Rear Window: Watch Thy Neighbor

 I watched a couple movies recently, with two of them being the Until Dawn adaptation and the other being Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. While I enjoyed them for what they were, there was another film that I enjoyed more. And that was Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. A movie that can be boiled down to the idea of "People Watching." Learning where and what your neighbors are doing during each day because you just don't feel like doing anything else. While I think some of the things can feel invasive, overall the film nails a lot of writing beats for me. 

The cast is likeable, the side stories are intriguing, and the concept is so unique. Not many films are willing to confine themselves to a single room like they do in Rear Window, and that's a big draw for me. I didn't need to look deeper into any other apartment because that air of mystery let me put the pieces together. A perfect storm of a film that I can't stop thinking about. So, I am going to go into specifics from here on. If you want to watch the film, then leave now. 

To give a quick rundown, Rear Window is about photographer L.B. Jefferies (Played by James Stewart) and his neighbor watching obsession. This is due to his idleness as his broken leg recovers. So, instead of reading a book or watching television. Jefferies watches his neighbors. Giving them nicknames such as Miss Torso, Miss Lonelyhearts, or Songwriter. And so the film makes a note of this being his 7th week of recovery as his nurse, Stella (Played by Thelma Ritter), remarks on Jefferies's current fixation. And I think Stella makes a good point because at first it does seem a little perverse. 

Jefferies is peering into the lives of others like a fly on the wall. Yet, that rubbernecking starts to become a key aspect to the whole film. Jefferies essentially becomes the neighborhood watch alongside Stella and his girlfriend, Lisa Fremont (Played by Grace Kelly). Who has the most intriguing character arc in this movie for me. As Lisa goes from being this pristine rich girl in a different world to a loose cannon partner for Jefferies in his quest to solve the mystery behind the Thorwalds. 

But it's not just the chaoticness with Lisa that I love. It's her wit and proactiveness that shines through Grace Kelly's performance. She showcases how well Rear Window commands the cast of characters, the shining star if you will. And it all hinges on Lisa's desire to be the person that Jefferies needs and wants. Because Lisa is made out to be more than her caste ranking, Lisa can do it all and then some. She has the much needed Woman's Intuition, and the willingness to get down and dirty. Lisa Fremont is a top tier White Woman. Rear Window simply does not function without Lisa Fremont and that's a fact.

But the notable thing about Lisa's greatness is that it doesn't detract from Jefferies's highlights either. They compliment each other nicely. While Lisa can be more hands on, Jefferies is able to instruct and keep a watchful eye to the events in the neighborhood. Given his photography background, he's more than capable of fulfilling his objectives. Like, it's interesting to see him set up a shot in order to get the right angle or adjusting his physical position in order to avoid unwanted glances. 

A problem that doesn't arise out of peeping, but witnessing something malicious. The disappearance and presumed murder of Emma Thorwald (Played by Irene Winston) by her husband, Lars Thorwald (Played by Raymond Burr). An engaging conundrum that was enhanced by the perspective used in the film. And that is the view from Jefferies's apartment. The viewer is never allowed to venture out of this space. They are only given the literal and figurative windows into people's lives. 

This aspect is one of the most important to me. As I've said before, the minimal amounts of information make this movie work. I don't need to see the dispute between Lars and Emma. I don't need to know what Miss Torso (Played by Georgine Darcy) was saying in her interactions. And I don't need to know the thoughts of Miss Lonelyhearts (Played by Judith Evelyn). The information provided was enough to fill in the blanks, and it made the deductions feel plausible. And it even lead me to become more interested in those smaller parts. Like, I'm wondering if Miss Torso was a reference to the Odyssey as she entertained suitors one night. But by the end, a soldier had come home who seemed to be her partner. So, it would be funny to learn that they slept in Penelope and Odysseus into the story of Rear Window. 

However, there was another interaction that caught my eye. And it was near the end as shit was hitting the fan, and Stella noticed that Miss Lonelyhearts was taking a specific pill. But she wasn't taking just one, she was gonna take the whole bottle. This was something only someone like Stella would know given her background. Luckily, Miss Lonelyhearts doesn't go through with it. A smaller element amidst the chaos that made an impact on my viewing because it reminded me that this character has an expertise. And that expertise was acknowledged through one of the side scenarios. 

So, given the nature of the film I am trying to give as little detail as possible. Even 70+ years later, Rear Window has this uniqueness to it. Despite the film telling me in the credits, I could tell this was a print story first and foremost. Only knowing information through Jefferies and no one else, really slams that idea home. I would love to see more movies in this vein. 

Ultimately, I think that Rear Window is that Hitchcock film for me so far. The pacing flows well and the characters feel like people. Not to mention, the performances from the main trio are superb. I learn enough about their lives, interests, and perceptions in this brief window of time. Also, just want to shout out the way shadows are used in the night scenes because that shit was clean. And a big shout to Technicolor. Some movies nowadays need this shit because I am tired of realism and everything being the same tone. Regardless, sometimes being a a weirdo can help solve a murder or something. But don't actually look into your neighbor's houses like this, that's just creepy. 

And remember to Free Palestine, Free Congo, Free Sudan, Free Venezuela and to Free Lebanon from the onslaught of their oppressors. Never stop talking about them. They think that we don't care, but we see everything. Never forget that. They are trying to suppress our voices because they matter, remember that. There may have been a ceasefire in Gaza, but Palestine still needs to be completely free.