So Rear Window was my first taste of the infamous Alfred Hitchcock. It was good, but.... not what I was expecting! What I mean is, I thought it would be more of a Agatha Christie or typical gangster or something... but it was everyday life, the whole movie took place from one room, and no murder or body was shown. No policeman really, either. Just Jimmy Stewart, the lovely Grace Kelly, and Thelma Ritter.
Photographer "Jeff" has broken his leg, and is stuck in his apartment for weeks. He takes to people watching... and believes his neighbor has murdered his invalid wife!
At first everyone discredits this. He didn't even see anything, really. But then his glamorous girlfriend, Lisa starts to think he may be right. But his detective friend Doyle discredits Jeff after a brief search for clues. So Jeff, Lisa, and Jeff's nurse Stella decide to solve this thing for themselves!
It is mostly suspense that makes this murder mystery, not wild chases or blood and gore. It is unlike any other movie I have ever seen. Most of it was just "people watching." They developed these neighbors so much! And we never actually "meet" any of them really; yet they each have their own little story.
I was especially interested in the lonely woman in the apartment across the way. I loved her ending. So perfect for her!
And Grace Kelly is a perfect, blonde haired, blue eyed, tiny waist-ed little doll! My goodness, her outfits were gorgeous! How she stays with Jeff when he is so dismissive.... he really doesn't deserve her! ;)
And the nurse made for a little humor. She was quite funny, without even meaning to be most of the time.
So overall, this movie was nice but a little slow. The suspense, however, makes up for the slowness at the beginning.
This sounds like a pretty interesting old movie. :-P I've never seen anything by Alfred Hitchkock either, but I LOVE Agatha Christie mysteries, and I love Jimmy Stewart, so maybe I'll watch this sometime. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDelete~Emma
Well, it was interesting, but not exactly like Christie. I bet you'd like it all the same though :) I am glad you found the review helpful!
Delete-Madd Rose
Your first taste of Hitchcock! How exciting!
ReplyDeleteHis movies are mostly suspense and psychological mysteries, though a few do get a bit actiony (North By Northwest particularly). If you liked Grace Kelly here, try her in Hitch's To Catch a Thief. Delicious!!! But not a Christie-esque mystery either -- part romance and part mystery. And that one has Cary Grant too! Yum, yum.
Even Psycho, which so many people label "horror," is really part suspense and part psychological mystery. Not to say it isn't scary, but it's not gory or horrific.
I hope you continue watching Hitchcock movies! He was a master. If you want, I can recommend others I think you would like, and steer you clear of ones you might not care for. I've seen more than 20 of his movies, most of them more than once.