Year of release: 1954

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Run time: 1 hr 55 mins

Imdb rating: 8.5/10

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Cast: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Raymond Burr, Wendell Corey

Plot summary:
Laid up with a broken leg, photojournalist L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart) is confined to his tiny, sweltering courtyard apartment. To pass the time between visits from his nurse (Thelma Ritter) and his fashion model girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly), the binocular-wielding Jeffries stares through the rear window of his apartment at the goings-on in the other apartments around his courtyard. It's whilst spying one day that he spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed a murder.
( - Source: imdb.com)

Why do I recommend: A tight suspense show is offered in Rear Window, one of Alfred Hitchcock’s better thrillers. Hitchcock combines technical and artistic skills in a manner that makes this an unusually good piece of murder mystery entertainment. 

In this brilliant movie about watching the neighbors, Hitchcock turns the lens on his audience. "We have become a race of Peeping Toms," notes one character, not only commenting on Jeff's obsessive voyeurism but also on that of the cinematic spectator. This peeping-Tom phenomenon is what makes people connect to this movie so much. It's because of such a simplistic, make-believe setting, that this movie captures your attention as soon as it starts. You feel yourself looking through the eyes of the protagonist.

What I love about this movie is again the intelligent mix of suspense and romance. All the characters have their share of romance being portrayed, and that never overshadows the mystery that runs in the front. Till the end, the motive for both the protagonist and antagonist is driven by a sweet romantic desire. Stewart's brilliant acting inspite of being reduced to a wheelchair bound male is remarkable. Without much verbal interaction, the facial expressions and eye movements speak a thousand words more. Kelly on the other hand provide the glamour to maintain the balance of romance.

The only setback would be the predictability of the crime. Unlike other Hitchcock movies where suspense is maintained till the climax, here you can feel yourself thinking the same thing that Jeff is, as the movie progresses. You can clearly predict how and what happened (that is, if you love mystery as a genre). This aspect takes away the excitement in the climax of the movie.

Otherwise, this is a brilliant satirical murder mystery. Totally recommended.

(Although, truthfully, if you love Hitchcock, you should probably watch all his movies, like I have.)

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Let me know if you decide to watch this film! 😊

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