Rear Window

Hitchcock’s famous thriller about a photographer who believes he observes a murder from his wheelchair at the neighbour across the street.

Time & Tickets

Photographer Jeff Jeffreys wears out his days in his flat now that his leg is in a cast. From his wheelchair, he spies on his neighbours. FROM THE DIARY OF A VOYEUR would be a good alternative title to REAR WINDOW, because Jeff can’t stop peeping at his opposite neighbours. Like the well-shaped Miss Torso, a dancer who receives many house calls. And then there is Miss Lonely Hearts who has been abandoned by her boyfriend but still sets the table for two. Finally, the jeweller Lars Thorwald, whose wife suddenly appears to have disappeared. Jeff suspects him of having killed her.

REAR WINDOW was nominated for four Oscars at the time, but received none. Perhaps the Academy members thought the voyeuristic theme was just a tad too much. The camera only leaves the room once, allowing the point of view of the protagonist and the viewer to coincide.

Alfred Hitchcock, USA, 1954, 112 min. English spoken, without subtitles. With James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr.