Rear Window Overview:

Rear Window (1954) was a Mystery - Romance Film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and produced by Alfred Hitchcock.

The film was based on the short story It Had to Be Murder written by Cornell Woolrich published in Dime Detective Magazine in Feb 1942.

SYNOPSIS

This thoroughly enjoyable mystery classic from Hitchcock pokes amiably at the inherent voyeurism of the movie audience. Restless magazine photographer Stewart bides his time while confined to a wheelchair with observing the behavior of his neighbors from the vantage point of his rear window. His only other distractions during the day our visits from his model girlfriend Kelly and nurse Ritter. After waking in the night, Stewart is convinced he sees salesman Burr disposing of evidence that would indicate a hideous murder, with his nagging wife the obvious victim. But when Stewart's story doesn't wash with a policeman pal, he sends Kelly into the apartment to search for more clues. As Stewart watches helplessly, Burr returns to his apartment. Now aware of Stewart's snooping, Burr attacks the wheelchair-bound voyeur. Witty and beautifully produced (Hitchcock constructed the largest set of its time at Paramount?31 full-scale apartments), this is an enduring popular and critical favorite.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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Rear Window was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1997.

Academy Awards 1954 --- Ceremony Number 27 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best CinematographyRobert BurksNominated
Best DirectorAlfred HitchcockNominated
Best WritingJohn Michael HayesNominated
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BlogHub Articles:

James Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Thelma Ritter debate “Rear Window” ethics

By Stephen Reginald on Dec 5, 2023 From Classic Movie Man

James Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Thelma Ritter debate “Rear Window” ethics Rear Window (1954) is an American mystery thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, and Thelma Ritter. The script was by John Michael Hayes, the cinematograp... Read full article


4K UHD Blu-ray Review: Rear Window

By Devon Powell on Sep 2, 2021 From Hitchcock Master

Distributor: Universal Pictures Release Date: September 07, 2021 Region ? 4K UHD: Region Free BLU-RAY: Region A Length: 01:52:27 Video ? 4K UHD: 2160P (HEVC, H.265) BLU-RAY: 1080P (MPEG-4, AVC) Audio (4K UHD & Blu-ray): 2.0 Mono English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono Spanish (Latin American) DTS ... Read full article


Rear Window: In the Heat of the Night

By Devon Powell on Sep 13, 2020 From Hitchcock Master

Exclusive Guest Article By: Robert Jones This article is the first in a series of four guest articles to appear on this page in celebration of Universal’s release of ‘The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection.’ ??How do you know what the world is like? Do you know the world is a f... Read full article


The Directors’ Chair: Rear Window

By Theresa Brown on Aug 25, 2020 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

The Directors’ Chair: Rear Window (Hitchcock, 1954) ?REAR WINDOW? (1954) – CURIOSITY KILLED THE… James Stewart, Rear Window Holed up in his apartment with a broken leg, a photo journalist played by James Stewart, whiles away his recuperative time watching his neighbor... Read full article


Rear Window (1954): Visual Cinema and “Lisa”

By 4 Star Film Fan on Apr 7, 2018 From 4 Star Films

There are such a vast number of levels to appreciate Rear Window on and one of those is its impeccable use of sound as well as a?score courtesy of Franz Waxman. In fact, it is quite easy to consider it as a film with a wholly diegetic soundtrack but it’s really a complicated weaving of sound o... Read full article


See all Rear Window articles

Quotes from

Jeff: When am I going to see you again?
Lisa: [angry] Not for a long time...
[softening]
Lisa: at least not until tomorrow night.


Stella: Every man's ready to get married when the right girl comes along.


Lt. Doyle: Jeff, you've got a lot to learn about homicide. Why, morons have committed murders so shrewdly that it's taken a hundred trained police minds to catch them.


read more quotes from Rear Window...

Facts about

Trade magazines of the time reported the world premiere was Aug 4, 1954 at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City. The Aug 1 date given in the "release dates" section may be erroneous.
All the apartments in Thorwald's building had electricity and running water, and could be lived in.
Once during the filming, the lights were so hot that they set off the soundstage sprinkler system.
read more facts about Rear Window...
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Best Director Oscar 1954






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National Film Registry

Rear Window

Released 1954
Inducted 1997
(Sound)




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Also directed by Alfred Hitchcock




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Also produced by Alfred Hitchcock




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