Rear Window

Recently, we watched Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 American thriller film Rear Window! Written by John Michael Hayes, the story centers around a magazine photographer L.B Jefferies, played by James Stewart. Confined to a leg cast and wheelchair, due to getting hit by a racecar while on the job, Jefferies had no other option, to pass the time, but to watch the lives of his neighbors as a form of entertainment. But the more that he watched, the more he became immersed in the lives of his neighbors. Jeffries thus takes notice of his neighbor Lars and begins to suspect nefarious activities after his wife seemingly disappears. As the day goes on, Jeffries becomes more and more convinced that Lars is a murderer and becomes increasingly obsessed with proving it.


Rear Window is regarded as a film ahead of its time. Its plot, cinematography, and story were all meant to captivate an audience and create a first-person atmosphere in which the audience feels like they are a part of the movie. The film was shot, intentionally, from the point of view of Jeffries. Meaning, everything Jeffries saw we saw. This was intentionally done so the audience could have the same information as the main character and also to have the feeling of helplessness when situations that were out of our control arose. The film creates an atmosphere of intense suspense and anticipation that forces the audience to jump out of their seats and yell at the character to not do certain acts. These types of emotions that arise from us are what make Rear Window a fantastic suspense movie. As Dion Stegriopoulous states, a writer for The Owl, “One of the most striking aspects of Rear Window is the way it explores the darker side of psychological storytelling. Hitchcock was known for his fascination with psychology and the darker side of human nature. In this film, he delves into the idea of observing others without their knowledge or consent. By positioning the audience as accomplices to L.B.’s spying, Hitchcock forces us to confront our own dark-minded tendencies and the moral implications of watching others without their awareness.”


Rear Window brought out thought-provoking themes on social norms that left audience members pondering on society. The story centers around two men, but their lives are surrounded by the idea of women. From Lisa and Mrs. Thorwald to Stella and Ms. Torso the story is influenced by women. But the movie does a great job of showing the social norms of women. For example, in Rear Window, when Lt. Thomas speaks to Jeffries and Lisa there is tension between Lisa and Lt. Thomas because he believes because she is a woman she isn’t qualified to speak on this matter. Furthermore, the social norms Lt. Thomas couldn’t help but comment on Lisa staying over in Jeffries's apartment even when they were not married. These types of conversations in the film left audience members intrigued by the social norms of that day.