Lockdown film recommendation: Rear Window (1954) PG

Ever wondered what it would be like to be stuck in your house all the time with only your neighbours to watch? Well, due to this lockdown we all have some idea of what this is like now, but we are lucky enough to have a vast array of technology to entertain us. However, long before the quarantine and minus all the devices, Alfred Hitchcock used this idea for his masterpiece Rear Window.

The premise: photojournalist L.B Jefferies (brilliantly played by James Stewart) is stuck in his New York apartment due to having a broken leg. He occupies his time, during a sweltering heat wave, by observing his neighbours and ends up thinking one of them may have committed a horrific crime. However, is this just a figment of Jefferies’ over-active imagination or has his neighbour really murdered his own wife?

Why is it so good? 

Alfred Hitchcock is, rightly, known as the master of suspense and this film really shows off his slow-burning storytelling skills. It is very easy to rely on action-packed, fast-paced movies these days for entertainment but Rear Window reminds us that good storytelling and character development do not need to be accompanied by special effects and action to be entertaining. As our lives have slowed down, now is the time to enjoy a much slower style of film. 

Hitchcock immerses us in the New York apartment and perspective of the protagonist Jefferies through the use of long takes, a slowly drifting and panning camera and plenty of point of view shots, allowing us as the audience to feel like we are there. Dialogue is crucial to this film and the well-written script, especially the humorous interactions between Jefferies and his nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter), also help to draw us into this world. This is an astutely observed film, with the subtle interactions and observations of the neighbours giving everyone something to identify with.  

If you are new to the work of Alfred Hitchcock or Classical Hollywood cinema then Rear Window is a great film to start with. Hollywood stars James Stewart and Grace Kelly are a joy to watch and  we are transported to a time when life was very different. 

Rear Window explores people’s desires, imagination and obsession as well as exploring voyeurism which, in a time where social media is such a large part of our lives, feels very apt. 

I encourage you all to step out of your comfort zone and try something different, you might be pleasantly surprised!