to the way physical immobility is simply an echo of emotional immobility as represented by the protagonist, l. The phenomenal film is well known for proclaiming its voyeurism issues that goes on in todays society. Rear window 1954 is the first of the current package of hitchcock rereleases. Once the page has finished loading, click on any of. Rear window 1954 this page contains frames from rear window 1954 and may take a short while to load completely. Rear window 1954 after breaking his leg during a shoot, photojournalist l. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. Ending spoiler for rear window 1954, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more.
Jeff jefferies james stuart is confined to a wheelchair with a broken leg, he becomes obsessed with watching the private lives of his neighbors play out across the. The wheelchairbound jeff whiles away his time observing his neighbours through a telephoto lens, bestowing them with nicknames and growing familiar. Each actor and actress in the apartment complex facing jeffs rear window wore an earpiece through which they could receive hitchcocks directions. After the curtains rise, hitchcock does a slow counterclockwise pan of the courtyard. Jeff jefferies, a photojournalist stuck in his apartment thanks. Mar 01, 2015 rear window 1954, alfred hitchcock james stewart and grace kelly. These two films contain many similar themes which are a part of the movies plot but are slightly different. Jeffries played by james stewart whom after breaking his leg in a reckless and dangerous photographing accident, is bound to a wheelchair in his tworoom apartment in new york for several weeks. Cinematography is the use of the camera, the shots used, the angles and distances. John michael hayes screenplay, cornell woolrich short story. I made arrangements to go and see, rear window but was told that it was standng room only, remember when films were that good, ahthe good old days. However, a large portion of the film is shot from the standpoint of jeffs. Rear window perfectly demonstrates the impulse of morbid curiosity and tells the story of a wheelchair bound photographer who, while confined in his apartment. John michael hayes screenplay was based on cornell woolrichs with penname william irish original 1942 short story or novelette, it had to be murder.
Analysis of themes in rear window essay 1436 words bartleby. Rear window 1954, alfred hitchcock james stewart and grace kelly. Jul 29, 2014 since much of the film consists of jimmy stewart, in either medium shot or closeup, looking out his window followed by what he sees and then his reaction to it, it could be argued that, to a great extent, rear window is the kuleshov effect. Rear window is a 1954 american technicolor mystery thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock. Hitchcocks rear window 1954 builds a distinct view of the world and how, in the directors opinion, men and women fit in it. In rear window, what is unique about the use of sound. All of the sound in the film, save for the orchestration at the opening and closing of the piece, is diegetic, natural location noise. Brian and shaun try to make the case that a timetraveling alfred hitchcock invented reality television, and zombie grace kelly is called out for child abuse. May 23, 20 23 videos play all rear window 1954 full movie gundune the million pound note 1954 starring gregory peck full movie duration. The film was shot entirely at paramount studios, which included an enormous indoor set to replicate a greenwich village courtyard. Rear window 1954 is an intriguing, brilliant, macabre hitchcockian visual study of obsessive human curiosity and voyeurism.
This movie helped pinpoint some recurring elements about men and women present in all three films that we concentrated on for this exhibit. Jeff jeffries james stewart is forced to spend a humid summer recuperating in his greenwich village apartment. Inside the real greenwich village apartment that inspired. The apartment complex seen in rear window was completely constructed on the. Rear window, one of alfred hitchcocks finest works, is an utterly incredible tale of voyeurism in miniature. Rear window is a fantastic alfred hitchcock classic, definitely one of his best films. But this particular kind of cinematography not only shows just how brilliant jeff is, it shows just how brilliant hitchcock was as a director. There are crucial moments in the film where he is clearly required to act, and he delays, not because he doesnt care what happens, but because he forgets he can be an active player. When the man was matched with food, audiences said the man looked hungry, and so on. Rear window by ben elliott hitchcocks rear window 1954 builds a distinct view of the world and how, in the directors opinion, men and women fit in it. In his suspense masterpiece, hitchcock utilizes all of his favorite gender roles for his male and female characters. Alfred hitchcock frequently began his movies with a scene that introduces the viewer to both character and setting in an understated, economical way. Stephanie bittar narrative analysis paper mcs 273 rear window 1955 alfred hitchcocks 1954 film, rear window, explores many dimensions in cinematography.
As summarized on the website the museum of film history, men are shown as damaged and needing. Rear window 1954 where to stream and watch decider. Since much of the film consists of jimmy stewart, in either medium shot or closeup, looking out his window followed by what he sees and then his reaction to it, it could be argued that, to a great extent, rear window is the kuleshov effect. The opening scene of rear window is perhaps the best opening of any hitchcock film. In 1954, i worked for the stanley theater, a warner brothers movie theater in philadelphia.
There is always the urge to know more, to look beyond the camera. As with hitchcocks 1944 film lifeboat, which takes place entirely at sea, rear window presented the director with an opportunity to craft a suspense picture within. Sitting alone, trapped inside my home watching my neighbors movements day by day. However, a large portion of the film is shot from the standpoint of jeffs rear window, making each viewer into a voyeur. So when it came time to expose my collegeaged children to the works of the master of suspense, it was a nobrainer as to which film.
The medical condition of the main character is the first tipoff. Full of tension and suspense, standout performances from james stewart and grace kelly make this film a mustwatch for hitchcock fans. Since its 1954, theres no profanity, no visible sexual activity or nudity, and very little violence. For all intents and purposes, rear window is a film about voyeurism, so it makes sense that hitchcocks approach to the film would be to force audiences to become voyeurs. Rear window was made in 1954, at the pinnacle of director alfred hitchcocks career. After another long break blame university girl on film is back with the movie that graces the header of our beloved siterear window 1954 it tells the story of a magazine photographer, l. Its as if, in 1954, hitchcock had a glimpse of what would happen in 2020, and. Oct 04, 2012 after another long break blame university girl on film is back with the movie that graces the header of our beloved siterear window 1954 it tells the story of a magazine photographer, l. With james stewart, grace kelly, wendell corey, thelma ritter. In rear window, what is unique about the use of sound and. Rear window is a 1954 american technicolor mystery thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock and written by john michael hayes based on cornell woolrichs 1942 short story it had to be murder.