Rear Window (1954) * FIRST TIME WATCHING * reaction & commentary
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The costume design for Rear Window was done by the great Edith Head. She is considered to be one of the greatest costume designers in film history and won 8 academy awards and was nominated 35 times.
You can really tell. It's not often you notice the costuming in a suspense flick, but people were looking great in this movie.
Hitchcock even introduces Grace Kelly into the story in a series of close-ups as she turns on the lamps and says her name...the costuming is rapturous.
She's also the inspiration for Edna Mode in the Incredibles.
@@Rbrgr83 i feel like she would have loved that tribute.
Because this movie was filmed in the expensive and difficult Technicolor process, studio executives ordered Hitchcock to take full advantage of it and showcase Grace Kelly's beauty by dressing her up exclusively in the most vivid colors. He rebelled against this interference by deliberately having her make her first entrance in that stark black and white dress. Nonetheless, the dress ended up being a big hit in its own right, many moviegoers and critics commented on it, and knockoffs started appearing everywhere. Some of those executives even tried to steal credit for it by claiming it was their idea.
Yes, it was a product of the legendary Edith Head, who had a real fetish for beautiful women in silk chiffon. There is a story that when Faye Dunaway was preparing to star in Bonnie and Clyde in the late 60s, and she had a chance encounter with Edith Head at the studio, she asked the great lady for some costume suggestions. Ms. Head simply said, "Chiffon, chiffon, chiffon!" and gave her a goose. No, not a bird.
Fun Fact: The guy in the apartment with the piano was an actor named Ross Bagdasarian. A few years after this movie, he became famous for two things; in 1958, he wrote and performed the 1950s hit novelty song, "Witch Doctor" (which went to #1 and sold 1.5 million records), and after that, created Alvin & The Chipmunks, starting with "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)", also a #1 hit, he won three Grammy Awards for it and sold 4 million records, and then the 1960s TV cartoon show.
Bagdasarian was the voice of Dave Seville and all three chipmunks. He died in 1972, but his son is responsible for the 1980s Alvin & The Chipmunks cartoons, and the Chipmunk movies and shows, 1990s-present
I couldn't remember, I just knew he did something that really took off. It's nice to know his son has been carrying on the Chipmunk train all this time. My Autistic son loves, loves, LOVES The Chipmunks
Wow, I did not know that. Cool info!
Great. Now I've got "Oo, ee, oo aa-aaah, ting tang walla walla bing bang" stuck in my head.
@@YouLousyKids 😆
Don't forget Raymond Burr, TVs Perry Mason and Ironside
The opening scene of Rear Window is a masterpiece in itself. Notice how the camera shows you everything you need to know to set the scene and the characters without a spoken word.
The perfect example of show, don't tell.
Which would go on to inspire Robert Zemeckis.
Grace Kelly was soooo beautiful and she lived every little girl's dream at that time. She married Prince Rainier of Monaco and became Princess Grace. That's what she was forever known as afterward, Princess Grace. As someone else pointed out she was tragically lost in a car accident much too soon. Great reaction. I'm really happy you enjoyed this masterpiece.
I always loved her royal title, it was so fitting for her, "Her Serene Highness".❤
It is a shame that quite a few people have reacted to "Rear Window" ... but only ~2 have done so for "To Catch a Thief", which led her down the path to becoming a princess.
I remember her funeral. He cried uncontrollably. The Prince. I read that every Christmas they spent in New Jersey with her family. .
I think Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn are two of the most beautiful women that have ever existed.
@@kellyp136 Don't forget Ingrid Bergman!
The wise-cracking massage therapist, Stella, is played by Thelma Ritter. I consider this woman a national treasure. Hilarious, endlessly entertaining, and totally authentic.
YES!!! I have loved her in many films. This is almost my favourite of hers. My absolute favourite performance of hers is Birdie, in All About Eve. ❤
Yes! And in The Misfits!
She's always good - wise cracking and heart felt. Love her in Pillow Talk. ❤️
@@Dave-hb7lx I've heard of it. Is that the Rock Hudson-Doris Day film? Haven't seen it. Didn't know she was in it too.I'll check it out. Thx.
I love this thread right here.
Ashleigh, you've just watched one of the prime examples of why Hitchcock is still considered to be The Master of Suspense. His name is just next to Godi in the genre of suspense and mystery. Jimmy Stewart's performance is among the best of his career. Character actor Raymond Burr, who played the murderer, was already a worldwide television star for playing defense lawyer Perry Mason on CBS.😊😊😊😊
Actually, this movie came out in 1954 & Perry Mason didn't premiere until 1957.
Who is Godi?
And, of course, you can never go wrong with a Thelma Ritter performance. 💖
My absolute favorite Hitchcock flick! Have watched it over 50 times and love it everytime.
@@paulonius42a horrible Indian leader
If you think the fashion in this movie is something (which it is) you should DEFINITELY watch To Catch a Thief. It has Grace Kelly (the blonde woman in Rear Window) and Cary Grant. Her styling in that movie is literally movie history.
This!!!! Grace was the epitome of glamour.
Yes! I was going to suggest that movie! I mean Grace Kelly and Cary Grant…🔥🔥🔥
Aka, Princess Grace.
Officially- "Grace, Princess of Monaco".
Definitely put "To Catch a Thief" on the list... agree wholeheartedly with this comment.
Oh, for sure! To Catch a Thief is an odd one for me. The plot is pretty good, but it's not one of Hitchcock's best. Yet I go back to this movie more than any of his others. So much is just delicious. It moves quickly, it's visually gorgeous, the clothes are wonderful, the acting is topnotch. And the dialogue! Dazzling, smart, and witty, witty, witty. The scenes with Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, and Jessie Royce Landis -- the back and forth among them -- those alone are worth the price of admission.
This is my favorite Hitchcock movie! One of the things I love about it is that almost the entire movie takes place from the perspective of his rear window. We, the audience, never leave the room. And some of the best suspense ever in a movie!
Raymond Burr does a fantastic job in this film, he literally has no lines but he shows us the character using just his face and body language as seen through Stewart's eyes.
But my favorite part of this review was watching you asking yourself the same questions and going through the same mental process as Stewart's character. You got pulled into the film without even realizing it - which is just what Hitchcock intended.
He has a couple lines, when he comes to Jimmy Stewart's apartment and gets shocked by the flash bulbs. But absolutely a masterclass in acting and delivering emotion and character with very, very little dialogue. And the fact that we do hear his voice just a little is such an excellent reveal!
Raymond Burr was cast here specifically because he bore a certain resemblance to David O. Selznick, who had produced the first few of Hitchcock's Hollywood films. Despite their collaboration, the two never got along, and Hitchcock thought Selznick was too much of a meddler in his projects. So he found it amusing to depict Selznick as a cruel, murderous villain in this movie, in the person of Burr.
I loved Raymond Burr as a girl! My parents were such huge Perry Mason fans. It was so weird to see him on the wrong side of law and order.
@@floppsymoppsy5969most of his early roles were as villains or tough guys
Definitely check out some episodes of Perry Mason, start with some of the old black and white ones from the 60s, then watch one or two of the ones from the late 80s/early 90s. Fun little fact about *that* series: most of the cases got solved in a pre-trial hearing so they wouldn't have to pay 12 actors to play jurors.
Thema Ritter was the actress who played Stella the nurse. Her first screen role was in “Miracle on 34th Street,” where she played the mother ticked off at Santa for promising a toy to her child she couldn’t get, then stunned that Santa told her to go to another store. She was nominated for 6 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress, won a Tony, and nominated for an Emmy. I’m not sure Ashleigh would like this movie, but would recommend she watch “Pillow Talk” since it is the classic Doris Day / Rock Hudson movie that also features Thelma Ritter.
She was also in a great movie called Birdman of Alcatraz with the great Burt Lancaster Rip which Ashleigh should see
My Thelma Ritter recommendation is the film noir Pickup on South Street.
Unfortunately it is not that great but in the movie "Boing Boing" Thelma Ritter gives a wonderful performance. She steals every scene she is in.
Yeees😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Pillow Talk is amazing!!!
That creepy moment at 23:56 when the neighbor slowly looks upward from her hands & he finally locks eyes with us & we know he now knows we know is such an iconic shot from this film.❤❤ STILL makes me cringe & makes my skin crawl to this very day!😂😂
Yes totally! And I get anxious and tense every time Lisa leaves the note and barely makes it around the corner before he looks out the door!
Just noticed from watching here, Thorwald wears glasses, which magnify his eyes a bit to intensify the eye lock.
I think the fact that they didn't have special effects like today makes the storytelling even more amazing.
Ashleigh, for classic movie sass, it would be hard to beat 1934s "The Thin Man". Its about a socialite couple Nick and Nora, and their cute little dog. The banter is non-stop and very sassy. It led to a series of films with the two stars.
Yes! There needs to be more reactions to that. It's aged really well too.
Yes definitely! I finally just watched that for the first time this year and fell in love with them! William Powell in particular struck me with his subtly brilliant and nuanced performance.
Yes for sure.😊
Do you think those movies inspired the TV series HEART TO HEART?
+1 for The Thin Man. It has so many of the traits she loves in a movie.
In the days before air conditioning and central air (!!!), especially in apartments that where like saunas to sleep in during the summer, people might sleep outside on their fire escape or balcony to keep cool!
The 1st shot where they show all the apartments was one huge set! It was a visual breakthrough at the time! Also all the shots where Grace Kelly is lounging in Jimmy Stewart's apartment are kind of iconic. Hitchcock loved blondes in his films, and Grace Kelly was one of his favorites.
I hope you get to watch "Strangers On A Train" and "The Man Who Knew Too Much"!!
I deeply hope that she does do both of these, the old "strangers on a Train" and after that one, to give some contrast, I hope that she gives "Throw mamma from the train" as that is a very underrated film and it's referencing Hitchcock. Just like "High Anxiety" by Mel Brooks.
Ashleigh seems to like repartee, so The 39 Steps would be a good choice too.
She definitely is my favorite too. Tippi Hedren comes next :)
'Rope' too. Tremendous "one shot" film.
Big shout out to the sound engineer on this film for capturing perfectly the sounds of New York in summer and apartment life. So vibrant and accurate.
No actress ever looked as good as Grace Kelly in Rear Window. Stunning beauty.
Costumes were by Edith Head - legendary Hollywood costume designer, winner of EIGHT Oscars for costume design. (If you've ever seen The Incredibles, the look of the character Edna Mode, with her round glasses and black bob haircut, is an homage to Edith Head.)
The villain was played by Raymond Burr, who had to gain weight to play the role. He is best known for his decades-long portrayal of Perry Mason. Also Ironsides, a crime fighter in a wheelchair.
Nah, he struggled with his weight all his life, and lost a lot of weight to get the Perry Mason role.
@@ellydiaforest5512 Yes, that is also very true but Hitchcock wanted him to resemble someone.
"According to John Beltran's book Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, the famed director gave Raymond Burr's villain gray, curly hair and glasses to look like David O. Selznick. Hitchcock and Selznick clashed frequently during their film collaborations."
Also for us Godzilla fans, the American viewpoint of the big guy, and for a lot of fans their introduction to Godzilla (Gojira)
Every time I watch this movie or watch someone react to this movie, I'll be going along until we get our first good look at the killer's face and then (because I keep forgetting between viewings) I'll go "Perry Mason? But he's a sweety!".
Guy has an iconic voice. He says nothing in this movie.
The dead dog scene is important not just for its function in the plot, but because it is the only scene before the climax in which the (a) the residents of the various apartments come together even momentarily as a community, and (b) the camera is observing the action from vantage points other than the inside of the apartment.
The witty, hilarious, sometimes cutting back and forth from movies like this is the *best*. You would absolutely love that from 'My Gal Friday', 'Desk Set', 'Auntie Mame', 'Bringing Up Baby'....so many others.
This movie is such a classic for so many reasons - so pleased you watched and enjoyed!
Desk Set is an all-time favorite! ❤
Ashley, let me suggest a few other Hitchcock movies you might enjoy. Try North by Northwest, this 1959 classic features Cary Grant as a man mistaken for a spy. Everyone seems to be out to get him. a rollercoaster ride with humor, sophistication, narrow escapes, and romance. The producers of the James Bond series used this movie as a template for the Sean Connery Bond movies. A lot of fun!
Also try To Catch a Thief from 1955. Cary Grant plays an ex Jewel thief who has to prove his innocence. Also starring Grace Kelly, this movie takes place on the French Riviera. It’s suspense, romance and humor. It also features one of the best kisses I have ever seen in the movies period! Kind of like going on vacation with Grace, Cary, and Hitch.
Marnie as well; Sean Connery's only Hitchcock movie, in which he plays somewhat of an antagonist.
For witty dialogue, those two are fantastic movies.
For witty dialogue, those two are fantastic movies
I swear she saw North by Northwest already. If she didn't, wow.
@@suicunesolsan Psycho was her only prior Hitchcock movie so far.
This and 12 Angry Men are always the movies I recc to people who are looking to get into older movies, they're both super engaging imo. Glad you liked it!
Sadly, when she watched “12 Angry Men”, it wasn’t the original film with Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb. The remake just wasn’t as good.
Yeah she watched the 90s remake of 12 angry men
And "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Bringing Up up Baby"
@@MrMarvelous1973have to watch the original
12 Angry men first done to TV , Then to movie and after that stage play .
Rear Window was adapted to stage play in 2012 , with Kevin Bacon playing main role , have no idea was it success at all .
When I lived in Orlando, one summer, they showed free old movies at Lake Eola Park, and the one I happened to go to was Rear Window. I had seen it on TV several times before, but watching it outside, surrounded by the tall apartment buildings that circle the park, really made it feel like we were inside the movie, like some of the things in the movie could actually be happening inside those buildings. The movie is really fun as it is, but watching it like I did made it extra fun.
The fabulous costume designer, Edith Head designed Grace Kelly's costumes in REAR WINDOW.
You should definitely watch The Birds for HallowBeans this year since it's turning 60 years old this year. Another of Hitchcock's best movies.
@@Dave-hb7lx Oh yeah definitley those too. Alfred Hitchcock's best movies to react to, I'd say react to:
1. Vertigo (1958)
2. North by Northwest (1959)
3. Rope (1948)
4. Dial M for Murder (1954)
5. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
6. Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
7. Strangers on a Train (1951)
8. The Birds (1963)
9. Suspicion (1941)
10. Spellbound (1945)
11. Lifeboat (1944)
12. To Catch a Thief (1955)
13. The Trouble with Harry (1955)
14. Notorious (1946)
15. Marnie (1964)
@@JebWCManningI LOVE The Trouble With Harry. 🙂
That's actually considered b-list Hitchcock. I definitely don't rank it that high, and I've seen every Hitch film, including all his silent movies. Worth seeing eventually, but there are LOTS of Hitchcock films to watch before that one. I can easily rattle off ten titles and probably more than ten. Strangers On A Train, Shadow Of A Doubt, Rope, both versions of The Man Who Knew Too Much, The 39 Steps, Frenzy, Notorious, Suspicion, North By Northwest, Sabotage, DIal M For Murder, The Lady Vanishes.....The Wrong Man.........I haven't even mentioned Vertigo or To Catch A Thief, or Rebecca, which are some people's favorites (not mine).....there's LIfeboat......his silent movies The Ring and The Lodger.......Marnie......those are all better than "The Birds".
@@TTM9691 Yeah. "The Birds" is worth watching, but it has an inflated reputation because it's one of the only two Hitchcock films that most horror fans know the names of. Hitchcock was NOT a director of horror films, although a current audience will find "Frenzy" to be pretty horrible I think.
@@paintedjaguar It's one of his weaker films, plain and simple. It's worth seeing, but not NEXT.
Loved your reactions to this classic Hitchcock movie, Ashleigh.
One of the many delights with a Hitchcock movie, is to spot Alfred Hitchcock's cameo appearance, in every film he made.
This time, Hitchcock was the clock winder, in the songwriter's apartment, about 26 minutes into the film.
Fun Movie Fact: Rear Window is one of Hitchcock's experiment films, where he decided to make an entire film on just one sound stage. To achieve this, Hitchcock had the whole apartment block constructed, from top to bottom, on the sound stage, even removing the floor of the stage, to use its basement level as the ground floor of the apartment block. :)
Even the attention to detail of the little bit of street you see through the ally way. Set designers Hal Pereira and Joseph MacMillan Johnson spent six weeks building the extremely detailed and complex set, which ended up being the largest of its kind at Paramount.
Still can't get over that this is the first time you've seen Grace Kelly in something. She was the pinnacle of beauty, poise, and style as well as being a literal princess. You have to learn more about her and see all her movies.,
Your excitement over Jimmy Stewart 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 He’s my favorite actor! His kiss with Grace Kelly in this movie is famous.
One clever thing about this movie is Jimmy Stewart's character acting as a sort of stand in representing the movie audience. He watches his neighbors through rectangular windows as if he were watching characters on little movie screens. And he is confined to a chair for the whole movie...just like the theater audience would be. And the moment (at 23:54) that Thorwald looks up and directly at Stewart - he is staring directly at the camera/the audience and we get CHILLS! Love it!
Normally, I'd say a little bit gets lost when we watch this movie at home on a TV or on a computer rather than in a theater full of people...but at least Ashleigh is sitting in an office chair (I'm assuming with wheels?) like Jimmy Stewart was, so there's a nice similarity that Hitchcock likely did NOT intend. Haha.
5:47 I always say, this is the best first shot of any actress in any movie. Aided by the fact that Grace Kelly was impossibly beautiful.
11:04 Precisely. Look around - it’s summer in New York City and none of these apartments have air conditioners.
17:42 Snooty brandy drinkers say you have to swirl brandy before you drink it to “excite the esters” or some such thing - basically it brings out the aroma and taste.
20:24 They’re looking at slides. There used to be a type of film that produced true colors - “positives” - instead of the negatives that you usually get with film. Watch some old movies and I’m sure you’ll see people watching slides on a projector. That little device is just meant for one person to look at a slide.
For a guy with an “aw, shucks” public persona, James Stewart did a lot of work with Hitchcock. This, “Vertigo,” “Rope,” and “The Man who Knew Too Much.”
I would add that Greer Garson's first shot in Goodbye Mr. Chips is a close second. How the camera just runs up on her to the closeup and you hear her gently say, "Hello" to Chips. Magnificent!
The opening scene perfectly shows the one thing Hitchcock is most famous for: Telling a story without using someone to tell it. We learn everything about the character of James Stewart there is to know without a single line of dialogue in the first few minutes: The magazine cover with the racing accident, the broken camera, the broken leg.
Hitchcock began his career during the silent movie era and was one of the few directors who was able to transition from silent movie to talkie. His visual style, his trademark to show pictures to tell a story instead of some explaining it, was a new approach back then. Before that, movies with sound seemed more like someone put a stage play on the screen. Hitchcock, however, recognized that movies had much more potential than that and that a moving camera had so much more possibilities.
Hitchcock is a legend and an idol and role model for most modern directors because he invented the movie language, the language of showing things instead of telling things. And he was the first director in history who became a trademark himself because of that. Today it is normal that a movie director is the one who is responsible for making a film. Before Hitchcock, however, it was the producer who received all the recognition. A director was merely an employee, like the camera man or the sound guy.
With his style, Hitchcock revolutionized cinema and showed that is was possible to make suspenseful, interesting movies that kept you at the edge of your seat while still being entertaining and even humorous. Like with many geniuses, his talent was never really appreciated by Hollywood back then, and he never received an Oscar as director. Shame on the Academy.
I recommend you watching more of his movies. Vertigo, North by Northwest, To catch a Thief, Strangers on a Train, The Man who knew too much, Dial M for Murder, Suspicion, Shadow of a Doubt, Notorious, or Spellbound are all classic that can easily stand up to movies of today. Hitchcock made roundabout 50 movies - not all of them were brilliant, he sometimes had to do movies he didn't want to do and it shows in the result - but 9 out of 10 of his works are brilliant.
Hands down my personal favorite Alfred Hitchcock film of all time. The suspense, cinematography and set design are all top tier and this was before Vertigo, North by Northwest, & Psycho. Incredible.
One of my most favorite movies ever!!! The story telling and film making on display is absolutely incredible!
A classic! The new dog learning how to use the basket gets me every time!
Only a master of cinema could make a movie that takes place in one place overlooking a bunch of windows and have you gripped and full of suspense. This has always been my favorite Hitchcock film. I remember being a kid and my brother and sister complaining about the movie and I was 5 years younger than both sitting there glued to this film. I was about 12 years old at the time. Growing up in Government public housing projects you could sit at your window and see what dozens of other people were doing in their apartments, alot of sex and violence basically so as a kid it was all fun to watch.
When I was a kid my grandma showed this movie to me. She has great taste in movies.
My personal favorite Hitchcock movie. And I just absolutely love the massive set that they built to film the whole thing.
Mine too!
The exact way I feel about it. The set was incredible and the intrigue of the plot was spot on.
Great script and dialogue. Thelma Ritter makes it click. Raymond Burr is a vision of menace. Grace Kelly is suitably radiant. Jimmy Stewart is at the top of my list of classic stars. It’s a thoroughly entertaining and wonderful film. I still go with “North by Northwest” as my personal favorite Hitch.
I love all the little stories going on beyond the murder. The couple with the dog, Miss Lonely Hearts being saved from killing herself by the music being composed by the composer, Miss Torso waiting for her fella to come back home and the newlyweds... all great stuff.
I first saw this in the theatre and that moment when Thorwald looks RIGHT AT YOU made my heart jump. WOW! What a moment.
Yes... the fast motion moments and the poor green screen are a bit unfortunate... but I look past them as it was the time and the movie is so good I can forgive it.
Hitchcock really was very inventive with his camera work as well in all his movies and really revolutionized the way movies looked.
The original short story only included the photographer and the murderer. The script writer created all the other stories, which of course hides the main story at the beginning. The best part is when the rainstorm happens and the married couple sleeping outside try to drag their mattress back inside. Hitchcock deliberately gave them opposite directions, so they'd end up fighting over the mattress.
The pianist is the fellow that created Alvin & The Chipmunks, the guy sleeping on the fire escape is Sam Cady who played Sam Drucker in Petticoat Junction, Green Acres & The Beverly Hillbillies and the murderer was TV's original Perry Mason and later played Ironside.
I’m pleasantly surprised that you liked this. Not gonna lie, I thought you would think it boring. I’m so excited for you to try other Hitchcock films! So wonderfully done! :) Other good ones include Birds, Vertigo, To Catch a Thief (another one with Grace Kelly and the wonderful Carey Grant- I bet he could get it), Rebecca, The Man who Knew Too Much, Notorious, the 39 Steps and so many more! :)
OH YES! REBECCA!!!!!!!! The first time I saw that, the host on TCM said "This is the only movie where you never see the title character".
@@janedoe5229 it is also one of my favorite books. Did you know in the book (and I think possibly the movie), you also never get the name of the main character? It just goes to show the obsessive all consuming character of Rebecca. She completely overtakes the life and entire story of her predecessor.
And then you'll be ready for Mel Brooks' "High Anxiety."
@@EdwardGregoryNYC one of my all time favorites! 😂
Not to forget ‘Dial M for Murder’. One of my favourite Hitchcock movies.
And yes, Hitchcock made many masterpieces.
Yes, sleeping on the fire escape is because it is hot and air conditioning was rare and expensive. This was common in large cities like NYC, Bostom, Chicago, Detroit, etc. where people lived in masonry (brick or stone) apartment buildings and suffered from the "concrete heat island effect". You see a similar concept in the south in older larger single-family homes where there is a screened porch attached to the master bedroom on an upper floor, sometimes with a 3-season porch below. This was called a "sleeping porch" and was positioned so as to catch the prevailing summer nighttime cross winds. Many of these have since been renovated into full year-round rooms when the house was upgraded to have air conditioning.
I'm glad you watched this, Ashleigh. I know there's a lot of love for Psycho out there, but it didn't really do anything for me. Rear Window, on the other hand, is a classic that rewards repeated viewings. I think you'd enjoy at least one viewing with an eye to the shots Hitch creates. His daring and imagination in blocking and camera placement is a treat in itself. Some people will want you to watch Vertigo next, but I'm recommending North By Northwest instead. Cary Grant is incredible, and Hitchcock has some delicious camera angles and moving shots to delight you with. Wonderful reaction!
Vertigo has become Hitchcock's most overrated film lately. I just couldn't get past the absurdity of the plot to appreciate Scotty's obsession.
Yeah, North By Northwest is better. Plus it has James Mason, who I don't think Ashleigh has encountered yet.
Rear Window was my introduction to Hitchcock. It holds a special place in my heart, but one of my absolute favorites is “The Trouble With Harry”. It’s a dark comedy that didn’t get much attention. It’s got a young Shirley MacLaine (Ouiser from Steel Magnolias) in it also.
This is my favorite Hitchcock movie. In 2007, "Disturbia" with Shia LeBouf was a quasi-remake of this. Pretty decent actually. And back in the 90's, they did a direct remake to this starring Christopher Reeve, not long before he died. It was a made for tv movie.
My favorite movie to rewatch!
My husband and I love it!
Alfred Hitchcock was a genius, Jimmy Stewart was the man and then you have Grace Kelly, the princess of Monaco . I mean how could this movie get any better?! ❤
One month of filming was the easy part , building all those apartments with running water and operating kitchens took months .
It's hard to imagine director going to movie studio and saying , first we need to rip this sound stage floor off and roof is too low so we need to try to lift it , or we need to dig a deeper basement . Oh and all main apartment we build are real , so we need electricity , water and gas too .
Hitchcock appears about 30 min in to the movie , in song writer apartment , played by Ross Bagdasarian, man who created Alvin and the Chipmunks 🙂
"Beyond the High Himalayas" is real book not a cover printed for movie , writer by SCOTUS Justice 1939-75 William O. Douglas .
@@pete_lind wow I didn’t know all that! I know about AH appearances in his films, it’s like a game of where’s Waldo I love it lol
I’m a sucker for when safe spaces are compromised in thrillers, so Thorwald noticing them spying on him and the last part being a desperate defense against him is one of my favorite things!
Hitchcocks Vertigo will always be my favorite from him. I am so happy you're watching his work, please continue to do so!
Hi Ashleigh! Yes, that couple was sleeping on the fire escape most likely because it was hot. It was common practice back in the day to sleep on the fire escape in cities, especially before AC was invented. Great reaction!! ❤
One of my all-time favorites. While I do personally believe the ending is a bit anti-climactic (bc the killer is who we always thought it was and bc of the pacing of the flashbulb sequence), I just love the feel of the film. Hanging out with those characters in that apartment overlooking that courtyard is just so much fun. Dare I say cozy? Like you, I love the witty script. And Grace Kelly is a portrait of beauty and, fittingly, grace.
I must say, I’ve always thought a cooler concept would be if there were a murder in the complex and everyone was a suspect, so Jeff had to observe them all, put together the clues, and figure out who did it. If you think about it, no one but Thorwald really served much purpose other than ambiance and distraction. But again, it’s still one of my all-time favorites. Glad you enjoyed!
I get what you mean, but at the time whodunnits were so common and howcatchems were still relatively rare (before Columbo made them so popular), so I think Hitchcock was just trying to do something less obvious.
But yeah, it is hard to be climactic in a howcatchems. It works in Columbo because we start each episode with the killer and we get to know them very well, and even to relate to them. So then when this little detective shows up twenty minutes in, it's almost like he's there to catch US.
Thorwald is a bit of a cypher in this movies, and certainly not likable or relatable, so the plot does feel like maybe something is missing, just slightly, at the end.
As someone who was photographed with such equipment as a child, I must say his vision recovery time after those flashes is unrealistically quick!
Of course, Hitchcock was never interested in conventional mystery stories built on putting together clues to figure out whodunnit. This is what makes him interesting as a filmmaker. He didn't want to be one of many who did mystery films, even if he might have been great at it.
Oh yeah, it also always bugged me that Jeff didn’t scream when Lisa was literally about the be murdered in Thorwald’s apartment. Like, dude, give up your cover to save your girlfriend’s life lol
I thought the same thing about the climax when I watched this last year. All through the movie, I was thinking "there must be some reasonable explanation and Thorwald didn't do it". Then towards the end, I kept thinking "okay, so maybe he DID do it but there must be more to it because it's too simple".
It's a great movie aside from that. The whole set, looking out at the other apartment buildings, is a masterpiece. It really feels like you're there in the apartment with Jeffries.
My personal favorite Hitchcock. The courtyard set is amazing. You can find a work up on TH-cam where someone put all the shots together in Timelapse format.
The reason the couple is sleeping on the fire escape is that there isn’t A/C.
Very common for people to sleep on their balconies in NYC before A/C was common. In the south, there was typically a room called the sleeping room that were essentially screened in porches where the whole family would sleep. They got cool night air, with the screens blocking out the critters.
I would consider this my favorite Hitchcock film, though North by Northwest, Strangers On A Train, and Vertigo are all really close seconds. I loved how much you got sucked into this! I love how this movie is paced and all its vibes and how it uses the single set, have watched it so many times and I don't tire of it. Even though I'm half the age of this film, it's just so amazing and it needs to keep being seen!
Grace Kelly was just exquisite. She left Hollywood when she married and became Princess Grace of Monaco.
She made a relatively small number of films but her mark was indelible, creating the "Ice Princess" character type based on her cool, aloof, and extremely sophisticated demeanor.
Her bio is very interesting....from her "old money" upbringing to Hollywood to European royalty and struggling with leaving her acting behind and all the strict "rules" of being a royal. And then her tragic death at an early age.
This is my favorite Hitchcock film! He did so many great suspense movies, "Vertigo", "Strangers on a Train", "Shadow of a Doubt."
"The Birds" should be on your list Ashleigh. It stars Melanie Griffith's mother Tippi Hendren.
Yes! For me, Rear Window is such a tight, well-crafted movie and one of Hitchcock's best. So glad you enjoyed it! Have a great weekend! ❤
I remember watching this for my freshman intro to film class as a required movie to watch. I absolutely adore this film. Its one of my all time favorites.
Never be afraid to not like something. This is the reason I got out of bed as soon as I got the notification you had a new video. I hate the reviewers that love everything. Your honesty is what keeps me coming back
Same.
Absolutely. We all have our favorites, and the ones we don’t really care for.
Everyone gasps when I say I didn’t really care for Sleepless In Seattle. I know so many people love it, but it just isn’t my cup of tea.
Plus, to be honest, this is a far better movie than Psycho--the movie she was criticized for not liking. Which certainly isn't a bad movie, but Rear Window is just next level. In actuality not that much happens, but the script is genius, the dialogue amazing, the acting really great, the leading lady probably the most beautiful woman ever filmed, the cinematography probably in the top five of all films ever, and even though it represents a time and society long gone (no reliance on Internet, or even TV to fill your time, sleeping on a fire escape to cool yourself, someone being a Traveling Salesman, a woman wearing a Ball Gown, etc) the emotions and motives of people are completely timeless. The film doesnt feel anachronistic, despite those old-timey things in it. It just feels like a period piece (although it was contemporary when it was filmed).
I have had an affinity for classic movies since I was a kid. If you can imagine an 11-12 year old in the early 90s watching "Rear Window" and just being totally absorbed into it. I mean, when Plucky Duck parodied this movie in an episode of Tiny Toons, I totally got the reference. Anyway, back when AMC played nothing but classic movies, if I couldn't watch them when they came on, I would actually set the VCR to record Psycho, Citizen Kane, The Wolfman, Creature From The Black Lagoon, and many John Wayne movies. It's always nice to see someone open up to watch the classics. Some of the bigger classics that involve huge sets or were filmed on location are awe inspiring because none of it was CGI. Then, on the other hand, you have a simple movie, like this, shot in just one room with nothing more than great acting, a great plot, and great direction.
I actually grew up the same way as you did. Except a Decade Later. I loved watching old movies from a young age because my stepdad introduced them to me. We had family movie night. I used to actually get teased for liking older movies. Also did the same thing with the VCR when I went to school and found out a film was coming on. Would tape all days tv just for the film. I love old movies. Always will.
Seeing this masterpiece in a theater with an audience is quite something. Lets just say i wasnt the only man in the theater to audibly gasp when Grace Kellys stunning face first came into focus
Hitchcock has made many classics. This is one of them. I hope you continue to watch more Hitchcock classics including 'The Birds' (1963), 'North by Northwest' (1959), & 'Vertigo' (1958).
YES!!
LOVE THIS MOVIE!
It was spoofed or parodied in an episode of The Simpsons called Bart Of Darkness, where Bart breaks his leg while trying to jump into his new pool, he spies on his neighbors, then sees his next door neighbor Ned Flanders kill his wife Maude, he tells his sister Lisa, who doesn't believe him, until she notices Ned burying something in the yard.....
Even Jimmy Stewart has a cameo in the episode but voiced by Dan Castellenata.
"Grace, come here! There's a sinister lookin' kid I want you to see!"
One of the best episodes!
Ashleigh (upon seeing Grace Kelly, a woman so beautiful she married a prince): "Oh, I so want those fashions to come back!"
Also Ashleigh: Rolls her eyes at Grace Kelly's idea of women always having make-up, perfume and jewelry.
Yeah, I think there's a reason women's fashions like that aren't going to be making a comeback!
The man who killed his wife was Raymond Burr, best known as his titular role as Perry Mason.
Another Hitchcock film featuring James Stewart is "Vertigo" (1958).
Your next Hitchcock film on your list should be "North NY Northwest" (1959).
If you want to watch a parody of Alfred Hitchcock's films, watch Mel Brooks' "High Anxiety" (1978).
Thelma Ritter and Elsa Lanchester
May not be household names but
they are loved by movie buffs.
Thank you for watching this! I knew you would love it. Grace Kelly is the most beautiful woman to ever walk the earth, and I was looking forward to seeing your reaction to seeing her.
If not the most beautiful woman, damn close. Hitchcock used a lot of blondes, but she's top of the heap.
So excited for this one. The sets, the story, the cast, OMG the wardrobe - perfection. I reckon this my most watched film. I also reckon you'll love Thelma Ritter, fabulous in everything she did. 😁
Couldn't agree more!
The Mating Season, All About Eve, and the original Titanic (1953), are all good films with Thelma Ritter.
She also has a minor role in the Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street.
@@awkwardashleighthe villan of the movie was played by Raymond burr who played a lawyer name perry mason a court show and it was a 50s and 60s and a couple ofmystery perry mason tv movies with him return to the role of perry mason in the 90s and in one case called perry mason and the case of the poison pin Cindy williams who played Shirley feeny of lavern and Shirley was in this movie and please do some her movies at some point. Rip Shirley . you are the best. You are going to be liking the wolverine solo movie with a after credit scene.
@@awkwardashleigh You might enjoy Thelma Ritter in "The Model and the Marriage Broker" in which she gets her own romantic subplot.
That device he was using was a slide viewer. Slides were photgraphs on a transparent film so that the image could be projected on a screen.
Back then there were still moral codes against shacking up. The movies also had codes as well though they were beginning to loosen.
Lastly, if you're looking out of windows at night, turn off the interior lights, all of them. Really easy to be lit up when you don't realize it and you can see outside better. Also be mindful of power lights and displays. They don't seem to put out much light but they can still show shapes and cast big shadows on walls.
Yes, before the advent of air conditioning, we used to sleep out on balconies and porches. The heat buildup, especially in stacked apartments of the movie, you could literally die of heat on very hot summer nights.
Even though I grew up in the 80's and Diana was the princess I knew, Princess Grace will always be the one Princess to Rule Them All. Your reaction to her is perfect. And I think you'd love Rope- no Princess Grace, but plenty of suspense and cattiness.
James Stewart and Hitchcock were an unbeatable combination. My personal favorite (though I don't think it will be yours) is Vertigo, and The Man Who Knew Too Much (the 1956 version) and Rope are also good. I would put North by Northwest on the top of your list for your next Hitchcock film.
Vertigo is awesome 🎉
I heard a story about Alfred Hitchcock working with, I think Grace Kelly.
They had filmed several scenes and Hitchcock had not said a word to Kelly. She got more and more nervous the longer Hitchcock said nothing. Finally she had to know, so she confronted the director. He told here, "When you stop doing exactly what I want, then I will direct you."
I wonder if that made her feel better? Grace Kelly really was a top notch actor.
Now you know why Rear Window is my favourite 'proper' movie. The suspense, the performances, Grace Kelly doing anything - it's all amazing. BTW, the eyes aren't really that blue - they were coloured contacts.
Don't be stupid, and don't believe everything you read on the intertubes either.
Hitchcock's made many great movies, but this is my favorite for the level of suspense. I still remember how I felt the first time I saw Thorwald on the way up to Jeff's and feel the same suspense every time (at least a dozen) I've watched since! You haven't seen North by Northwest? Hitchcock's most fun film, made for the mass audiences he hadn't really reached before, also known as the prototype for the James Bond movies that followed a few years later. As for Jimmy Stewart, you should see his younger self in two great movies from 1940, Shop Around the Corner and The Philadelphia Story, with Kate Hepburn and Cary Grant.
I can second Shop Around the Corner, it's become my favourite romantic comedy and Christmas flick. The Philadelphia Story you get three awesome people and one sassy hilarious 1930s brat for the price of your movie ticket!
Great and funny reaction. Thelma Ritter was one of the best and funniest character actors of her time. You definitely need to put Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief on your list.
There are two more Grace Kelly Hitchcock movies, both terrific. To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant, and Dial M For Murder which was one of the first Hitchcock movies I ever saw. I love James Stewart but I also love Cary Grant. Besides To Catch a Thief he did three other Hitchcock movies, Suspicion which came out before Arsenic and Old Lace, Notorious with Ingrid Bergman from Casablanca, and one of my favorites of his North By Northwest. I recommend all of these and more.
It would definitely make a good stage play. Perfect for it and fun to see live. One of my favorite films, for sure. Also... The Philadelphia Story with Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and others... fun fun.
Already did in 2017. Or maybe an attempt was made?
Fabulous movie. What makes Hitchcock movies so impactful was his belief that what you don't see is scarier. I recommend "Wait Until Dark" (with a VERY young Alan Arkin), "Dial M for Murder" (also with Grace Kelly), and "Midnight Lace" (with Doris Day and Rex Harrison).
Not to forget Audrey Hepburn _(in "Wait until Dark")._
@@o.b.7217 Yes of course, Miss Golightly herself. She’s so wonderful. 🙂
"Just a little neighborhood murder." I love that line! It made me laugh, too, the first time I watched the movie a couple years ago!
I love your reaction, I also found myself yelling at the screen for Grace Kelly to be more careful when she was in the murders apartment. If you want to expand your 1950’s movie experience, and get some more dramatic films, you can’t go wrong with 12 Angry Men. It has one of the longest scenes with no cut aways I have ever seen. The actors are all amazing in this film too.
Thank you for appreciating the "sass" in older movies. You hear a lot of criticism of the restrictions imposed on film makers under the production code but it did force filmmakers to think a little bit about what they were doing. There is nothing clever about coarse language.
One of my favorite trivia items about this film is that the black and white dress Grace Kelly wears was a big fuss because, since the movie was not in black and white, it was always felt dresses in movies should have colors and Hitchcock picked a *gasp* dress with no color. Just a weird little thing.
"I wish I could be creative."
"Oh sweetie, you are. You have a great talent for creating difficult situations."
Grace Kelly, am I right? 😍
Fun Fact: All the apartments in Thorwald's building had electricity and running water, and could be lived in.
Casting Notes Fact: Grace Kelly was offered this film and On The Waterfront (1954) at the same time. She chose this movie instead because she thought the role of Lisa, who worked in the world of fashion, as she once did, suited her better.
Natural Soundtrack Fact: All of the sound in this movie is diegetic, meaning that all the music, speech, and other sounds all come from within the world of the movie (with the exception of non-diegetic orchestral music heard in the first three shots of the movie).
Method Director Fact: According to Georgine Darcy, when the man and woman on the fire escape struggle to get in out of the rain was based on a prank by Sir Alfred Hitchcock. Each actor and actress in the apartment complex facing Jeff's rear window wore an earpiece through which they could receive Hitchcock's directions. Hitchcock told the man to pull the mattress in one direction and told the woman to pull in the opposite direction. Unaware that they had received conflicting directions, the couple began to fight and struggled to get the mattress inside once the crew began filming. The resulting mayhem, in which one of the couple is tossed inside the window with the mattress, provided humor and a sense of authenticity, which Hitchcock liked. He was so pleased with the result that he did not order another take.
All these years, I've wondered how "diegetic" was spelled! To quote Ashleigh, what the hell do I know?
I'm glad that you got something out of my comment.
Go in Peace and Walk with God. 😎 👍
Man I’m glad you reacted to this. I might be biased because I saw a re-run with my parents as a kid, but it’s such tight suspense storytelling. Grace Kelly turned into a literal princess after this movie. One of the most beautiful and talented stars from that era. Costumes are incredible, acting is incredible, and the opening shot is a 1-er, which is amazing with the size of the set. Masterful direction, and probably why Hitchcock is so well regarded. Loved your reaction, let’s do more of these!
In the 50's, it was common for people in big cities to sleep on the fire escape in the summer. First, affordable AC had not been invented, and it was hot inside the homes during the summer. Second, it was considered safe, no matter where you lived. I recently listened to an interview with economist Thomas Sowell. He talked about growing up in Harlem in the 40's and 50's. In his childhood, he does not ever remember hearing a gunshot. He remembered that he and all his family and neighbors all slept on the fire escapes in the summer. At that time, no matter where you lived in New York, nobody was concerned about the safety of sleeping outside.
One of my faves! My mom and I used to watch these old movies. She'd always watch these classics on AMC and I'd watch as well. LOVE this one!
If we're talking Hitchcock classics, can I suggest: "The Birds" (1963) and "North By Northwest" (1959)
Very unoriginal suggestions, he directed lots of other good films.
I've only found your channel in the past two weeks (started with your react to Arsenic & Old Lace, classic!), but I've really enjoyed going through your videos. I love how invested in these classic movies you get, it's such a joy to experience someone else discovering them for the first time. Please keep doing what you're doing; you're great, it's great, 'nuff said.
So, I love this movie. I will say we used this movie to lull our kid to sleep when she was little. There's a lot of soft jazz music and rain, and the combination of those two things worked like a charm. You could watch my child struggle to stay awake, and we'd throw that show on. She'd be like, "No, I'm not gunna, ah, zzzzz!"
One of my favorite reactors watching my favourite classic film . So great Ashleigh :) x
One of my fave Hitchcock movies. Great story, great pace and suspense, and Grace Kelly never looked more celestial.
As for Jimmy Stewart, I would also recommend Bell, Book & Candle...one of the inspirations for Bewitched!
We watched this in high school in Intro to Film (an elective) where we watched a lot of older movies and saw how the cinematography changed throughout the years and such. Our teacher said to take real good notes and don't miss any details because of what might be in the test. I had 5 pages of notes written down separated by each time the clock was shown and what time it was...none of that was on the test. It ended up being a simple quiz and this teacher was very proud of himself. 😂
Just like 12 Angry Men, this movie is a master class in shot framing, dialogue and shooting your film IN ONE LOCATION without it becoming visually boring.😗👌*Chef's Kiss* Top notch technical mastery movie accompanied by great storytelling.
Both films were based on stage plays.
One of the most beautiful women to ever grace the screen, Grace Kelly was Princess of Monaco after her marriage to Prince Ranier III, and as a result was only in 11 movies before she retired to marry him. Rear Window was one of three Hitchcock movies she made, the others being To Catch a Thief and Dial M for Murder. She unfortunately died at the age of 52 due to injuries sustained in a car crash. Her son, Prince Albert, helped establish the Princess Grace Awards in 1984 to recognize emerging performers in film, theatre, and dance.
I agree with a majority of what you said except Grace was not in thirty films. It was eleven (not including the documentaries) including documentaries it was fourteen total.
@@jamesmoyner7499 I stand corrected. Thank you. Fixed that. 11 movies, and 19 TV guest spots. Really wish IMDb separated out films from TV with an actor's filmography.
@@GeminiWolfstarGaming Yeah, plus they don’t always include everything listed. I often have to use multiple sources for the filmography of a person.
I am positively giddy you finally watched this. It’s my personal favorite film, also my mom’s favorite, and according to rumor, Hitchcock’s personal favorite of his own work as well. Hitch worked with Jimmy Stewart on several other films, including “The Man Who Knew Too Much” and “Rope” - both excellent films. I think my first crush was Grace Kelly from this movie, so hearing you go on and on about JS’s eyes was kinda funny for me. Anyway, I’ve been watching your channel since near the beginning and I’m so glad you enjoyed this. Your videos are such a bright spot for me and seeing this really turned my day around, so thanks for all you do. I really appreciate your work here on the channel. I know you probably won't see this, but you make the internet a better place by being on it.
I think the set for this movie, all the neighbors' windows is something younger viewers will not recognize; a Saturday Evening Post cover. In the '50s The Post often had cover illustrations in which people were doing different things, that implied a little story. Hitchcock was always injecting something frightening or suspenseful into familiar, comfortable, everyday kinds of things or iconic things. In North by Northwest it was Mt Rushmore.
Love when you react to the classics ! I had a feeling you would appreciate this one. You’ve grown a lot in your tastes. Notorious and Rebecca are two more great Hitchcock films you should try. Also, there is a classic called Gaslight ( not a Hitchcock) that I would love to see you react to. Also suspenseful. I think you would love it.
28:54 I have said that Rear Window would be a cool stage play for years!! In my head it is kind of immersive…courtyard garden in the aisle with the audience…LB’s apart main/center stage…varios apartment on side stage/balconies etc.
I didn’t read the comments, but in regard to your question about the people sleeping on their balcony. This was back before air conditioning was common in households so it was cooler to keep the windows open and sleep outside whenever possible.
My mum started working for a couture dress maker when she was 15 in 1947. She had spent the war years in a convent being looked after by nuns as her single mother was working in a munitions factory and there wasn't anyone to look after her. Not long after she started working there, one of the managers come down to the floor where she was working (she was on a sewing machine doing piece work) and asked if anyone was good at fine hand embroidery and possibly beading to bring samples in the next day. Well the nuns had taught mum over the previous 9 years to embroider and they would only accept perfection, so when they saw her work they quite literally grabbed her and put her on the fine embroidery and beading and crystals on those sort of dresses and she worked there for 7 years until she got married. Along the way she learned how to create dresses from the bottom up and how to take a normal dress pattern and adjust it to fit you like a dream or change it how you wanted it.
When I got married, she basically took the neckline from one dress, the sleeves and skirt from another and the bodice from a third and made me my dress. It took 20 meters of material for the dress plus lining etc. It was beautiful. I helped with some of the beading on the skirt and train and mum did only 2 fittings. One with a rough muslin cut of the dress, then one towards the end to adjust the hem and drape. Her old boss, told her she had "the eye" for dress making, basically she could take your waist and bust measurement, create your dress, then all your would need is to put it on for the hem. She would make our clothes as kids, from school uniforms to ball gowns for presentation nights through to costumes for the local theatre company in her later years.
I still have some of the clothes she made and I agree with you, I would love to be back in the day of those swishy skirts!