Rear Window (1954): Peeping Toms

[bruce_pullen]

Rear Window, one of Hitchcock's finest. A film of unique vision, it continues to leave it's mark. What films have it impacted? What's its place in film history?

[bingtau]

Rear Window is a great film and the best Hitchcock has to offer. It just goes to show that budget means nothing and story means everything.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by bingtau

Rear Window is a great film and the best Hitchcock has to offer. It just goes to show that budget means nothing and story means everything.

The best he has to offer? I want to agree, but don't forget Vertigo, North By Northwest, or Psycho. It's hard to say Rear Window is the best, and ignore these three.

Rear Window is the film, I've watched most often. It is his most accessible picture. A mixture of humor and menace, that is pitch-perfect. Whenever I introduce Hitchcock to anyone: this is the film I show. So I guess, I almost agree. But... those three have to considered, before deciding.

That's what makes Hitchcock, the greatest of film directors. There are so many pictures. That have persuasive cases, in being called the best: Notorious (1946), Strangers on a Train (1951), Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), North By Northwest (1959), or Psycho (1960)

Many would say the Birds (1963).

So the mystery continues.

[SquidPuppet]

I preferred Rope (1948) over this AND vertigo.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I preferred Rope (1948) over this AND vertigo.

I do like Rope (1948). I just saw Rope and Rear Window (1954): back to back.

Rear Window is better. Better performances, finer acting, the pacing is superior; the film doesn't date, the way Rope does.

Most importantly: Rear Window uses the lessons of Rope (long takes) hand-in-hand with editing.

I really like Rope, but Rear Window is an experiment: that became a masterwork.

Rope remains an experiment. Though a fine one, but it never transcends.

Watching them back to back, Rope is a dry run. Rear Window is the performance.

Sad, but true.

[Texitura]

My favorite Hitchcock picture. It's hard to say which one is the "best" of his films, as mentioned there are several candidates.

The first time I saw that first closeup of Grace Kelly on my 8 foot wide screen, it just floored me.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

I do like Rope (1948). I just saw Rope and Rear Window (1954): back to back.

Rear Window is better. Better performances, finer acting, the pacing is superior; the film doesn't date, the way Rope does.

Most importantly: Rear Window uses the lessons of Rope (long takes) hand-in-hand with editing.

I really like Rope, but Rear Window is an experiment: that became a masterwork.

Rope remains an experiment. Though a fine one, but it never transcends.

Watching them back to back, Rope is a dry run. Rear Window is the performance.

Sad, but true.

Better? Who knows? More importantly, who care? I dont care which one is technically better. I care which one I enjoy more. I preferred the story that rope told. I also found the "No editng" novelty very cool.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I preferred Rope (1948) over this AND vertigo.

Have you seen the Celluloid Closet?

[David Craig]

In my book,

1) Vertigo
2) Psycho

Kim Novak -- Yes!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Have you seen the Celluloid Closet?

Nope. Talk to me.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Nope. Talk to me.

Celluloid Closet is a documentary that analyzed films like Rope and Lost Weekend. It was an analysis of Hollywoods early and current portrayal of the LGBT character. Great doc that I think everyone should see.

It gives Rope a whole new perspective.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Celluloid Closet is a documentary that analyzed films like Rope and Lost Weekend. It was an analysis of Hollywoods early and current portrayal of the LGBT character. Great doc that I think everyone should see.

It gives Rope a whole new perspective.

Something I missed when I watched it I guess then. Hmmmmmm. I dont remember anything like that. I think I'll queue up both.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by bingtau

Rear Window is a great film and the best Hitchcock has to offer. It just goes to show that budget means nothing and story means everything.

Add excellent production, directing, and acting to the mix. All of the elements must be there to achieve greatness.

[Aaaam Blu]

I think Rear Window had a slight impact on Disturbia.

[Edo]

master effin piece

[spolcyc]

I don't think you can say one Hitchcock film is better than another. It is all in the opinion of the person watching the films. Personally there are too many for me to pick the "best" film. Because you can't forget about The Man Who Knew Too Much or The Birds which rank very high with me. I think when somone asks "What is you favourite Hitchcock film?" You simply respond "All of them!"

[Twitch9]

Rear window is one of Hitchcock's best films, anything with Jimmy Stewart was great, especially when Hitchcock was directing it. I agree though Rope was an incredible story and the way it was shot was very inventive, more like play with very little edits.

[Arvin Clone]

Rear Window and Psycho are my two favorite Hitchcock movies. But you can't go wrong with anything from Hitch.

Originally Posted by Aaaam Blu

I think Rear Window had a slight impact on Disturbia.

Really???

[kefrank]

I don't understand the poll. The choices aren't mutually exclusive.

[bruce_pullen]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Better? Who knows?

About everyone I've talked too. About every critic.. I've ever read. About every filmmaker: that does a Hitchcock interview.

Rear Window is on AFI's Top 100 American Films.

Alfred Hitchcock: Psycho (1960) (# 18), North By Northwest (1959) (# 40), Rear Window (1954) (# 42), and Vertigo (1958) (# 61)

Where is Rope (1948)? ... I'm still looking... .... .... ....

Rear Window is considered one of the Master's premier works. (By basically everyone..) Along with Strangers on Train (1951), Psycho, North By Northwest, and Vertigo.

On the other hand, Rope is a curio peice. An experiment that doesn't transcend its risk. I like it. But his best...?? ..Well, if you do.. God Bless ya.

I will say this. It is the most sound treatment of homosexuality: I've ever seen in a flick. It handles it subtlely.

But I'd suggest. ..Watch the others again.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

More importantly, who care? I dont care which one is technically better. I care which one I enjoy more. I preferred the story that rope told. I also found the "No editng" novelty very cool.

Novelty is cool. But novelty never lasts. And frankly, Rear Window has just as much. The hero handicapped? One set, with many rooms. No formal soundtrack: ambient/popular music. In the 50's?

…The traveling camera in and out of the room.

And may I say, Window's just not technically better. James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, Wendell Corey. The script by John Michael Hayes is fantastic. "I don't want any part of it." "Window shopper." "Must of splattered a lot." The performances are rich, memorable, and undated.

...Rope feels like a play. (Yes, I know it was one..) ..Not cinema, written by Arthur Laurents; the film has charm. But it's dry. The prolonged scenes lack Window's zip. Farley Granger and John Dall are great. But they lack the depth of Thelma Ritter or any of Window's cast. In Rope, Stewart is miscast. He's too ahh shucks for the role. According to Laurents, Stewart's character was also romantically involved: with either Dall or Granger. You really can't tell from Stewart's performance.

Laurents suggests Hitch lacked nerve. If he had removed the opening scene (the murder), the film would have been more. "Did they or didn't they"? And... I think. He has a point. Imagine Rope without it.

Altogether:

Stewart's roles misfires, the long shots take their toll, Rope has too many faults: dramatically and otherwise. Is it cinema? ...To prop it over, Hitch's best work, is silly.

But again.. if you like it, you like it.

I consider it, a footnote… not his greatest work.

..What do you look for? Is it just, what you like?

For me, it’s character and craft. Not just a cool vibe.

Anyway, thanks again.