As a set up I really don’t like Hitchcock’s films. This was still recommended to me after claiming that Vertigo was boring and that Psycho was dull (the only suspenseful scene being the car sinking). I liked The Birds though, I think due to the bizarre nature of it. I use to also like Alfred Hitchcock Presents little one hour murder mystery type ones. SO! I held out hope I may like this. I have seen about 1/3 of Hitchcock’s library and so far only liked The Birds.

Rear Window:

So the overall best thing about this movie was the audio. This is not to say that I did not like it, just that the soundtrack — or more importantly where it comes from — is amazing. The film overall really showed off Hitchcock’s ability, if I have ever seen it before. There was one point of such heavy suspense that you could feel the weight of it on your shoulders. It is right after Doyle returns from the train station to Jefferies apartment. Probably the best part of the film.

I do have to say that a good part of this was the writing. The writing was really good, [;] a lesser director would not have been able to pull it off with such finesse. After you get over the fact that this is obviously a sound stage set, the back ally of 9th street becomes what you are looking out on to with Jefferies. You start to know all the characters as L.B. does. Masterful really. I was very impressed.

One other thing to note, Grace Kelly was gorgeous in this. I can say this as a real compliment because rarely do I find women of film from early color attractive. Perfect casting for the “perfect girl.” Also the character of Stella (and some of her rear window philosophy) is another excellent character.

Man, ok, I need to go back to just the last 30 min or so of the film. With out you knowing it you are all of a sudden so tied up in everything that is going on your brain is working overtime to keep track and pick up every little thing to put it together, on top of trying to decided on what the outcome of the sleuthing will be. I was glad for the little break of seeing everything that was happening when Lisa and Stella go to the flower bed, just to try to organize my thoughts. This is what I was talking about how it was like a weight on your shoulders. These details slowly get piled on until it is too much. The director knows just when to ease up a little to allow you to catch your breath.

Overall very excellent. This is the first film I have seen that has shown off what Hitchcock can do (for me, not in the time line of his career). This film is so original that if it ever gets re-made I will be disappointed. It needs to remain as it is, frozen through time.