Rear Window 70th Anniversary Edition.  (5 of 5)  

I recently watched the 70^th anniversary theatre re-release of Hitchcock’s finest work (in my opinion) of Rear Window.   If you haven’t seen it, or haven’t heard of it; shame on you.  You have probably been too busy watching “Fast and Furious” movies and mouth breathing, in which case, see your way out. 

Just in case, the story revolves around a wheelchair-bound adventure photographer who is cooped up in his elevated apartment overlooking a NYC courtyard where many of the apartment dwellers can be observed.   Stewart engages in some mild people watching to pass the time, assigning nicknames to the residents that he observes as they plod through there seemingly mundane lives.   However, as this is a Hitchcock movie; eventually, things are not always as they seem.  The movie quickly blurs the line between film and audience, making us a part of the voyeurism; unable to look away or discern if what we are viewing is everyday life, or something far more disturbing.

Parallel to the story is Stewart’s relationship with his love interest.  NY socialite, and one of the most beautiful women from any era; Grace Kelly.  Their story / friction is more meaningful to me now; after navigating into real adulthood and fatherhood; considering the self-sabotage that plagues all of us as we struggle to determine what is important to us in a partner or career arc.

One could get very philosophical at the juxtaposition of a 70 year old movie about mild, non-sexual voyeurism induced boredom; versus our current society’s grotesque obsession with all things reality TV, social media and the misguided belief that anyone’s life is any more interesting than one’s own.   To say nothing of the equally gross idol worshipping that some are so prone to…but I won’t.

A few things to marvel at in the movie.

1.     There are only a couple of camera angles used during the entire movie.   Predominately just POV shots from Stewart.

2.     Several very long “one-take” shots where the camera never leaves the characters or has any “jump cut”

3.     Stewart was 46 in the movie. (In real life)   I’m 46.   He’s way better looking than me but FAR older looking.

4.    The suspense is palpable.   I had the pleasure of taking my 12 year old daughter who became visibly nervous during several moments.    Hitchcock brilliance!

5.     Be on the look out for the always present, very brief Alfred Hitchcock cameo; his signature move.  

Find a way to watch this movie.