REAR WINDOW (1954)

D: Alfred Hitchcock; with James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, Judith Evelyn. (PG, 112 min.)

Hitchcock shoots virtually every scene in Rear Window from the vantage point of temporarily wheelchair-bound Jimmy Stewart, which is one reason this classic’s nerve-jangling suspense is so memorable and pleasantly confounding. Stewart spends his time as all respectable people do when confined to a wheelchair: He spies. Among other things, he discovers that the nagging, bedridden wife of his across-the-courtyard neighbor, the stalwart Raymond Burr, suddenly — very suddenly — isn’t around anymore. Stewart and his socialite girlfriend Grace Kelly suspect something fiendish and fatal has taken place; they resolve to find out what. They scheme, plot, and endanger themselves. They lie, cheat, and steal — so elegantly you almost don’t know it’s happening. Grisly humor cloaked by the actors’ steely, classy demeanors and a riveting mystery. (6/23-24)

This article appears in May 19 • 2000.

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