Rear Window (1954)

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"It only takes one witness to spoil the perfect crime."

Synopsis

Professional photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jeffries breaks his leg while getting an action shot at an auto race. Confined to his New York apartment, he spends his time looking out of the rear window observing the neighbours. He begins to suspect that the man opposite may have murdered his wife. Jeff enlists the help of his society model girlfriend Lisa Fremont and his nurse Stella to investigate. (© IMDB)

Technical Information

• colour (Technicolor)
• sound mix: mono (Western Electric Sound System)
• aspect ratio: 1.66:1 Spherical
• running time: 112 minutes
• production studio: Paramount Pictures
• also known as:
  • Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954) - complete title

Recent Blu-ray Releases

released in 2012

Rear Window (1954) - Universal (Blu-ray, 2012) as part of the box set: Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection - Universal (Blu-ray, 2012)

Recent DVD Releases

• to view all of the DVD releases of this film, see Rear Window (1954) - DVD releases

released in 2008

Rear Window (1954) - Universal (USA, 2008) PAL

released in 2007

Rear Window (1954) - Universal (UK, 2007) PAL

See Also...

For further relevant information about this film, see also...

• 1000 Frames of Rear Window (1954)
• Articles about Rear Window (1954)
• Awards and Nominations
• Books about Rear Window (1954)
• Documentaries about Rear Window (1954)
• Complete Cast and Crew
• Film scripts
• Radio adaptations
• Soundtrack albums
• Trailers
• Web links to information, articles, reviews, etc

Image Gallery

Images from the Hitchcock Gallery (click to view larger versions or search for all relevant images)...

Film Frames

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Themes

• male impotence - Jeff confined to a wheelchair
• taboo: bathrooms - Stella admits spying on the Director of General Motors in his bathroom
• taboo: nudity - the newly married woman wearing a flesh-coloured bodice
• taboo: sex - Lisa's glamorous nightdress ("a preview of coming attractions")
• the icy blonde - Lisa Carol Fremont (Grace Kelly)
• voyeurism - Jeff watches his neighbours
• confined setting - Jeff's apartment
• the MacGuffin - what is buried in the garden? and possibly, Mrs. Thorwald herself
• the Hitchcock cameo - winding a clock in the musician's apartment
  

Cast and Crew

Directed by:

• Alfred Hitchcock
• Herbert Coleman - assistant director

Starring:

• James Stewart - L B "Jeff" Jeffries
• Grace Kelly - Lisa Carol Fremont
• Wendell Corey - Lieutenant Thomas J Doyle
• Thelma Ritter - Stella
• Raymond Burr - Lars Thorwald
• Judith Evelyn - Miss Lonelyheart
• Ross Bagdasarian - Songwriter
• Georgine Darcy - Miss Torso
• Sara Berner - Woman on fire escape
• Frank Cady - Man on fire escape
• Jesslyn Fax - Miss Hearing Aid
• Rand Harper - Newlywed man
• Havis Davenport - Newlywed woman
• Irene Winston - Mrs Anna Thorwald
• Alan Lee - Landlord
• Anthony Warde - Detective

Produced by:

• Alfred Hitchcock

Written by:

• John Michael Hayes
• Cornell Woolrich - original story ("It had to be Murder")

Photographed by:

• Robert Burks

Music by:

• Franz Waxman

Edited by:

• George Tomasini

Costume Design by:

• Edith Head

Production Design by:

• J McMillan Johnson
• Hal Pereira - art director