Rear Window

Professional photographer Jeff (Stewart) is frustrated by his immobilisation due to breaking his leg and is left restricted to his New York apartment. Pushing away his girlfriend (Kelly), he spends all his time people-watching out his window. The things people do when they think no-one is watching. Jeff suspects one of his neighbours has killed his wife. But is he right? Confinement can do strange things to a man. Is he just seeing things?

Suspense-filled, dramatic and thrilling. Classic Hitchcock. One of his best and well known films from his signature collection. The audience are tricked into becoming voyeurs, seeing what Jeff sees and wanting to know what’s going to happen next. This is done in a tasteful way as was necessary by the strict rules of old Hollywood. The great thing about Hitchcock is the way he builds tension in his films. There’s no car chases or long-winded battles but just moments where you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat holding your breath.

James Stewart and Grace Kelly are Hitchcock favourites and are legends from the days when actors were contracted to studios. Their on-screen chemistry adds to the success of the masterpiece and explains why they often star in many of the director’s films. Kelly and Hitchcock shared the same humour and every now and then there are comic moments that appear throughout the film to break the tension.

Things to look out for include Hitchcock playing an extra as he always does in his films. Hint to finding him: It involves a piano...

Unmissable piece of Film history!

Samilia Ekeocha