Rear Window

Director - Alfred Hitchcock (The Birds, Psycho)

Starring - James Stewart (Vertigo, The Mountain Road), Grace Kelly (Dial M for Murder, Suspense), and Wendell Corey (Women of the Prehistoric Planet, Picture Mommy Dead)

Release Date - 1954

Genre - Thriller

Tagline - "The master of suspense brings you his masterpiece"

Format - 4K Ultra HD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When most people think of the golden age of Hollywood they often think of star like Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, and John Wayne.  However, I often think of Alfred Hitchcock and all his contributions to cinema history.  Not really known for horror, but he was a master of suspense with many of his thrillers often cited as some of the best movies in movie history.  I've watched my fair share of Hitchcock films but one movie I had never seen was his 1954's Rear Window starring James Stewart.  I had heard about this film and how it was considered one of Hitchcock's best for years but I never got the opportunity until the 4K Alfred Hitchcock Collections was sent my way for review.  

     The film follows Jeff (Stewart) who is wheelchair bound after an accident leaves his leg in a cast.  A photographer by trade, he finds himself observing people in the apartment building across the way from his.  His people watching takes a suspicious turn when he believes a man has murdered his invalid wife.  He tries to get the police involved but they believe that this is just the musings of a man with too much time on his hands.  He then turns to his girlfriend and hired help to investigate him.

     I had always heard great things about Rear Window but I never took the time to pick up a copy for viewing so I was very excited when I was sent this 4K release.  With that being said, this movie was absolutely amazing.  Hitchcock is the master of suspense and Rear Window is the reason he is called that.  The movie is damn near perfect and I can see myself revisiting this one again soon.  The acting in this one is classic.  James Stewart is a legend in Hollywood and his performance in Rear Window is absolutely phenomenal.  His character, though wheelchair bound, brings some intensity to the film.  He never disappoints in his scenes and his character carries the entire film on his shoulders.  The supporting cast is just as fantastic but Stewart is amazing.  The story for this one is a top notch thriller full of atmosphere and tension.  Hitchcock's approach to story telling is a slow build up that finally explodes right before the story ends.  With Rear Window that slow build, mixed with character development, works so well.  The story may not be the most original or clever but it flows so damn well and still delivers even though it is predictable.  Finally, this is not a bloody piece of cinema.  Instead, it is a character driven narrative that works for a mystery instead of horror.  Overall, Rear Window is a fucking must for movie fans.  It's not a horror film so fans of other genres can really appreciate this classic work.  The 4K release is absolutely stunning and really did impress me.  The image and audio is just as flawless as the film itself.