With the recent release of Grace of Monaco (2014), there has been more talk than usually of the immortal ghost of the fabulous Grace Kelly. I knew about Grace before I ventured into the art of film for my leisure time, since my favorite topic used to be fashion once. She's your go-to choice for random photo collages that are supposed to express 'glamour', 'timelessness' or simply 'the 50s'. Much like Marilyn Monroe, she's a confusing persona and most people would find it hard to determine what kind of celebrity she was. Apparently, she started a promising career in acting before venturing into princesshood by marrying the Prince of Monaco. When you type her name into the IMDB, it says 'Actress, Rear Window (1954)' in a smaller font below an attempt to capture her breathtaking beauty - it was shortly before she met the prince that my blindspot for this month, which is the film she is best known for, was filmed.
Despite James Stewart's charm, Grace Kelly is the dominating star in this light-hearted murder mystery: She plays Lisa, a New York socialite who is in an on-off, love-hate relationship with adventurous photographer Jeff (Stewart). Due to an accident, Jeff is bound to a wheelchair for a few weeks in the hottest time of summer, a time he fills by regarding the goings-on in the backyard of his apartment complex. Most of the evenings, Lisa goes to visit Jeff and tries to talk him into considering a more serious relationship with her. When Jeff thinks he has overseen dangerous happenings from his rear window, Lisa tries to help him figure out the mystery.
Perhaps Rear Window was in fact huge enough for me to know its concept, or perhaps I have seen some sort of Indian remake of the story, but the film seemed oddly familiar to me. Not in a déja-vu kind of way (if you look apart from Hitchcock's self-induced déja-vus in shape of The Blonde, The Mystery and The Accidentally Troubled Man) but I had the feeling I knew where everything was going. Of course, this is not one of Hitchcock's most unforeseeable films at all. By now, someone who has seen about a dozen of his films and knows enough about murder mysteries (thank you, Sherlock) should figure out the development of the story soon enough, with the exception of the mystery itself perhaps. This brings up the suggestion that maybe this film is not merely about suspense or tension, at least not from a modern perspective. What will excite a modern viewer however, is the dense atmosphere of being trapped in a wheelchair during the hot summer months, Grace Kelly's effortless elegance and the voyeuristic pleasures that the rear window symbolizes. The latter is a little overdone, for example the ballerina next door behaves more like a pin-up star than anything else and Lisa's remarks about the two of them being alike don't seem fitting. If the ballerina is roller girl, Grace Kelly is Julianne Moore. Perhaps the two have similar lives- but if you look close, they don't really.
Rear Window isn't one of Hitchcock's best to me, but it's harmless fun - a sort of murder mystery thriller light. Something you can enjoy without paying attention a hundred percent of the time (although I would recommend staying glued to Grace Kelly's scenes). James Stewart's narration is always a pleasure and the play with shadows and such makes for a visually interesting film as well. It's hard to go wrong with a film like this, but it still doesn't reach the level of brilliance of films like Psycho, North By Northwest and Shadow of a Doubt for me.
REAR WINDOW
director Alfred Hitchcock
authors (John Michael Hayes), Cornell Woolrich
★ Grace Kelly, James Stewart, Thelma Ritter
How's that for a bit of homespun philosophy?
I'll be back soon with... 12 Angry Men (1957)
Rear Window is one my blind spots this year as well. By your review, it looks like I'm going to enjoy the film.
ReplyDelete12 Angry Men is a great film. I watched it last year and was very taken with it. They don't do movies like that anymore. I hope you enjoy the film!
Same to you then! We'll see if we agree on both films. I do think we will though, Rear Window is a good film and I've only heard great things about 12 Angry Men.
DeleteNice write up. This is, oddly, my least favorite Hitchcock. I know that it is beloved by so many, but for me this just feels sort of dull and pointless.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Fisti. I'm in the middle of opinions here - I don't think it's dull but I don't *looove* it either.
DeleteGreat review! I don't remember a lot of this film, but I know I watched it. I did it right before Disturbia came out. I'm glad to see you think North by Northwest is brilliant, I have that one on my Blind Spot list!
ReplyDeleteOh, that's great to hear! I hope you enjoy it, it's very entertaining and thrilling.
DeleteOh I don't exactly agree, Rear Window was such a thrilling film for me, one my Hitchcock favourites!
ReplyDeleteIt felt like I was looking through Jeff's camera lenses, and when the presumed killer stares right at the camera it sent chills down my spine -- absolutely unforgettable scene to this day. And I actually didn't see it coming at all (though I never really try), I kept wondering whether Jeff was right or imagining it all. Plus I love their relationship, the way he seemed afraid of her and how that translates to Hitchcock's treatment of this motif.
But I do agree that Grace Kelly is magnetic, it is impossible to take our eyes off of her when she's on screen. James Stewart could be butt naked and I wouldn't notice at all. And her wardrobe is so dreamy!
I think Hitchcock is one of those things we will never truly agree on :)
DeleteBut I still liked the film so it's fine - and by the way, James Stewart was almost naked in one of the scenes but it really wasn't that attractive.
As you say, Rear Window is probably too light-hearted and funny to be a "real" thriller in the way we think of Hitchcock films. It is probably closer to some aspects of To Catch a Thief - at least in the bantering romance department - but the viewer is in the dark about the main plot for too long here. However, it does have some wonderfully-tense scenes, and it is stunning, visually. The courtyard itself is just amazing - inspired and lovely to behold and used to great effect.
ReplyDeleteFunny observation: I was in a museum and walked by some Roman busts. I was stunned because one of the male figures looked just like a young Paul Newman, and the other looked like Grace Kelly. Both of those actors had timeless and perfect beauty to them.
They did, really- how weird though, that you noticed this in a museum.
DeleteI haven't seen To Catch a Thief but I just trust your judgement on that. Yes, Rear Window has some tense scenes, it's merely the frame that is sort of light-hearted.
Rear Window is certainly a great film in terms of atmosphere. It does the job of putting you into Jimmy Stewart's shoes and forcing you to stay in the one room really well, but I always felt like the story could have had a more interesting resolution. this might be just me but I personally think the ending was a bit predictable and it might have been more interesting if it turned out the neighbor had not actually killed his wife and that there was a mundane explanation for everything. I even did an article of my own about it, so far the only piece I've done actually discussing a Hitchcock movie.
ReplyDeletehttp://hitchcocksworld.blogspot.ca/2014/04/how-rear-window-should-have-ended.html
I really should try one of these blindspots sometime. I'm not sure if it's too late to one for this year, though and I'm not entirely sure what I'd put on (Touch of Evil is one that seems to stand out as a possible candidate for some reason).
That's a very interesting thought, I think I might've liked that ending. This one was okay but certainly rather predictable. I zoned out a bit during the second half because of that.
DeleteI'm sure you can still join the blind spot series! Just try to contact Ryan McNeil. Touch of Evil is supposed to be good so why not?