What is distinctively ‘Hitchcockian’ about Rear Window? Alfred Hitchcock, an important figure in film history, uses his creativity to make a perfect combination between entertaining and aesthetic. Therefore, his unique method of telling a story and theme choice is studied as the name of ‘Hitchcockian’, such as psychological complex and giving suspense. While Hitchcock built up his personal style, he still went through several periods to grow his recognition towards the film industry. And Rear Window, a highly successful film at the box office and being listed among best one hundred American films of all time in 1998 (Cowie, 2005), is an example of Hitchcock’s ‘mature’ period, shows the audience some distinctive parts of ‘Hitchcockian’ way …show more content…
According to Thomas Mann, ‘The idea of suspense is closely bound up with the idea of fiction’ (in Bordwell & Thompson, 2009, p.59). But despite the story line, Rear Window explains the nature of a film that recording what we see, hear, think or dream in the reality and giving back to us through the screen. When a day begins, everyone has the possibility to open the window and accidentally see what happens in the opposite apartment. And in Rear Window, people are living in New York City, substantially normal, just like us, who are watching the film, which is a strong contrast to a murder case and gives us more mental panic when we find out a murderer living in next door. Certainly the story itself is a fiction. But just like a pyramid theory mentioned in Sherlock (series 2 The Final Problem, 2012), every level of it is based on the reality only except for the spire so that people just easily fall for it. Thus, the reason we feel incredibly intense even after the characters tell a joke, is that Hitchcock sets suspense in our mind rather than just in front of eyes, which is completely different with other thriller films. Additionally, Hitchcock argued ‘that suspense depends on the spectator having knowledge about the events and often knowing more than the characters’ (Cowie, 2005, p.476). In a result, we are anticipating the story on behalf of …show more content…
This is an aspect of ‘pure cinema’ as well. Every plot does not only work for the main characters, but the whole story. If there are only leading male and female characters, and other people exist because of them, then the story will not be complete or stable. To some extent, what is inside the film is a small community, and each character is an essential part in it, just like every human being is equal to live in this world. What makes them lead the story is the perspective that director chooses. In Rear Window, Hitchcock also pays attention to those nobodies, such like Miss Lonelyheart and Miss Torso. And their ‘side-stories’ are both processing in a visual way, for the objective restrictions that Jerreries cannot hear their voices from his side of the building. To be more realistic, their stories seem to be no link with the main storyline. Miss Lonelyheart is pathetic, faking to enjoy her life with someone she loves. And Miss Torso, just like a queen bee, according to Jefferies’s words, is dealing with many other anonymous bees. However, Hitchcock creates them. In addition to that it is an experiment for his ‘pure cinema’ theory, how Jefferies looks at them suggests the temporal stereotyping, and sarcasm to the audience who is watching them
People seem naturally curious of others, Hitchcock discusses the idea of privacy and a human’s natural interest in others’ private lives. Rear Window becomes a classic film not just as a Hitchcock film but an introspective idea about human nature. Hitchcock uses the medium to show a part of him and the curiosities he wants to delve into with the concept of voyeurism. Using film techniques, such as the placement of the camera to the music, Hitchcock becomes transcendent with the genre of thriller and suspense. Jeff, Jimmy Stewart, becomes a pinnacle character in film history, not because of the plot, but because the camera is not only telling the story but simultaneously acting as the audience’s eyes, Jeff’s eyes and Hitchcock’s artistic eye.
Hitchcock utilizes sound, camera work, MacGuffins, and plot twists to tell the storylines of the movies. Hitchcock understood the importance of camera work and sound because he began his career making silent films.12 It is why he uses many close up shots so the audience can pay attention to specific details and the emotions on the character’s face. He does not rely on dialogue to tell the story. He uses sound to help convey the message of a scene.
While watching Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock, I was able to notice two distinct themes throughout the film. These two themes are a quote about actions speaking louder than words and suspense. Hitchcock also had many different elements in his film to make it successful. My favorite element he used was sound with the radio in the background, street noise, and other ongoing conversations. One main theme that was shown through out the film was the quote “actions speak louder than words”.
“We’ve become a nation of peeping toms,” states James Stewart’s nurse, played by Thelma Ritter, in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 film Rear Window. Ritter’s comment ironically foreshadows events later in the film, but simultaneously provides a critique of the voyeuristic nature of cinema itself. Rear Window’s marketing campaign and public reception both center on the notion of ‘peeping,’ but present differing standpoints on Hitchcock’s exhibition and apparent promotion of the morbid curiosity at the root of human nature during the era of post-war paranoia. A theme often apparent in Hitchcock films is the idea of lost identity, a concept that can easily contribute to obsessive fear, which was not an unfamiliar sensation for American citizens during
Moreover, of all the movies made by the celluloid genius, we can consider Rear Window (1954) film one of the greater 's admirable expressions of the art of the cinematographic glance. As the paradigm in which this curiosity exposed 's inhabit the human being, that voyeurism that uncounted of us have inside. Hitchcock is able to use this element to catch the spectator, building a devilish and fascinating tale of suspense set in a microcosm. In which there reflects the intimate and daily life of the current man, where the protagonist observes from his window.
Alfred Hitchcock 's Rear Window explores the lives of those who feel isolated within society. The 1954 film, set in the tenements of Grenwich village, depicts those who are incapable of fitting into society 's expectations, as well as those who feel isolated from common interaction with others. Moreover, Hitchcock displays how its human nature to seek comfort and deeper connection even with those who are surrounded by others. Despite depicting characters as lonely, the progression of the film illustrates how individuals can be freed from isolation. The director asserts the loneliness and struggle that comes from fitting into social mores.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window has several themes. One major theme is relationships. The lead character, Jeff Jeffries, a photographer and committed bachelor, is involved in a relationship with Lisa Fremont, a model, although the relationship has some tension due to Jeff’s lack of commitment. When Jeff is confined to his apartment recovering from a broken leg, he begins spying through his rear window on his neighbors in a nearby apartment. Through her frequent visits, Lisa is drawn into this spying as well.
These were explored by the use of the motifs of birds, eyes, hands and mirrors (Filmsite.org, n.d.). Hitchcock skilfully guides the audiences through a tale
Analyzing the film, “The Rear Window” by Alfred Hitchcock, as it progresses through both the Archetypal and Marxist Criticisms, the use of archetypes adds deeper meaning and the lack of Marxism in the portrayed society prove that money and social connections are not needed to achieve something. The archetypal characters and images are portrayed in order to hint at further meanings and cause certain tones include the character archetypes used and the archetypal imagery of darkness. Moreover, the lack of Marxist values is also expressed in the film as each time a Marxist value is expressed, the notion is turned down by another character, including attempts to impress, use networking for self-benefit, and using money to stop someone from digging
This essay will discuss the uses, strategies and the meanings that are generated by editing in cinema. The films that this essay will be focusing on are Psycho and Singin’ in the Rain. Both of these films are very different to each other and therefore use editing in varying ways in order to give the audience a different perception of the characters as well as the setting that these characters are involved in. Psycho focuses on building suspense for the audience throughout the film using editing, camera work and sound. This essay will be primarily focusing on editing with the discussion of camerawork where relevant.
The idea of similarities among all people, an underlying connection, is expressed by Hitchcock when Lisa in Rear Window argues with Jefferies, saying, “There can't be that much difference between people and the way they live! We all eat, talk, drink, laugh, sleep, wear clothes --“. When she says this, Lisa has a lamp light shining from the upper right side of the screen to indicate the truth of her argument. There is also an instance in Rear Window where the ability to understand a person sprouts empathy. Jefferies is sitting in the dark, after Lisa leaves angry, when the piano man comes home.
In the film Rear Window, the director, Alfred Hitchcock uses a variety of techniques to create suspense and leave viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the film. Hitchcock uses a good assortment of tempo to create thoughts in the viewer's mind. He slows down the pace to create anticipation, and speeds it up to show a change in intensity. In the ending scene of Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock uses changes in pace and tempo, lighting, and a short term deadline to constitute an immense atmosphere of suspense in the viewer's mind.
Rear Window thrusts us into the role of a voyeuristic neighbor, a role that we find ourselves quite comfortable filling. The point of voyeurism though, is that it is always a one-way street; we find comfort in knowing that we are able to watch others while we ourselves remain unseen. Together with our wheelchair ridden protagonist, LB “Jeff” Jeffries, we watch through a series of open windows as Jeff’s various neighbors go about their day to day lives. Though all of these people are placed there to distract us from the main event in an apartment across the courtyard: a neighbor, Mr.Thorwald, covering up the murder of his wife. A growing obsession leads to dangerous ambition as Jeff is forced to face the reality of this voyeuristic ‘sins’ when
The 'Master of Suspense' Alfred Hitchcock directed the movie "Rear Window" in 1954. I have come to understand that it concentrates on the emotions and expressions of L.B. Jefferies, the main character. Regarding this, I am aware that the movie "Rear Window" is extremely relevant to these contemporary audiences because it is obvious that it explores voyeurism and the themes of stereotypes, relationships, and gender roles that continue to exist today. The following motifs are present in the year 2023 and continue to be relevant to this generation. As a result, I have come to understand that the film's main themes are isolation, voyeurism, and identities that reflect societal and gender roles.
Hollywood has always done a terrible job of depicting real women in film, and although his work has a somewhat misogynistic reputation, Alfred Hitchcock has done so much involving the progression of female roles in Hollywood cinema. Although many of his female victims wind up dead, the survivors have lots of power – and without reliance on their male counterparts. Women remain the central focus in many of Hitchcock’s films, not just because of their beauty, but because the narrative is dependent on them. When you look at his work in the context of this specific Hollywood era, Hitchcock’s female characters are very much out of the ordinary. Looking past the obvious presence of gender roles (male and female) that just so happened to be a part of the social norm during that time, Hitchcock sought to represent women with having more depth, realism, and independence than ever before in women in Hollywood.