Classic 50s Movie: “Rear Window”
May is Classic 50s Movie month. Today’s guest post comes from Roy Gordon.
Movie Title: Rear Window
Year: 1954
Writers: John Michael Hayes, based on a “It Had To Be Murder”, a short story by Cornell Woolrich
Lead Actors: James Stewart, Grace Kelly
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
IMDb Plot Summary: A wheelchair bound photographer spies on his neighbours from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.
Why I Think This Is A Classic 50s Movie: Mixing mystery, suspense and relationships in an immersive experience for the viewer, with a plot well before Hero’s Journey and Save The Cat allowed room to breathe. A slice of the world condensed in a rear window view from just one room which the audience shares with the characters.
Would the slow burn of the mystery be allowed today? There would be cries against such a passive protagonist “He just watches, he’s on a chair, he does nothing. He just prods people”.
And wouldn’t someone say “What are the stakes for the protagonist? He must have stakes. Big stakes. What happens if he doesn’t find out? He dies?” No, he’s in danger of dying because he persists… for what motive? As Thorwald asks, “What do you want”?
My Favorite Moment In The Movie: You meant moments, didn’t you? Have three.
The suspenseful moment with the wedding ring on Lisa’s finger. Thorwald has been had — but so have you, Jeff.
The flashes — Jeff fights with his weapons: he is a photographer, he uses the flash bulbs to blind Thorwald.
Jeff with two broken legs — he’s worse than at the beginning, trapped, impotent, more than ever. Plus, it looks like Lisa will change to stay with him… but is she just pretending? She gets back to reading the fashion magazine… Jeff sure didn’t want this ending. Did he need it?
My Favorite Dialogue In the Movie: You meant several lines, didn’t you? If just one, then the final one-sided dialogue.
JEFF: There’s an intelligent way to approach marriage.
STELLA: (Scoffing) Intelligence! Nothing has caused the human race more trouble. Modern marriage!
* * *
JEFF: Now what could he sell at three in the morning?
STELLA: (shrugs) Flashlights. Luminous dials for watches. House numbers that light up.
* * *
JEFF: Well, don’t tell me he’s an unemployed magician amusing the neighborhood with his sleight-of-hand. Now don’t tell me that.
TOM: It’s too obvious, a stupid way to commit murder in full view of fifty windows. Then sit over there smoking a cigar, waiting for the police to come and pick him up?
JEFF: Officer, go do your duty. Go pick him up!
* * *
THORWALD: What is it you want? A lot of money? I don’t have any money.
Jeff doesn’t answer.
THORWALD: Say something!
He moves forward a couple of steps.
THORWALD: (Sudden loud anger) Say something! Tell me what you want!
Thorwald doesn’t get an answer — because Jeff doesn’t really have an answer.
Key Things You Should Look For When Watching This Movie: The opening — how to say it all visually. The stories going on in each apartment — visuals at work, again. The camera moves, the framing — everything is done for a reason.
The little details: The lovebirds in a cage at the beginning, the newlyweds arguing at the end. Miss Lonely Hearts and the Songwriter getting together.
Throughout the movie, our point of view is the same as Jeff’s; like him, we’re sitting in a chair, watching what goes on before our eyes.
The warmth and humor beneath a murder mystery. It is the warmth and humor that makes me like Rear Window more than, say, Vertigo.
Thanks, Roy! To show our gratitude for your guest post, here’s a dash of creative juju for you. Whoosh!
Twitter: @roygordon55.
We already have a set of classic 60s Movies, 70s movies, 80s Movies and 90s Movies. This month, we’re working on 50s movies.
Here is an updated list of 20 fine folks who have already volunteered [those who I put in bold have already sent me their posts]:
A Place in the Sun — Zach Jansen
A Star is Born — mkm28
All About Eve — Ricardo Bravo
American in Paris — stefani1601
File on Thelma Jordon, The — David Joyner
Harvey — Felicity Flesher
High Noon — Jeff Messerman
Invasion of the Body Snatchers — Rick Dyke
Kiss Me Deadly — John Henderson
Marty — jetwillie69
Night of the Hunter — Mark Twain
On the Waterfront — Bilbo Poynter
Rear Window — Roy Gordon
Rebel Without a Cause — uncgym44
Searchers, The — mkm28
Seven Samurai, The — PaulG
Some Like It Hot — Will King
Sunset Blvd. — Rick Dyke
Tokyo Story — Jeff Messerman
Vertigo — Jason Pates
I’m looking for 31 guest posts, one for each day of May. Why not pitch in to help add to this online resource to inspire writers to learn about and — most importantly — watch great movies.
If you have a classic 50s movies on which you’d like to do a writeup, please either post in comments or email me.
Thanks in advance!
For the original post explaining the series, go here.
For all of the 50s movies featured in the series, go here.
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