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I don’t know whether or not you’ve reviewed another Hitchcock classic “Rope” (also starring James Stewart), but I think you will like it if you haven’t.
Up until the '70's, an unmarried man and woman didn't openly sleep together (no matter what they might do before then). Hotels and motels could and would demand to see a marriage license if a couple were checking in without luggage. Apartments (like here), boarding houses, and dorms had strict rules about this and you could be kicked out. Dorms had rules that if you had a member of the opposite sex in your room, the door had to be ajar and each person had to have one foot on the floor at all times. I remember in 1968, a story made national news because a male and female student were living together (unwed), at Columbia University in one of the most liberal cities in America. Doyle is making sly glances at Lisa's nightgown and slippers, letting Jeff knew he knew what was about to go on. But in the movie, he couldn't really make any more obvious statement as the ultra-restrictive Hays Code was still in effect - requiring even married couples be shown sleeping in separate beds.
@@kaiielle At the end, "Stanley" returns to Miss Torso. It looks like he is a service man (the Korean war as going on at the time) and he was rather short and pudgy, exactly NOT the guy you would think Miss Torso would go for.
When I was going to college in the 80s, cohabitation between unmarried men and women was still illegal in my state. An awful lot has changed in the past 60 or so years.
Well, that's not quite what Doyle had on his mind. He was glancing at the nightgown, which in his mind proved not everything "seen" should be taken literal, because he did not doubt the would be doing anything that night, remember, L.B. had on a cast, but someone in a "window" across the court might think different without all the facts. So, in his own way by glancing at the nightgown, he was letting L.B. know that everything is not always as it appears.
you could get around the hotel rules so easily in multiple ways If you had money, you each rent a room then just go to the other's room. No cameras, other patrons didnt care. 2nd way is check in as siblings with one of you acting very ill. A sick person with a fever could forget their ID, and back then, IDs were not required if you didnt drive. Just takes 30% mental effort to come up with a con. lol
I love this movie. The man who played the songwriter is Ross Bagdasarian, better known by his stage name Dave Seville, creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
To your question about that weird moment with Doyle- he was looking at her bag because he could see she'd brought a change of clothes with her, and at that time a woman staying over at a man's apartment was scandalous. That's why he so pointedly asked Jimmy Stewart's character if he told his landlord everything (after he'd asked why the landlord didn't know about it if Thorwald's wife was moving out)
A couple of points, KL, about Hitchcock's focus on detail, which obviously means a lot in a story like this one. First, the address of Thorwald's building, 125 West Ninth Street, doesn't exist -- but that's because Ninth Street turns into Christopher Street, and there IS a 125 Christopher Street in Manhattan, and an apartment building exactly like the one we see at that address. (I know, because I used to live in that neighborhood.) Also, the local police precinct is only about a block away, so it makes sense that the cops could get there as fast as they did.
Fun reaction. At the end, Lisa is wearing a pair of jeans and a plain red shirt, not high fashion. This is a kind of costume joke to suggest that she and Jeff have reached a compromise regarding her values. But she goes back to her fashion magazine, so maybe she has the upper hand. Her fancy dresses and the way she is filmed showing them off adds some visual variety so that limiting the filming to the apartments does not become too boring. Hitchcock also wanted to make sure that the residents of the apartment building all had their own little stories.
The climax of the movie isn’t just when Thorwald’s guilt is confirmed and he’s caught. It’s also the moment when the tables are finally turned and every person Jeff has been watching simultaneously sees him for the first time. The whole movie has been him looking out at all of them, but in the end they’re all looking in at him. But this is Hitchcock at his finest, to me. That set and his use of it to heighten suspense and tell the story is amazing. The shot of Thorwald’s cigar glowing in the black window when Jeff says only one person didn’t come out is one of my favorite movie shots ever. There’s just something sinister about it that I love. And you can never go wrong with Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart. It’s just a masterpiece through and through.
Thelma Ritter (1902-1969) was a wonderful supporting player through the '50s and into the '60s. She was nominated for six "Best Supporting Actress" Oscars between 1950 and 1962 (though not for this role) and came away empty-handed each time, unfortunately.
Thelma Ritter was my favourite thing in All About Eve, which is saying a lot as that cast is STACKED with talent. But yet she easily steals every scene she's in, in my opinion.
We actually do get to hear "Miss Lonely Hearts" speak a few lines. She's the one who says "It's been strangled, it's neck has been broken" when the dead dog is discovered.
Imagine Miss Lonely Hearts was a war widow who's now done with grieving and with trying to make the adjustment to living alone. My folks were in the early 20's during WWII and had a lot of friends in her predicament and there was a shortage or men MLH's age as the 1950's rolled around.
I love that the movie undercuts Jimmy Stewart a bit by having him asleep during a potentially key moment. It ups the tension nicely because he could actually be wrong! Speaking of tension, there is nothing more anxiety-inducing than that scene where Lisa is in Thorwald's apartment and they see him coming and can't call out to her.
They spoofed this in an episode of The Simpsons called Bart Of Darkness, where Bart breaks his leg while jumping into his pool, and ends up in a cast. He uses a telescope to spy on his neighbors until he learns that Ned Flanders may have killed his wife. He tries telling Lisa, but she doesn't believe him, until she spots Ned burying something in the backyard.
This is a undeniable classic film. The suspense thriller movies always leave you with memories. Alfred Hitchcock was the master of suspense. It is what you don't see that scares you the most. This is a great movie to snuggle up with.
Great reaction KL! Hitchcock is so much fun. His movies are always shot brilliantly,. And yes, Stella was awesome. Thelma Ritter was nominated 5 times for an Oscar, one of them being my fave Best Picture winner from this era 'All About Eve' - a must see.
Dial M for Murder is another Hitchcock and Grace Kelly collab (you can kill two birds with one stone so to speak). Also, it has a perfect, brilliant villain played by Ray Milland. Since you love plot twists and turns, you’ll be fascinated throughout.
With all the suspense in the movie, the creepiest scene for me was when Jeff noted how Thorwald was the only one to not check on the dead dog. The meaning behind it and the fact he was sitting in the dark with just his cigar glow visible makes it such a memorable moment. That’s the moment that confirms the man was a murderer.
Love how Hitchcock used Miss Lonely Heart pretending to eat with a good man that was not even there, to the Bing Crosby song "To See You Is To Love You" playing in the background.
I personally think Lisa is a bit of a feminist icon. She's not just some spoiled rich kid (though she clearly comes from money), she's a business woman, she's elegant, refined, and willing to make sacrifices for the man she loves. But she is very outspoken and unafraid to speak her mind, a very take charge attitude. Jeff thinks that she doesn't have what it takes to be in his world, but she's ready and unflinching when it comes to this murder. And yet the ending scene shows that even though she is willing to join him in his world, she'll not give up the part of herself that loves the fashion and high society. Nowadays you wouldn't see Hollywood push a female character like this, one who very clearly embraces her femininity but is more than capable and ready for danger. Which is a real shame because I'd like some variety in the strong women that we see
Grace Kelly was in a film called To Catch a Thief. It was filmed in Morocco. There is a scene where she is racing her car around a very winding mountain road. In 1982 she died in a car accident on they exact spot shown in the film. I was in Monaco in 1986, and there was a plaque there as a memorial on the spot she died. And people leave flowers there in remembrance. She was married to Prince Reiner so she was princess of Monaco.
I love that its all shot from Jeffries flat, it adds a level of comfort in that little base so when Thorwald enters at the end you feel way more stressed. When Jeffries is thrown from the window the camera is at the ground level too. Its really well made. The whole cast is perfect
Just came across your channel and had to watch you watch my favorite Hitchcock film. Vertigo is Hitchcock’s masterpiece, but Rear Window is so charming and the cinematography is brilliant. Glad you enjoyed it 😊😊. I’ll check out more of your content. ❤
The brilliance on display here is the grafting of a silent film (outside) to a talkie (inside), and Hitchcock was a master of both. Another point of delight for me is that all the stories outside the window are about marriage (killer and wife, newlyweds) or loneliness---all of them concern affairs of the heart, reflecting back on Jeff and Lisa.
You do a lovely movie review. Not too much chatter, but enough to engage your audience. 14:20 Hitchcock started directing silent movies, so he had the visual storytelling skills so many directors lack. It IS more interesting this way. 26:04 As you can see, you can't get into Jeff's apartment without blue eyes unless you're an insurance company nurse.
Costumes, including Grace Kelly's amazing dresses, were designed by the legendary Edith Head. In her career she received THIRTY FIVE Oscar nominations and won EIGHT for costume design. (In the Pixar movie 'The Incredibles', the character Edna Mode, who designed their super-hero costumes, with her glasses and haircut was based on Edith Head.)
I wouldn't feel bad for looking into a lit window at night. It would be a highly contrast image. Bright room in a frame surrounded by darkness, is like a bullseye. We have evolved to have our eyes drawn by bright objects, things red and movement.
The feeling of this one apartment as the only location is similar to 12 Angry Men. It's also ironically a reflection of social media, where we watch lots of other "windows" of strangers and Stella's comment about how we should get outside is very relatable to us getting off our phones.
His nurse described him as a "young man". He was 46 when he made this film and was going very grey. Just a tad unbelievable. Grace Kellly was 25 and 2 years after this film she became a Princess
Hitchcock famously talked about his theory of suspense: _There is a distinct difference between "suspense" and "surprise," and yet many pictures continually confuse the two. I'll explain what I mean._ _We are now having a very innocent little chat. Let's suppose that there is a bomb underneath this table between us. Nothing happens, and then all of a sudden, "Boom!" There is an explosion. The public is surprised, but prior to this surprise, it has seen an absolutely ordinary scene, of no special consequence. Now, let us take a suspense situation. The bomb is underneath the table and the public knows it, probably because they have seen the anarchist place it there. The public is aware the bomb is going to explode at one o'clock and there is a clock in the decor. The public can see that it is a quarter to one. In these conditions, the same innocuous conversation becomes fascinating because the public is participating in the scene. The audience is longing to warn the characters on the screen: "You shouldn't be talking about such trivial matters. There is a bomb beneath you and it is about to explode!"_ _In the first case we have given the public fifteen seconds of surprise at the moment of the explosion. In the second we have provided them with fifteen minutes of suspense. The conclusion is that whenever possible the public must be informed. Except when the surprise is a twist, that is, when the unexpected ending is, in itself, the highlight of the story._
That was a wonderful reaction to a real special movie. "Rope" and "Rear Window" (and "Vertigo") were all "experimental" films for him, exercizes. In this case, it was doing the whole movie on one set. "Rope" is that way too. "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (the 1956 version, though both are great and directed by Hitchcock) is also great. Grace Kelly actually was in two other Hichcock movies: "To Catch A Thief" with Cary Grant, and "Dial M For Murder". After Psycho and Rear Window, my fave Hichcocks are "Strangers On A Train", "Shadow Of A Doubt" and "Rope", though he has plenty of other worthy movies (Notorious, Suspicion, The Wrong Man, The 39 Steps, Frenzy, Marnie, Lifeboat, The Lady Vanishes, Sabotage, etc etc). I'm definitely on your Hitchcock journey, just as I'm on my own: there is ALWAYS another Hitchcock movie to cross off the list. For all of us. The guy made, like, 70 movies! (he has a few duds, they're not all Psychos and Rear WIndows! lol)
Saw this movie back in the 80's in an old time movie house. Had heard and read about it for years and couldn't wait to see it. I was not disappointed. What stuck with me was all of the different stories Hitchcock was able to tell just by observing the other tenants. Those stories made the characters of Jeff and Lisa seem more real. Doyle was giving Jeff the side eye because of Lisa's little overnight bag indicating she was spending the night with Jeff. 1950's morals, at least in film, didn't acknowledge such things happened every day. Only lower classes behaved so openly, and Lisa is obviously high class. At least, that's my take on it. Enjoyed your reaction very much.
Back in the day before almost everyone had air-conditioning, all you had was an open window and maybe a fan to get through a heat wave like the one starting the movie. The heat plays an important part of the plot. Did you miss Hitchcock’s cameo in the musician studio? Or that the song playing at the end is “Lisa”? The DVD has a special feature devoted to this production and the amazing set for which the studio allowed Hitchcock to remove the sound stage floor. The garden is in the basement! Check it out. What an innovative director.
Even though there is a skyline and passing cars, everything was shot indoors, on a soundstage. The apartments and the courtyard were built into the ground, like within a giant pool. The tops of the buildings were basically level with the floor of the studio. The skyline was a series of backdrops and controlled lighting.
This is my second favorite Hitchcock film, right behind Psycho. I'd never seen Grace Kelly before this, only heard about her. I totally get it. On top of being stunning, she's so charismatic and charming.
And here we are watching you, watching him, watching them. Rear Window speaks to cineville's because its literally about watching movies, why are we so enchanted with them? I highly, highly recommend watching Michael Powell's masterpiece "Peeping Tom (1960)" as a companion to Rear Window, usually as the second film of the night. I've had some great discussions showing people these two together over the years. In answer to your question about why he keeps looking at the overnight bag and night dress.... it was different times, an unmarried couple sleeping together in the 50's, very scandalise and really quite shocking, Hitch was nudging the audience. Not something many consider today. There was also the aspect that many tenants had to seek permission of the landlord/lady before they could have a "sleep over" back then, he knew the situation was trouble, particularly with an unmarried couple. Can't go wrong with Hitch, more like this please, enjoyed your reaction.
Nice reaction and discussion, lots of fun! One thing with the plot that you seemed to come back to a few times was about why Mr & Mrs Thorwall wouldn't just separate or get divorced ie the wedding ring. Back in that time, marriage carried a lot more responsibility and unfortunately scrutiny than today. Separation and especially divorce was so very taboo; unfortunately mostly for the wife. That's why Mrs Thorwall's disappearance was so unusual & mysterious and extremely unlikely she would remove her wedding ring so easily.
(In the late 80s) I also watched this following Psycho and had exactly the same reaction you did - kept thinking there was maybe no crime, and expecting more twist of plot. And I agree that its visual appeal is the best thing about the movie (along with Kelly/Stewart).
My favourite Jimmy Stewart film is The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. My favourite Thelma Ritter film is Pillow Talk and my favourite Grace Kelly film is High Society.
I’ve seen this movie more than once and several reactions, but I never noticed two shadows behind the bedroom window. It must’ve been Lars and his gf in there. The nurse was also in the Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street. North by Northwest is another Hitchcock classic to watch if you haven’t, yet.
The thing you have to understand about the wedding ring is it's the wife's property. To this very day, if a couple are engaged, and the man gives the woman a diamond engagement ring, and they break up before the wedding, the woman is required under law to return the diamond or pay the man the value of it, because the engagement ring is legally considered part of an agreement to marry that was canceled. Since the agreement is off, the symbol of it should be returned. But wedding rings are a different story. They are the sign of a legally established social status - married - and they are non-refundable pieces of property exchanged between the two parties. Each partner owns their wedding ring. If it's a family heirloom ring, it's an act of good faith to return it, but the spouse would be within their rights to keep it - unless of course return is covered in a pre-nup. That's how it is in the 2020's. Imagine how much more attached to a wedding ring a woman would be in the 1950's, when it was much harder to dissolve a marriage. Also the ring is probably real gold, as they traditionally are. It has value, personal, monetary, and social. Back on those days, no woman would give up her wedding ring even after the divorce was finalized. She'd keep it in a drawer or lockbox with her other valuables. Oh, and yeah, back in the 1950's, you couldn't just agree to dissolve a relationship. It was actually quite difficult and expensive. There was no no-fault divorce in those days, but there was alimony. Your surprise at the ending is at least partially Hitchcock's goal in how he told the story. It wasn't so much that he wanted people to be suddenly surprised by the end, but more that he wanted to fill the audience with doubt all throughout the story. He gave us a protagonist who is not acting out of a noble impulse, but just out of self-indulgent boredom. He's not doing his job or anything helpful to the community. Rather, he's doing something that's morally questionable - spying on his neighbors. The clues he picks up on are vague enough that any of us might have been as suspicious as Jeff was, but at the same time, we'd be thinking no, it couldn't be that, we must be imagining things. Hitchcock wanted us to get caught up in Jeff's viewpoint and have those doubts about what he and we are seeing, while at the same time feeling kind of ashamed of the spying. I think he also was going for that sense of unreality where the amateur detective work feels almost like a game, until the moment Thorwald gets into the apartment intending to kill him. That's when the reality of the situation hits, with terrifying force. And yes, the moral of the story is, close your blinds. ;) Also, if you watch more older movies, you'll find a lot of abrupt endings. Filmmakers back in the day didn't waste time with pointless epilogues. They liked to end on a high note after the action.
I love this film and think it's great, but I also tend to take it for granted and watch DIAL M FOR MURDER much more often. After that, I concentrate on the later Hitchcock films up through PSYCHO. That said, I'm delighted with this film's popularity.
I was lucky enough (some decades ago) to see Dial M for Murder in a theater in 3D, as it was intended to be seen, and it was incredible. Hitchcock used 3D so well, and with such subtlety, and it I believe it was the first and only 3D film he ever made.
One of three Hitchcock's films (which I know of) which takes place in one location. This one had Hitchcock's cameo in the piano players room. The other two movies taking place in one location is Rope and is actually the hardest movie to find Hitchcock's cameo, because the movie happens inside one small apartment. Last but least is Lifeboat, as the name applies it all happens in the ocean, in a lifeboat, just after a ship is sunk by a German submarine, but Hitchcock does make a cameo appearance.
The observation you made about the movie being filmed in one apartment and not noticing this as the story and dialogue was gripping, well, check out the masterpiece 12 Angry Men. This classics was filmed in one room and will have you gripped by the acting from start to finish.
It doesn't have James Stewart in it (Henry Fonda, though!), but I always try to push The Wrong Man on people as Hitchcock's most underrated movie. More horrifying than any of his horror movies
I really enjoyed your analysis and commentary. I do think, however, that there was a strong twist. As you, yourself, thought throughout, the obvious conclusion was that there was no murder at all, so the twist was that there was a murder.
If you ever watch a movie called Disturbia, you'll get Rear Window vibes from it. Also, speaking of older movies, you have to get around to 12 Angry Men from 1957 eventually. It's one of those movies in my mind that is considered perfect.
If you're open to older movies, I have two recommendations, "Casablanca" and "Twelve Angry Men". Both are great and are also popular among reactors. Also, they will introduce you to two other iconic actors, Humphrey Bogart and Henry Fonda.
The local art house theater has a summer event where various types of movies are played in double features and blocked together over a couple of weeks. Every year they have two weeks where four Hitchcock movies are done in double features. It's a heck of a time. Maybe a block of Hitchcock should be in your future?
They didn't have podcasts back then. They had pulp paper Detective magazines often with scantily clad women tied up and being menaced by a thug with a gun or knife. People would just toss them away but now they can go for $20 an issue. I have a box of them with my old sci-fi magazines.
Something that has always puzzled me is that, though Hitchcock was a great filmmaker and amazingly meticulous, when people fall in his films, it never quite seems right. None of the many falls in his movies is convincing. Hitchcock was so good, I must conclude that this is deliberate but I cannot understand why.
I first saw this movie when I was about 17. My parents were just stating to watch it and I was walking through the living room during Grace Kelly's first scene. One look at her stopped me in my tracks and I said "Who is THAT?" My mom told me it was Grace Kelly, and I grabbed a snack and sat right down to join them. I gotta say, when a gay 17 year-old guy-crazy teenaged boy stops in his tracks at the sight of a lady, that lady is stunning. 🤩
This type of setting would make a great video game. Or even a UA-cam mystery with episodes. Now that I think about it. This movie is simply UA-cam for people in the 1950's. They sit watch into other people's homes and watch the character arch. I guess that would make me Jimmy Stewart. Fresh out of surgery still barely mobile. Watching you Watching 📺 observing your reaction. 😂 with a good script you and your cinema pals could make a good show. Wrap your brain around that. Want to know how it could end. Watch Agatha Christie's orient express😂that was a real twist 🤙
If you want to see a young Jimmy Stewart you can check out Vivacious Lady with the one and only, Ginger Rogers. It's kind of a screwball comedy. I love it.
“She’s not in love with him ‘How can you tell?” If she was in love with him, there wouldn’t be anyone but the two of them in the room, then they move to the next room.
You could just close the curtain... you know, to keep out the sunshine! :) (That's what I have to do. But, I have eye problems!) So, Jimmy Stewart is my favorite actor. Always has been. I just like him. Probably because he's just so likeable. This is my favorite of his Hitchcock movies. I had never seen it until it was restored and re-released however many years ago that was. This, and Rope (which is probably my least favorite, but it's still very good. Different twisty challenge. Hitchcock liked a good challenge), and Vertigo, and I can't remember the other one. There were 4. Vertigo is a very "Hitchcock" movie, but to today's eyes... it's slow and dated. Mostly by the cars, which I'm guessing were very 'modern' at the time. It's amazing how automotive industrial design can really set a movie in its era, to the point where it removes the viewer from the story by the jarring difference between the 'then' and the 'now'. Still a great movie, though. Psycho might have been the other movie that was re-released at that time. I don't remember. At any rate, I saw someone else answer the question about why Doyle was giving Jeff the side-eye, so I won't rehash it here. But, it's true. Different times back then. I worked my way through college as a dorm monitor in the girls' dormitory. (Guests had to sign in. Men couldn't go upstairs. And, I was very strict. (To the chagrin of not a few of my fellows.) That, and I was the librarian's assistant my senior year. That was actually a lot of fun. We weren't Dewey Decimal... we were Library of Congress! I think Rear Window was one of those Hitchcock challenges. To be able to tell a gripping story from a single point of view. Literally. Of course, characterization is always what makes a good movie good. (Well, that and good writing and direction. But, if the writers give you dreck, and the director is terrible... good characters can't do a whole lot to spruce it up. But, that wasn't an issue in this movie.) Of course, Jimmy Stewart is wonderful. As is Princess Grace. Back in the 50's she was literally iconic. She was in To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant. Also a Hitchcock movie. And, she was in High Society with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. An excellent movie. Not Hitchcock, but delightful. Interesting: High Society is a remake of The Philadelphia Story. Bing Crosby played Cary Grant's role. And, Frank Sinatra played Jimmy Stewart's role. And Grace Kelly played Katherine Hepburn's role. My favorite Jimmy Stewart movie is a relatively unknown one. No Highway in the Sky. Henry Koster directed. In the movie Stewart is a scientist that works for the Royal Aircraft Establishment. In the book, his character is supposed to be a small, timid, mousey man. And, Jimmy Stewart does an amazing job of bringing out his inner small, timid, mousiness. Well worth the watch. It also has Glynis Johns and Marlene Dietrich. Interestingly, about 12 years after No Highway, Henry Koster directed Jimmy Stewart and Glynis Johns (this time as husband and wife, mother and father) in Dear Bridgette. He plays an emotionally high strung, absent-minded English professor who loves the humanities, and hates the sciences. It's fun, and funny. Also well worth the watch. And... there are many other Jimmy Stewart movies that I love, which is why he's my favorite actor. And... there you go. Thank you for the watch. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh! Thelma Ritter! She's a great character actress, and I love everything I've ever seen her in. I think this is probably my favorite of her movies. She actually reminds me of a dear, sweet friend of mine who, I'm sad to say, passed away a few years ago. But, she was the same kind of spunky, irreverent witty... I miss her. * sigh * Ah, well... Yes, it's good to know your neighbors. Connection is very difficult in this current age. And, you know... watching UA-cam videos of people reacting to movies is also kind of voyeuristically strange. We don't know each other, and yet, we're sharing interactions. It's different. And, I'm not convinced actually for the best. Best to have interactions with real people in your local community, beyond just saying 'hey' at the register once a week. It doesn't have to be weird. But, it's nice to be friends. To have friends, and to be a friend. So, Kaiielle, thank you for the watch. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And, I shall look forward to whatever you watch next. I hope you have a nice weekend.
What a film and story! Thanks so much for watching! ❤
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I think the misdirect that wasn't a misdirect was very much Hitchcock's intention.
Enjoyed the reaction.
I don’t know whether or not you’ve reviewed another Hitchcock classic “Rope” (also starring James Stewart), but I think you will like it if you haven’t.
Up until the '70's, an unmarried man and woman didn't openly sleep together (no matter what they might do before then). Hotels and motels could and would demand to see a marriage license if a couple were checking in without luggage. Apartments (like here), boarding houses, and dorms had strict rules about this and you could be kicked out. Dorms had rules that if you had a member of the opposite sex in your room, the door had to be ajar and each person had to have one foot on the floor at all times. I remember in 1968, a story made national news because a male and female student were living together (unwed), at Columbia University in one of the most liberal cities in America.
Doyle is making sly glances at Lisa's nightgown and slippers, letting Jeff knew he knew what was about to go on. But in the movie, he couldn't really make any more obvious statement as the ultra-restrictive Hays Code was still in effect - requiring even married couples be shown sleeping in separate beds.
Thank you for the explanation!
@@kaiielle At the end, "Stanley" returns to Miss Torso. It looks like he is a service man (the Korean war as going on at the time) and he was rather short and pudgy, exactly NOT the guy you would think Miss Torso would go for.
When I was going to college in the 80s, cohabitation between unmarried men and women was still illegal in my state. An awful lot has changed in the past 60 or so years.
Well, that's not quite what Doyle had on his mind. He was glancing at the nightgown, which in his mind proved not everything "seen" should be taken literal, because he did not doubt the would be doing anything that night, remember, L.B. had on a cast, but someone in a "window" across the court might think different without all the facts. So, in his own way by glancing at the nightgown, he was letting L.B. know that everything is not always as it appears.
you could get around the hotel rules so easily in multiple ways If you had money, you each rent a room then just go to the other's room. No cameras, other patrons didnt care.
2nd way is check in as siblings with one of you acting very ill. A sick person with a fever could forget their ID, and back then, IDs were not required if you didnt drive.
Just takes 30% mental effort to come up with a con. lol
I love this movie.
The man who played the songwriter is Ross Bagdasarian, better known by his stage name Dave Seville, creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
That Grace Kelly reveal is a pivotal cinematic moment for me. I also lament that she became a princess and we got robbed of her acting career
The only things more beautiful than Lisa Fremont are her one-line zingers, her loyalty, and her bravery.
To your question about that weird moment with Doyle- he was looking at her bag because he could see she'd brought a change of clothes with her, and at that time a woman staying over at a man's apartment was scandalous. That's why he so pointedly asked Jimmy Stewart's character if he told his landlord everything (after he'd asked why the landlord didn't know about it if Thorwald's wife was moving out)
A couple of points, KL, about Hitchcock's focus on detail, which obviously means a lot in a story like this one. First, the address of Thorwald's building, 125 West Ninth Street, doesn't exist -- but that's because Ninth Street turns into Christopher Street, and there IS a 125 Christopher Street in Manhattan, and an apartment building exactly like the one we see at that address. (I know, because I used to live in that neighborhood.) Also, the local police precinct is only about a block away, so it makes sense that the cops could get there as fast as they did.
Fun reaction. At the end, Lisa is wearing a pair of jeans and a plain red shirt, not high fashion. This is a kind of costume joke to suggest that she and Jeff have reached a compromise regarding her values. But she goes back to her fashion magazine, so maybe she has the upper hand. Her fancy dresses and the way she is filmed showing them off adds some visual variety so that limiting the filming to the apartments does not become too boring. Hitchcock also wanted to make sure that the residents of the apartment building all had their own little stories.
"She is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful."
Grace Kelly was one of the great beauties for sure. To Catch A Thief and Dial M For Murder are more of hers.
Both excellent movies and also directed by Hitchcock
Oooo! To Catch a Thief! Yes, please.
The climax of the movie isn’t just when Thorwald’s guilt is confirmed and he’s caught. It’s also the moment when the tables are finally turned and every person Jeff has been watching simultaneously sees him for the first time. The whole movie has been him looking out at all of them, but in the end they’re all looking in at him. But this is Hitchcock at his finest, to me. That set and his use of it to heighten suspense and tell the story is amazing. The shot of Thorwald’s cigar glowing in the black window when Jeff says only one person didn’t come out is one of my favorite movie shots ever. There’s just something sinister about it that I love. And you can never go wrong with Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart. It’s just a masterpiece through and through.
Thelma Ritter (1902-1969) was a wonderful supporting player through the '50s and into the '60s. She was nominated for six "Best Supporting Actress" Oscars between 1950 and 1962 (though not for this role) and came away empty-handed each time, unfortunately.
Thelma Ritter was my favourite thing in All About Eve, which is saying a lot as that cast is STACKED with talent. But yet she easily steals every scene she's in, in my opinion.
We actually do get to hear "Miss Lonely Hearts" speak a few lines. She's the one who says "It's been strangled, it's neck has been broken" when the dead dog is discovered.
Also at the end when she tells the song writer that “you don’t know what this music has meant to me”
Imagine Miss Lonely Hearts was a war widow who's now done with grieving and with trying to make the adjustment to living alone. My folks were in the early 20's during WWII and had a lot of friends in her predicament and there was a shortage or men MLH's age as the 1950's rolled around.
Edith Head was the costume designer for Rear Window.
I'm glad you're interested in Rope and The Man Who Knew Too Much. Both highly underrated.
But Grace references that title when she asks if Thorwald killed the dog because "it knew too much"
I love that the movie undercuts Jimmy Stewart a bit by having him asleep during a potentially key moment. It ups the tension nicely because he could actually be wrong! Speaking of tension, there is nothing more anxiety-inducing than that scene where Lisa is in Thorwald's apartment and they see him coming and can't call out to her.
He also may not have continued to pay attention if he'd seen that, so missing information turned out to be crucial.
They spoofed this in an episode of The Simpsons called Bart Of Darkness, where Bart breaks his leg while jumping into his pool, and ends up in a cast. He uses a telescope to spy on his neighbors until he learns that Ned Flanders may have killed his wife. He tries telling Lisa, but she doesn't believe him, until she spots Ned burying something in the backyard.
Oh man I should give that a watch one day!
@@kaiielle It's very funny.
@@bfdidc6604 "It's the sinister looking kid, he's coming to kill me!" :)
This is a undeniable classic film. The suspense thriller movies always leave you with memories. Alfred Hitchcock was the master of suspense. It is what you don't see that scares you the most. This is a great movie to snuggle up with.
Great reaction KL! Hitchcock is so much fun. His movies are always shot brilliantly,. And yes, Stella was awesome. Thelma Ritter was nominated 5 times for an Oscar, one of them being my fave Best Picture winner from this era 'All About Eve' - a must see.
Dial M for Murder is another Hitchcock and Grace Kelly collab (you can kill two birds with one stone so to speak). Also, it has a perfect, brilliant villain played by Ray Milland. Since you love plot twists and turns, you’ll be fascinated throughout.
Agreed 💯👍
If you like James Stewart, I believe you will love him in anatomy of a murder in which he plays a lawyer.
Anatomy Of A Murder is the best film that Hitchcock never made. Directed by Otto Preminger who also directed "Laura" in the 40's
With all the suspense in the movie, the creepiest scene for me was when Jeff noted how Thorwald was the only one to not check on the dead dog. The meaning behind it and the fact he was sitting in the dark with just his cigar glow visible makes it such a memorable moment. That’s the moment that confirms the man was a murderer.
~ James Stewart, my all time favorite actor in just about every genre besides musicals, on & off screen, has iconic films in all of them 👌
It's almost impossible for me to pick a favourite of his films, but Harvey is definitely high on the list.
Love how Hitchcock used Miss Lonely Heart pretending to eat with a good man that was not even there, to the Bing Crosby song "To See You Is To Love You" playing in the background.
I personally think Lisa is a bit of a feminist icon. She's not just some spoiled rich kid (though she clearly comes from money), she's a business woman, she's elegant, refined, and willing to make sacrifices for the man she loves. But she is very outspoken and unafraid to speak her mind, a very take charge attitude. Jeff thinks that she doesn't have what it takes to be in his world, but she's ready and unflinching when it comes to this murder. And yet the ending scene shows that even though she is willing to join him in his world, she'll not give up the part of herself that loves the fashion and high society.
Nowadays you wouldn't see Hollywood push a female character like this, one who very clearly embraces her femininity but is more than capable and ready for danger. Which is a real shame because I'd like some variety in the strong women that we see
Grace Kelly was in a film called To Catch a Thief. It was filmed in Morocco. There is a scene where she is racing her car around a very winding mountain road. In 1982 she died in a car accident on they exact spot shown in the film. I was in Monaco in 1986, and there was a plaque there as a memorial on the spot she died. And people leave flowers there in remembrance.
She was married to Prince Reiner so she was princess of Monaco.
I love that its all shot from Jeffries flat, it adds a level of comfort in that little base so when Thorwald enters at the end you feel way more stressed. When Jeffries is thrown from the window the camera is at the ground level too. Its really well made. The whole cast is perfect
Just came across your channel and had to watch you watch my favorite Hitchcock film. Vertigo is Hitchcock’s masterpiece, but Rear Window is so charming and the cinematography is brilliant. Glad you enjoyed it 😊😊. I’ll check out more of your content. ❤
This is before the wide availability of air conditioning, so the only way to keep cool was fans and open windows.
The brilliance on display here is the grafting of a silent film (outside) to a talkie (inside), and Hitchcock was a master of both. Another point of delight for me is that all the stories outside the window are about marriage (killer and wife, newlyweds) or loneliness---all of them concern affairs of the heart, reflecting back on Jeff and Lisa.
You do a lovely movie review. Not too much chatter, but enough to engage your audience. 14:20 Hitchcock started directing silent movies, so he had the visual storytelling skills so many directors lack. It IS more interesting this way. 26:04 As you can see, you can't get into Jeff's apartment without blue eyes unless you're an insurance company nurse.
9:28, the director, Alfred Hitchcock, behind the pianist...
Costumes, including Grace Kelly's amazing dresses, were designed by the legendary Edith Head. In her career she received THIRTY FIVE Oscar nominations and won EIGHT for costume design. (In the Pixar movie 'The Incredibles', the character Edna Mode, who designed their super-hero costumes, with her glasses and haircut was based on Edith Head.)
I wouldn't feel bad for looking into a lit window at night. It would be a highly contrast image. Bright room in a frame surrounded by darkness, is like a bullseye. We have evolved to have our eyes drawn by bright objects, things red and movement.
Raymund Burr often played villains until he hit it big with the Perry Mason series on TV.
That lightbulb handle at the end is what they used to make the first lightsaber
Grace Kelly as Lisa Fremont is the single sexiest character in movie history. She’s everything.
Doyle was having a moment fantasizing about being with Lisa. Jeff and Lisa travel in a different world.
The feeling of this one apartment as the only location is similar to 12 Angry Men. It's also ironically a reflection of social media, where we watch lots of other "windows" of strangers and Stella's comment about how we should get outside is very relatable to us getting off our phones.
Relatively confined as this film is, the Hitchcock film with most restricted location would be "Lifeboat" - which is just as confined as it sounds.
You should find the hilarious story about Tallulah not wearing undies while the camera angles were low.
My favorite film of all time!
His nurse described him as a "young man". He was 46 when he made this film and was going very grey. Just a tad unbelievable. Grace Kellly was 25 and 2 years after this film she became a Princess
Hitchcock famously talked about his theory of suspense:
_There is a distinct difference between "suspense" and "surprise," and yet many pictures continually confuse the two. I'll explain what I mean._
_We are now having a very innocent little chat. Let's suppose that there is a bomb underneath this table between us. Nothing happens, and then all of a sudden, "Boom!" There is an explosion. The public is surprised, but prior to this surprise, it has seen an absolutely ordinary scene, of no special consequence. Now, let us take a suspense situation. The bomb is underneath the table and the public knows it, probably because they have seen the anarchist place it there. The public is aware the bomb is going to explode at one o'clock and there is a clock in the decor. The public can see that it is a quarter to one. In these conditions, the same innocuous conversation becomes fascinating because the public is participating in the scene. The audience is longing to warn the characters on the screen: "You shouldn't be talking about such trivial matters. There is a bomb beneath you and it is about to explode!"_
_In the first case we have given the public fifteen seconds of surprise at the moment of the explosion. In the second we have provided them with fifteen minutes of suspense. The conclusion is that whenever possible the public must be informed. Except when the surprise is a twist, that is, when the unexpected ending is, in itself, the highlight of the story._
Jimmy Stewart served in WWII - Army-Aircorp (I think he ended up being a colonel). He also portrayed Sargent York (an infantry hero WWI).
MY FAVORITE HITCHCOCK FILM❤❤❤❤❤
The dialogue is excellent in this movie.
You may want to watch High Noon with Grace Kelly and Gary Cooper, it's an Iconic western.
That was a wonderful reaction to a real special movie. "Rope" and "Rear Window" (and "Vertigo") were all "experimental" films for him, exercizes. In this case, it was doing the whole movie on one set. "Rope" is that way too. "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (the 1956 version, though both are great and directed by Hitchcock) is also great. Grace Kelly actually was in two other Hichcock movies: "To Catch A Thief" with Cary Grant, and "Dial M For Murder". After Psycho and Rear Window, my fave Hichcocks are "Strangers On A Train", "Shadow Of A Doubt" and "Rope", though he has plenty of other worthy movies (Notorious, Suspicion, The Wrong Man, The 39 Steps, Frenzy, Marnie, Lifeboat, The Lady Vanishes, Sabotage, etc etc). I'm definitely on your Hitchcock journey, just as I'm on my own: there is ALWAYS another Hitchcock movie to cross off the list. For all of us. The guy made, like, 70 movies! (he has a few duds, they're not all Psychos and Rear WIndows! lol)
Vertigo and Rear Window are his best for me. Marnie is great too.
Saw this movie back in the 80's in an old time movie house. Had heard and read about it for years and couldn't wait to see it. I was not disappointed. What stuck with me was all of the different stories Hitchcock was able to tell just by observing the other tenants. Those stories made the characters of Jeff and Lisa seem more real.
Doyle was giving Jeff the side eye because of Lisa's little overnight bag indicating she was spending the night with Jeff. 1950's morals, at least in film, didn't acknowledge such things happened every day. Only lower classes behaved so openly, and Lisa is obviously high class. At least, that's my take on it. Enjoyed your reaction very much.
Back in the day before almost everyone had air-conditioning, all you had was an open window and maybe a fan to get through a heat wave like the one starting the movie. The heat plays an important part of the plot.
Did you miss Hitchcock’s cameo in the musician studio? Or that the song playing at the end is “Lisa”?
The DVD has a special feature devoted to this production and the amazing set for which the studio allowed Hitchcock to remove the sound stage floor. The garden is in the basement! Check it out. What an innovative director.
Even though there is a skyline and passing cars, everything was shot indoors, on a soundstage. The apartments and the courtyard were built into the ground, like within a giant pool. The tops of the buildings were basically level with the floor of the studio. The skyline was a series of backdrops and controlled lighting.
This is my second favorite Hitchcock film, right behind Psycho. I'd never seen Grace Kelly before this, only heard about her. I totally get it. On top of being stunning, she's so charismatic and charming.
And here we are watching you, watching him, watching them. Rear Window speaks to cineville's because its literally about watching movies, why are we so enchanted with them? I highly, highly recommend watching Michael Powell's masterpiece "Peeping Tom (1960)" as a companion to Rear Window, usually as the second film of the night. I've had some great discussions showing people these two together over the years.
In answer to your question about why he keeps looking at the overnight bag and night dress.... it was different times, an unmarried couple sleeping together in the 50's, very scandalise and really quite shocking, Hitch was nudging the audience. Not something many consider today. There was also the aspect that many tenants had to seek permission of the landlord/lady before they could have a "sleep over" back then, he knew the situation was trouble, particularly with an unmarried couple. Can't go wrong with Hitch, more like this please, enjoyed your reaction.
Thank you, I always forget that times were so different back then!
Nice reaction and discussion, lots of fun! One thing with the plot that you seemed to come back to a few times was about why Mr & Mrs Thorwall wouldn't just separate or get divorced ie the wedding ring. Back in that time, marriage carried a lot more responsibility and unfortunately scrutiny than today. Separation and especially divorce was so very taboo; unfortunately mostly for the wife. That's why Mrs Thorwall's disappearance was so unusual & mysterious and extremely unlikely she would remove her wedding ring so easily.
Yes. And you had to have grounds for divorce.
(In the late 80s) I also watched this following Psycho and had exactly the same reaction you did - kept thinking there was maybe no crime, and expecting more twist of plot. And I agree that its visual appeal is the best thing about the movie (along with Kelly/Stewart).
My favourite Jimmy Stewart film is The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. My favourite Thelma Ritter film is Pillow Talk and my favourite Grace Kelly film is High Society.
I’ve seen this movie more than once and several reactions, but I never noticed two shadows behind the bedroom window. It must’ve been Lars and his gf in there. The nurse was also in the Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street.
North by Northwest is another Hitchcock classic to watch if you haven’t, yet.
I loved your review and comments. Keep it up!
FYI, this August the movie will celebrate its 70th anniversary and will be shown in theaters again. Highly recommend seeing it on the big screen
"Rope" (1947) is another good Hitchcock story with James Stewart that I think you'd enjoy.
The thing you have to understand about the wedding ring is it's the wife's property. To this very day, if a couple are engaged, and the man gives the woman a diamond engagement ring, and they break up before the wedding, the woman is required under law to return the diamond or pay the man the value of it, because the engagement ring is legally considered part of an agreement to marry that was canceled. Since the agreement is off, the symbol of it should be returned. But wedding rings are a different story. They are the sign of a legally established social status - married - and they are non-refundable pieces of property exchanged between the two parties. Each partner owns their wedding ring. If it's a family heirloom ring, it's an act of good faith to return it, but the spouse would be within their rights to keep it - unless of course return is covered in a pre-nup. That's how it is in the 2020's. Imagine how much more attached to a wedding ring a woman would be in the 1950's, when it was much harder to dissolve a marriage. Also the ring is probably real gold, as they traditionally are. It has value, personal, monetary, and social. Back on those days, no woman would give up her wedding ring even after the divorce was finalized. She'd keep it in a drawer or lockbox with her other valuables.
Oh, and yeah, back in the 1950's, you couldn't just agree to dissolve a relationship. It was actually quite difficult and expensive. There was no no-fault divorce in those days, but there was alimony.
Your surprise at the ending is at least partially Hitchcock's goal in how he told the story. It wasn't so much that he wanted people to be suddenly surprised by the end, but more that he wanted to fill the audience with doubt all throughout the story. He gave us a protagonist who is not acting out of a noble impulse, but just out of self-indulgent boredom. He's not doing his job or anything helpful to the community. Rather, he's doing something that's morally questionable - spying on his neighbors. The clues he picks up on are vague enough that any of us might have been as suspicious as Jeff was, but at the same time, we'd be thinking no, it couldn't be that, we must be imagining things. Hitchcock wanted us to get caught up in Jeff's viewpoint and have those doubts about what he and we are seeing, while at the same time feeling kind of ashamed of the spying. I think he also was going for that sense of unreality where the amateur detective work feels almost like a game, until the moment Thorwald gets into the apartment intending to kill him. That's when the reality of the situation hits, with terrifying force.
And yes, the moral of the story is, close your blinds. ;)
Also, if you watch more older movies, you'll find a lot of abrupt endings. Filmmakers back in the day didn't waste time with pointless epilogues. They liked to end on a high note after the action.
It also stars the great Thelma Ritter.
Excellent reaction. Thanks.
Not surprising that Grace Kelly became Grace,Princess of Monaco.
This is my favorite Hitchcock movie
Great review. Now I want to get a color changing lamp, like the one behind you. --You should add that to all your links.
A Classic! Jimmy Stewart was incredible in Hitchcock movies. Vertigo is another great film.
That reaction has been filmed and is coming soon!
I love this film and think it's great, but I also tend to take it for granted and watch DIAL M FOR MURDER much more often. After that, I concentrate on the later Hitchcock films up through PSYCHO. That said, I'm delighted with this film's popularity.
That one is on my list too!
I was lucky enough (some decades ago) to see Dial M for Murder in a theater in 3D, as it was intended to be seen, and it was incredible. Hitchcock used 3D so well, and with such subtlety, and it I believe it was the first and only 3D film he ever made.
One of three Hitchcock's films (which I know of) which takes place in one location. This one had Hitchcock's cameo in the piano players room. The other two movies taking place in one location is Rope and is actually the hardest movie to find Hitchcock's cameo, because the movie happens inside one small apartment. Last but least is Lifeboat, as the name applies it all happens in the ocean, in a lifeboat, just after a ship is sunk by a German submarine, but Hitchcock does make a cameo appearance.
The observation you made about the movie being filmed in one apartment and not noticing this as the story and dialogue was gripping, well, check out the masterpiece 12 Angry Men. This classics was filmed in one room and will have you gripped by the acting from start to finish.
the detective looking at lisa's clothes is him going "this u?"
"What I expect a girl to do is ... hold it"
Saw my man on weekendsfor 19 years!! Moved in and moved out less than 3 years later!!! LIVING TOGETHER CAN RUIN LOVE FOR SOME😪😪😢😢
Rear Window is in my Top-3 favourite rewatchable Hitchcock films, along with North by Northwest, and The Trouble With Harry.
You should see his old stuff too: _The Thirty-nine Steps, The Lady Who Vanished_
It doesn't have James Stewart in it (Henry Fonda, though!), but I always try to push The Wrong Man on people as Hitchcock's most underrated movie. More horrifying than any of his horror movies
Even today, people say when have window views call it "REAR WINDOW" 😎😎😎😎
Hitchcock was very good at making movies in a single location. See also Rope and Lifeboat.
I really enjoyed your analysis and commentary. I do think, however, that there was a strong twist. As you, yourself, thought throughout, the obvious conclusion was that there was no murder at all, so the twist was that there was a murder.
I'd recommend "Vertigo", "Psycho", "The Birds", and "Dial M For Murder" for other great Hitchcock suspense movies.
If you ever watch a movie called Disturbia, you'll get Rear Window vibes from it. Also, speaking of older movies, you have to get around to 12 Angry Men from 1957 eventually. It's one of those movies in my mind that is considered perfect.
I think thot some apartments back then had rules against over-night "visitors."
Grace Kelly was epitome of fashion👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼❤❤
If you're open to older movies, I have two recommendations, "Casablanca" and "Twelve Angry Men". Both are great and are also popular among reactors. Also, they will introduce you to two other iconic actors, Humphrey Bogart and Henry Fonda.
Those are def on my watch list! Hopefully in 2025 I can get to them.
I think everybody came to the same assumptions when watching the movie for the first time 😁
The local art house theater has a summer event where various types of movies are played in double features and blocked together over a couple of weeks. Every year they have two weeks where four Hitchcock movies are done in double features. It's a heck of a time. Maybe a block of Hitchcock should be in your future?
Hitchcock cameo - winding a clock on the mantelpiece at 9:28.
@17:42 same reaction !I immediately cooked Eggs and Bacon after watching.
Please watch James Stewart in the western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
At night, set up 300 watt floodlights shining outward from inside the window. Itll blind people and your shades could remain open. lol
They didn't have podcasts back then. They had pulp paper Detective magazines often with scantily clad women tied up and being menaced by a thug with a gun or knife. People would just toss them away but now they can go for $20 an issue. I have a box of them with my old sci-fi magazines.
The surprising twist was that the dancer was waiting for her boyfriend, who was a short guy who wears glasses “nerd“.
A fun, suspenseful rom-com that is very Hitchcock-like is Charade. Stars Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.
Something that has always puzzled me is that, though Hitchcock was a great filmmaker and amazingly meticulous, when people fall in his films, it never quite seems right. None of the many falls in his movies is convincing. Hitchcock was so good, I must conclude that this is deliberate but I cannot understand why.
I first saw this movie when I was about 17. My parents were just stating to watch it and I was walking through the living room during Grace Kelly's first scene. One look at her stopped me in my tracks and I said "Who is THAT?" My mom told me it was Grace Kelly, and I grabbed a snack and sat right down to join them. I gotta say, when a gay 17 year-old guy-crazy teenaged boy stops in his tracks at the sight of a lady, that lady is stunning. 🤩
One of the greatest movies
This type of setting would make a great video game. Or even a UA-cam mystery with episodes. Now that I think about it. This movie is simply UA-cam for people in the 1950's. They sit watch into other people's homes and watch the character arch. I guess that would make me Jimmy Stewart. Fresh out of surgery still barely mobile. Watching you Watching 📺 observing your reaction. 😂 with a good script you and your cinema pals could make a good show. Wrap your brain around that. Want to know how it could end. Watch Agatha Christie's orient express😂that was a real twist 🤙
Frankly, I would never say "no" to Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman or Ali Larter. lol Perfect 10s.
If you want to see a young Jimmy Stewart you can check out Vivacious Lady with the one and only, Ginger Rogers. It's kind of a screwball comedy. I love it.
Did you catch the song lyrics at the end. There is a reference to Grace Kelly's character.
“She’s not in love with him
‘How can you tell?”
If she was in love with him, there wouldn’t be anyone but the two of them in the room, then they move to the next room.
You should absolutely watch North by Northwest next.
You could just close the curtain... you know, to keep out the sunshine! :) (That's what I have to do. But, I have eye problems!)
So, Jimmy Stewart is my favorite actor. Always has been. I just like him. Probably because he's just so likeable.
This is my favorite of his Hitchcock movies. I had never seen it until it was restored and re-released however many years ago that was. This, and Rope (which is probably my least favorite, but it's still very good. Different twisty challenge. Hitchcock liked a good challenge), and Vertigo, and I can't remember the other one. There were 4. Vertigo is a very "Hitchcock" movie, but to today's eyes... it's slow and dated. Mostly by the cars, which I'm guessing were very 'modern' at the time. It's amazing how automotive industrial design can really set a movie in its era, to the point where it removes the viewer from the story by the jarring difference between the 'then' and the 'now'. Still a great movie, though. Psycho might have been the other movie that was re-released at that time. I don't remember.
At any rate, I saw someone else answer the question about why Doyle was giving Jeff the side-eye, so I won't rehash it here. But, it's true. Different times back then. I worked my way through college as a dorm monitor in the girls' dormitory. (Guests had to sign in. Men couldn't go upstairs. And, I was very strict. (To the chagrin of not a few of my fellows.) That, and I was the librarian's assistant my senior year. That was actually a lot of fun. We weren't Dewey Decimal... we were Library of Congress!
I think Rear Window was one of those Hitchcock challenges. To be able to tell a gripping story from a single point of view. Literally. Of course, characterization is always what makes a good movie good. (Well, that and good writing and direction. But, if the writers give you dreck, and the director is terrible... good characters can't do a whole lot to spruce it up. But, that wasn't an issue in this movie.)
Of course, Jimmy Stewart is wonderful. As is Princess Grace. Back in the 50's she was literally iconic. She was in To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant. Also a Hitchcock movie. And, she was in High Society with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. An excellent movie. Not Hitchcock, but delightful. Interesting: High Society is a remake of The Philadelphia Story. Bing Crosby played Cary Grant's role. And, Frank Sinatra played Jimmy Stewart's role. And Grace Kelly played Katherine Hepburn's role.
My favorite Jimmy Stewart movie is a relatively unknown one. No Highway in the Sky. Henry Koster directed. In the movie Stewart is a scientist that works for the Royal Aircraft Establishment. In the book, his character is supposed to be a small, timid, mousey man. And, Jimmy Stewart does an amazing job of bringing out his inner small, timid, mousiness. Well worth the watch. It also has Glynis Johns and Marlene Dietrich. Interestingly, about 12 years after No Highway, Henry Koster directed Jimmy Stewart and Glynis Johns (this time as husband and wife, mother and father) in Dear Bridgette. He plays an emotionally high strung, absent-minded English professor who loves the humanities, and hates the sciences. It's fun, and funny. Also well worth the watch.
And... there are many other Jimmy Stewart movies that I love, which is why he's my favorite actor.
And... there you go. Thank you for the watch. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Oh! Thelma Ritter! She's a great character actress, and I love everything I've ever seen her in. I think this is probably my favorite of her movies. She actually reminds me of a dear, sweet friend of mine who, I'm sad to say, passed away a few years ago. But, she was the same kind of spunky, irreverent witty... I miss her. * sigh * Ah, well...
Yes, it's good to know your neighbors. Connection is very difficult in this current age. And, you know... watching UA-cam videos of people reacting to movies is also kind of voyeuristically strange. We don't know each other, and yet, we're sharing interactions. It's different. And, I'm not convinced actually for the best.
Best to have interactions with real people in your local community, beyond just saying 'hey' at the register once a week. It doesn't have to be weird. But, it's nice to be friends. To have friends, and to be a friend.
So, Kaiielle, thank you for the watch. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And, I shall look forward to whatever you watch next.
I hope you have a nice weekend.