Rear window is a 1954 american technicolor mystery thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock and written by john michael hayes based on cornell woolrichs. Jefferies, a photographer bound to a wheelchair in his apartment as his broken leg heals. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Sequels and remakes of hitchcock films the alfred hitchcock. The thriller is at the forefront of rear window 1954, but the film is really a love story between l. Jeffries, jeff james stewart, a photojournalist, whose profession and travels mean everything to him and who is reluctant to commit himself to a relationship, and his highspirited girlfriend, lisa grace kelly, who wants to marry him jeff is confined to a wheelchair at home. Rear window 1954 after breaking his leg during a shoot, photojournalist l. From left, wendell corey, grace kelly and james stewart star in rear window december 11, 1997. One of the main lighting techniques is low key lighting, this leaves a majority of the background dark, you only see a portion of the actor, and it adds to the scene by making the character, in this case the murderer, look mysterious and. Inside the real greenwich village apartment that inspired. Rear window is the only film where grace kelly smokes onscreen. Kelly refused to smoke cigarettes in her movies, but she made a slight exception for hitchcock. Jul 25, 2012 watching rear window recently, i realised stewarts voyeurism yielded another reward.
The hero of alfred hitchcocks rear window is trapped in a wheelchair, and we re trapped, tootrapped inside his point of view, inside his. A wheelchairbound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. He moved what he dug up to a hat box in his apartment. This rear window collection of stories 2001 by cornell woolrich contains stories from 1969 and earlier. Rear window is filmed in a manner similar to what could be described as the cinematic universes version of a first person voice. The address given in the film was 125 west 9th street, though the actual location was suggested to be the rear of 125 christopher street in. Architecture is one of the building blocks of making films, and hitchcock was. This creates an effect much like that of the storys, but with more intellectual and emotional resources mcfarlane 16 needed from the audience to bring the narrative to life, as they are forced to try to. 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. Analysis of themes in rear window essay 1436 words.
Stephanie bittar narrative analysis paper mcs 273 rear window 1955 alfred hitchcocks 1954 film, rear window, explores many dimensions in cinematography. Secret window is a 2004 american psychological thriller film starring johnny depp and john turturro. The most unusual and intimate journey into human emotions ever filmed 1962 rerelease it only takes one witness to spoil the perfect crime. This essay will try to give an overview of two interpretations of rear window, both of which focus on the gaze and voyeurism of the movie, and both of which can be situated to a greater or lesser extent within a psychoanalytic context. The four films they made together in a remarkably short period of time during the mid1950srear window, to catch a thief, the trouble with harry, and the man who knew too much 1956 versionwould seem to provide the defining moments of hayess resume. Eriksen stressed the restoration process of older movies by saying, we are slowly losing our film heritage. 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. The recently restored version of alfred hitchcocks glorious rear window is a separate issue because it is a restoration not a colorized movie. Set design the set is designed to give you an easy map to follow of their surroundings. 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. And there are a lot of cinematic elements at play in rear window that help put audiences into the role. With james stewart, grace kelly, wendell corey, thelma ritter.
Watching rear window recently, i realised stewarts voyeurism yielded another reward. It is a film about looking, and hitchcock, as always, was canny on several levels. Taglines from original posters and videodvd covers. The phenomenal film is well known for proclaiming its voyeurism issues that goes on in todays society. 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 lovingly invests in suspense all through the film, banking it in our memory, so that when the final payoff arrives, the whole film has been the thriller equivalent of foreplay.
In rear window, jeff is not a moralist, a policeman or a dogooder, but a man who likes to look. 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. Jan 12, 2009 trailer for alfred hitchcocks film starring james stewart,grace kelly,wendell corey,thelma ritter,raymond burr,judith evelyn,ross bagdasarian,georgine darcy. The importance of set design in hitchcocks rear window ksa. Modern remake of rear window in which the lead character is paralyzed and lives in a hightech home filled with assistive technology. John michael hayes screenplay was based on cornell woolrichs with penname william irish original 1942 short story or novelette, it had to be murder. 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 was filmed entirely on a manmade set at paramount studios. Was rear window shot in an actual apartment courtyard or an.
The movie, rear window, filmed in 1954, directed by alfred hitchcock utilizes a wide variety of lighting techniques. Jefferies james stewart, the film s central character. Partially inspired by alfred hitchcock s rear window, the film released on april, 2007. How hitchcock used editing to turn rear window into a. The pointofview shots help to pull the audience into the film and to identify more with the characters, most. Was rear window shot in an actual apartment courtyard or.
With christopher reeve, daryl hannah, robert forster, ruben santiagohudson. 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. Troubled by the death of his father in an auto accident. The film rear window was added to the united states national film registry in the library of congress as being culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant. It was written and directed by david koepp, based on the novella secret window, secret garden by stephen king, featuring a musical score by philip glass and geoff zanelli. This loss is due to the decreased demand for restored older movies in favor of an. The most unusual and intimate journey into human emotions ever filmed 1962 re. There are such a vast number of planes to appreciate rear window on and one of those is its impeccable use of sound as well as a score courtesy of franz waxman. He is confined to his small greenwich village apartment while recuperating and, out of boredom, begins to spy on his various neighbors across the courtyard. 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. When it came to his career, john michael hayes experienced the heaven and hell of alfred hitchcock. As an alfred hitchcock favourite, i suppose rear window has to be mentioned, if only to record the unsurprising fact that there are no real locations to see its set in greenwich village, new york, but the movie was shot entirely on a gigantic set built at paramount studios on melrose avenue in hollywood. Like in rear window, we only see through kales shia labeouf.
Trailer for alfred hitchcocks film starring james stewart,grace kelly,wendell corey,thelma ritter,raymond burr,judith evelyn,ross bagdasarian,georgine darcy,sara berner,frank cady,jesslyn fax. The costumes for rear window were designed by edith head, one of the most famous costume designers in hollywood history. 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. Rear window is a 1954 american technicolor mystery thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock and written by john michael hayes based on cornell woolrich s 1942 short story it had to be murder. This movie was unavailable for three decades because its rights together with four other movies of the same period were bought back by sir alfred hitchcock, and left as part of his legacy to his daughter. What stood out for me this time was the films panoramic view of romantic attachment and its pitfalls. One of the prime examples of hitchcocks use of optical pointofview shots is his 1954 film, rear window. Towards the end of rear window, we find out thorwald dug up what was buried beneath the flowers, as the neighbors dog got too inquisitive.
I will be investigating why it is seen as such an aesthetically significant film even to this day. The teleplay by larry gross and eric overmyer is an updated adaptation of the classic 1954 film of the same name directed by alfred hitchcock which was based on the short story it had to be murder by cornell woolrich. Gunnison, how did you ever get to be such a big editor with such a small memory. Originally released by paramount pictures, the film stars james stewart, grace kelly, wendell corey, thelma ritter, and raymond burr. In addition to the title story, there are an twelve stories, primarily from his best years when his stories appeared in detective fiction weekly, argosy, and black mask among others. The story appeared in kings 1990 collection four past midnight. Yes, this is where jimmy stewart lives in rear window, says the tenant, actordirector sean gullette. Rear window is a classic 1954 thriller, directed by alfred hitchcock, starring jimmy stewart and grace kelly l. Jeff jeffries stewart is a photojournalist who broke his leg during a dangerous assignment. As an alfred hitchcock favourite, i suppose rear window has to be mentioned, if only to record the unsurprising fact that there are no real locations to see its set in greenwich village, new york, but the movie was shot entirely on a gigantic set built at paramount studios on melrose avenue in hollywood hitchcock loved technical challenges lifeboat, set in a single boat. Kelly refused to smoke cigarettes in her movies, but she made a slight exception for hitchcock in rear window. This page contains a selection of sequels to hitchcock films such as the psycho series and loosly related films such as night train to munich, as well as films which either remake a hitchcock film or use the same or similar original source story. Theyve been known for long as the infamous five lost hitchcocks amongst movie buffs, and were rereleased in theatres around 1984 after.
Rear window was originally filmed in black and white but has since been restored to color which is how it was shown on thursday evening. John michael hayes screenplay was based on cornell woolrichs with penname william irish original 1942 short story or novelette, it. Rear window 1954 is one of hitchcocks classic single set films. The wheelchairbound jeff whiles away his time observing his neighbours through a telephoto lens, bestowing them with nicknames and growing familiar. A constructionstory, in journal of film and video river forest, illinois, spring 1985. Carusos disturbia 2007 is almost identical to rear window a teen living under house arrest becomes convinced that his neighbor is a serial killer. Jefferies james stewart, the films central character. The very realistic courtyard composed of 32 apartments, which were completely furnished running waterfurniture, at a nonexistent address, 125 w. Mar 05, 2010 rear window was originally filmed in black and white but has since been restored to color which is how it was shown on thursday evening. Rear window is a 1998 american madefortelevision crimedrama thriller film directed by jeff bleckner. When the man was matched with food, audiences said the man looked hungry, and so on. Alfred hitchcocks 1954 thriller rear window encapsulates his masterful use of controlling information to create deepseated suspense in the audience. Dec 08, 2015 the film rear window was added to the united states national film registry in the library of congress as being culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant. Cnn film restoration more than rear windowdressing dec.
There are two main purposes for his use of optical pointof view shots in rear window. Rear window 1954 is an intriguing, brilliant, macabre hitchcockian visual study of obsessive human curiosity and voyeurism. The entire story takes place in one area, and all but a few camera shots originate from the same position the big bay window of l. Narrative analysis of rear window by alfred hitchcock 965 words 4 pages. Jeff jeffries james stewart is forced to spend a humid summer recuperating in his greenwich village apartment. This page contains a selection of sequels to hitchcock films such as the psycho series and loosly related films such as night train to munich, as well as films which either remake a hitchcock film or use the same or similar original source story sequels the birds 1963. Jeffs apartment is a fantastic location offering a view into a number of. The experience of viewing and the viewing of experience in rear window and psycho, in cinema journal champaign, illinois, winter 1986. In fact, it is quite easy to consider it as a film with a wholly diegetic soundtrack but, in reality, its really an intricate weaving of sound orchestration playing against the images onscreen.
Roger ebert was the film critic of the chicago suntimes from 1967 until his death in 20. Rear window aesthetics aspects of this film survive today not as rear window, but as key elements in other films. Rear window proves that theres no need to rush at 160 miles per hour to make a good thriller. Trailer for alfred hitchcocks film starring james stewart,grace kelly,wendell corey,thelma ritter,raymond burr,judith evelyn,ross. Filming locations 4 filming dates 1 filming locations.
There is suspense enough, of course, but the important thing is the way that it is filmed. 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. The importance of set design in hitchcocks rear window. One of the main lighting techniques is low key lighting, this leaves a majority of the background dark, you only see a portion of the actor, and it adds to the scene by making the character, in this case the murderer, look mysterious and suspicious. Rear window also implies something secretsomething out of the way, hidden in the back, where most people cant see it. Jeff peeps on his neighbors through the rear window of his apartment, and the view through that window is the audiences, tooits all weve got.
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