Rear window is essentially a battle of wits, with jeff trying to uncover the truth about a murderer and said murderer doing everything in his power to keep from getting caught. Jefferies obsession with his neighbours unusual behaviours viewers are forced to see the film. A short, balding man is standing near the window, shaving, using a small bowl of water. Jeff jefferies breaks his leg while getting an action shot at an auto race.
Its themes, primarily voyeurism, and character profiles illustrate hitchcocks societal messages and provide a running commentary on issues which govern america during the 1950s. Alfred hitchcock frequently began his movies with a scene that introduces the viewer to both character and setting in. In the polychromes seen from a rear window on steaming hot summer days and nights, and in the jangle and lilt of neighborhood music, he hints of passions, lust, tawdriness and hope. Find movie and film award information for rear window 1954 alfred hitchcock on allmovie. The analysis of the cinematography and miseenscene in the opening sequence in rear window alfred hitchcock, 1954. Dec 08, 2015 for example firstly disturbia 2007 is almost identical to rear window in its voyeuristic themes and even marketing imagery they may share the same themes of voyeurism and limited perspective however it has been described by observer critic philip french as a limp teenage bythenumbers version of rear window. Perhaps rear window doesnt have an iconic scene in the way that north by northwest and psycho do, but it does have several scenes that are worth taking a closer look at.
Disturbia 2007 themes of rear window how escapism is constructed conclusion escapism voyeurism l. From a purely plot perspective, rear window is a kind of chess game. A rear window view seen at the rivoli the new york times. Joseph mccarthy and the spread of mccarthyism rear window, directed by alfred hitchcock 1954 joseph mccarthy and the birth of mccarthyism rear window vs. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Sep 20, 2017 perhaps rear window doesnt have an iconic scene in the way that north by northwest and psycho do, but it does have several scenes that are worth taking a closer look at.
He begins to suspect that the man opposite may have murdered his wife. Moviestore collectionrex features the first time i watched rear window, i was 14 or 15 and living in a remote part of ireland. Alfred hitchcock alfred hitchcock the paramount years. Rear window is pretty much perfection, hitchcocks opening sequence introduces you into this world of neighbors and all the happenings around james stewart.
Analysis of themes in rear window essay 1436 words. Theme of rear window and disturbia 779 words 4 pages. Jefferies, a photographer bound to a wheelchair in his apartment as his broken leg heals. An analysis of the themes and techniques in the movie rear window directed by alfred hitchcock. Rear window 1954 is an intriguing, brilliant, macabre hitchcockian visual study of obsessive human curiosity and voyeurism. Rear window alfred hitchcock 1954 production skills. Rear window alfred hitchcock 1954 rear windows opening credits is with a static shot of a window from the inside of a room and the blinds on the window are going up one by one. Thorwald takes extraspecial steps to avert suspicion like planting a phony postcard from his dead. Hitchcocks 1954 thriller rear window portrays a little world that represents the larger one. Jeffries, a world traveling magazine photographer accustomed to living a fast pace active lifestyle. Confined to his new york apartment, he spends his time looking out of the rear window observing the neighbours.
Rear window implicitly asks what it is to be a neighbor or at least what it is to live with neighbors. Rear window opening sequence the analysis of the cinematography and miseenscene in the opening sequence in rear window alfred hitchcock, 1954. For example firstly disturbia 2007 is almost identical to rear window in its voyeuristic themes and even marketing imagery they may share the same themes of voyeurism and limited perspective however it has been described by observer critic philip french as a limp teenage bythenumbers version of rear window. When jefferies injures himself taking a risky picture he is immobilized, confined to a wheelchair inside his apartment for. Moving to paramount, hitchcock entered his third phase of sustained brillianceone with a maturity of theme and a mastery of technique that make even the great periods of 193438 and 194046 almost pale in comparison. Hitchcocks aesthetic configuration of the film manipulates the audience into questioning several aspects of the filmdid mr. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. I will also be looking at misery and love and how does this change the characters objective along the film. Rear window, originally published in 1942 in dime detective magazine under the. Sitting alone, trapped inside my home watching my neighbors movements day by day. Rear window study guide contains a biography of alfred hitchcock, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full. Window is the framing of shots within shots, such as the windows of.
The importance of set design in hitchcocks rear window ksa. Bored, bored, bored, bored beyond all possible limits of boredom. In his suspense masterpiece, hitchcock utilizes all of his favorite gender roles for his male and female characters. Hitchcocks rear window 1954 builds a distinct view of the world and how, in the directors opinion, men and women fit in it. Critical analysis of alfred hitchcocks rear window jess cinema. With james stewart, grace kelly, wendell corey, thelma ritter. Rear window provides an unprecedented, and never since equaled, example of a camera simultaneously acting as our eyes, the directors eyes and the main characters eyes. Thus we are forced to see exactly what jeff sees, and, in. Rear window how does its message remain relevant today. In rear window 1954 jeff, a wheelchairbound press photographer stewart, spends his invalid days peering into the. Without criticizing or supporting these roles, rear window puts every gender stereotype in play in one neat package and offers them for observation on a platter. Rear window main title original soundtrack theme from.
Download rear window 1954 windows desktop backgrounds,photos in hd widescreen high quality resolutions for free. The one i chose is the scene in which the little dog is discovered dead. Hitchcock had a rather concrete opinion of how men and women fit into society in the 1950s, particularly as was represented in film. We only know as much information as jeff knows, and hitchcock deftly reveals. In rear window 1954 jeff, a wheelchairbound press photographer stewart. The opening scene of rear window is perhaps the best opening of any hitchcock film. None of hitchcocks films has ever given a clearer view of his genius for suspense than rear window. Alfred hitchcocks rear window analysis free essay example. Analysis of themes in rear window essay 1436 words bartleby. As summarized on the website the museum of film history, men are shown as damaged and needing. When most people think of hitchcock, its the screeching violins from psycho that first come to mind. Over his career, alfred hitchcock has implemented hundreds of different techniques to control. What is most significant here is not necessarily the uncovering, however, but the burial theme. One of alfred hitchcocks very best efforts, rear window is a crackling suspense film that also ranks with michael powells peeping tom 1960 as one of the movies most trenchant dissections of.
By filming rear window from jeffs point of view, hitchcock places his viewer in jeffs voyeuristic mindset. Whilst he is indeed known for his haircurling thrillers, rear window is a slightly subtler film which focuses not on a murderer at large, but rather a crippled photographer. It hasnt been seen anywhere in the world legally, at least in more than 10 years, because hitchcock pulled it off the market to increase its eventual value to his estate. Confined to his new york apartment, he spends his time looking out of the rear window observing the. Cinematography is the use of the camera, the shots used, the angles and distances. Oct 08, 2012 rear window alfred hitchcock 1954 rear window s opening credits is with a static shot of a window from the inside of a room and the blinds on the window are going up one by one. Thorwald in different windows, separating them from each other. Analysis of themes in rear window essay 1424 words. Rear window themes gender roles 1950s america, voyeurism the act of obtaining gratification often sexual from watching, isolation confinement.
Rear window to north by northwest moving to paramount, hitchcock entered his third phase of sustained brillianceone with a maturity of theme and a mastery of technique that make even the great periods of 193438 and 194046 almost pale in comparison. Fear of marriage and voyeurism in rear window in alfred hitchcocks 1954 classic thriller rear window, jimmy stewart stars as l. Apr 01, 2018 part 1 rear window study guide the director, the cast, the story. Rear window is a 1954 american technicolor mystery thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock and written by john michael hayes based on cornell woolrichs 1942 short story it had to be murder. Alfred hitchcocks 1954 thriller rear window encapsulates his. Rear window by john michael hayes based on a short story. Now sir alfred has passed away, the estate has been settled, and the movie is back in.
Rear window is entirely a mental process, done by use of the visual. Rear window study guide contains a biography of alfred hitchcock, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Damian loeb hyperrealist paintings on urban themes by the new york painter. Jul 25, 2012 james stewart and grace kelly in rear window 1954. Themes presented in rear window alfred hitchcock, 1954. It starred hitchcock favourites james stewart and grace kelly. The camera then tracks towards the window as though it is going to leave the room, however the camera pans down and stops tracking when it reaches the window sill. Rear window symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. Originally released by paramount pictures, the film stars james stewart, grace kelly, wendell corey, thelma ritter, and raymond burr. And one of the stories was actually the template of a woolrich novel i read, night has a thousand eyes the novel is much better than the short story. Jeffries, a photographer who is confined to a wheelchair while recuperating from a broken. The importance of set design in hitchcocks rear window. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of rear window by cornell woolrich. How does hitchcock use rear window to define gender.
Sequence analysis 1 the rear window although many realist films tend to realize that the viewer is an observer, there is a theme that is clearly established in the first few minutes of rear window alfred hitchcock, 1954 with a variety of long shots that clearly show the setting. The rear window by alfred hitchcock and the paramount studios act. The camera moves on into the open, and brings nearer to us a room with a large studio window. See more ideas about rear window, alfred hitchcock movies, hitchcock. Many of his characters are voyeurs, like psychos norman bates and, of course, l. John michael hayes screenplay was based on cornell woolrichs with penname william irish original 1942 short story or novelette, it had to be murder. The presentation of scopophilia in rear window 1954. Alfred hitchcocks rear window 1954 with james stewart grace kelly. Alfred hitchcocks 1954 rear window is a film full of symbolism, narratives.
Rear window themes gender roles 1950s america lisa. Rear window is a 1954 american technicolor mystery thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock and written by john michael hayes based on cornell woolrichs 1. Windows are usually a metaphor for freedom, but in hitchcocks rear window 1954 they expose privacy, they symbolize confinement, and they. In this essay i am going to be analysing the themes, which have been used in the film red road 2006 and compare it to rear window 1954. Rear window by alfred hitchcock lisas study guides. This setting is a description a scenes in the plot of the films, rear window by alfred hitchcock 1954 and disturbia by d. Rear window 1954 is like a featurelength demonstration of the same principle, in which the shots assembled in jeffs mind add up to murder. Four pieces of music from rear window 1954 youtube. Jose lopez aka wallace, balconies and windows rear window, 20 rear window. In this video essay, we break down alfred hitchcocks masterpiece rear window.
As a filmmaker, alfred hitchcock was always acutely aware of the communal experience of moviegoing. Rear window like the greenwich village courtyard view from its titular portal, alfred hitchcocks classic rear window is both confined and multileveled. Rear window by ben elliott hitchcocks rear window 1954 builds a distinct view of the world and how, in the directors opinion, men and women fit in it. Micro elements such as cinematography and miseenscene can be used to create all sorts of effects and feelings within a screen play. Rear window 1954 is the first of the current package of hitchcock rereleases. Alfred hitchcock frequently began his movies with a scene that introduces the viewer to both character and setting in an understated, economical way. Jeff jeffries james stewart is confined to a wheelchair with a broken leg, he becomes obsessed with watching the private dramas of his neighbors play out across the courtyard.
A wheelchairbound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. Thats what leads him to his creepy voyeurism to begin with. When the man was matched with food, audiences said the man looked hungry, and so on. Theres very little in the realm of actual judgments except for the small condemnation that comes from the woman who lives just above the murderer after her yippy dog has been killed. These two films contain many similar themes which are a part of the movies plot but are slightly different. Jeff jeffries breaks his leg while getting an action shot at an auto race. Moviestore collectionrex features the first time i watched rear window, i was. Alfred hitchcocks 1954 thriller rear window encapsulates his masterful use of controlling information to create deepseated suspense in the audience. Rear window, american thriller film, released in 1954, that is considered one of alfred hitchcocks most suspenseful movies. Windows are usually a metaphor for freedom, but in hitchcocks rear window 1954 they expose privacy, they symbolize confinement, and they allude to suspenseful plot devices.
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