Rear Window

Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, takes us into the mind of  LB Jefferies, a man stricken to a wheelchair after a photography incident. As Jefferies sits in his wheelchair with a broken leg, we pan around an apartment complex to see all walks of life; the young dancer, an old couple, a lonely man, and a new wed couple moving in together for the first time.This Opening Image really helps set up what we are seeing.

As Jefferies sits and watches all his neighbors, he is stuck with the thought of marriage to his girlfriend Lisa Fremont. She is a rich girl who has no idea for adventure or survival. Through out the movie he realizes that she is the one. When Jefferies looks out across the apartment complex, he notices a man who has to take care of his sick wife, who seems to be a burden. As many nights pass,  the neighbor keeps getting more and more suspicious.

As all this goes on, we are stuck in the apartment with Jefferies. This carmera movment really helps set the tone of the film, we feeling like we are in a wheelchair with a broken leg. Even though there were several people in the same scene at times, we never really get an over the shoulder dialogue with others.

Characteristics of the film are such as acting, VFX, and the meaning of the film. Acting was quite suprisingly good. The actors were spot on with emotion and timing. VFX were quite cheesy by today's standards, but back in 1954, they were  spot on. From the helicopter in the beginning to Jefferies falling out the window. Implicit meaning really showed us what a peeping tom or a creeper does. All though this was more mild, it still was showing us something that we would never do. Explicit meaing showed us how exactly restricted and immovable some one with a disability can be. Of course, this seems a bit silly when you are dealing with murder, but it seems to work just fine.

After Jefferies and his fiance Lisa gather enough evidence, Lisa gets caught by Lars Thorwald, or suspected murderer. When she is stuck in here apartment and the police show up to arrest Lisa, Thorwald finds out who exactly is out to get him. When Lisa is taking to the police station, Thorwald pays Jefferies a visit. This is where Hitchcock gives us tension in the film. With Thorwald walking towards Jefferies, but blinded by each flash of his camera, we can't help but feel scared for what might happen.

When Thorwald throws Jefferies out the window, the police show up in time to save the day. The catch Thorwald and he confesses everything. With Jeffreies wearing two leg casts, he finally gets to sleep well at night with his new wife.

1954 learned a lot from this film. With a lot of Hitchcock movies breaking social bounds, it really helps this time period grow to what it has become. With out Hitchcock, film would be behind on a lot of things.