Rear Window Meta Review

Janet Maslin
Published October 9, 1983 (newspaper)

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=1&res=9403E2D7123BF93AA35753C1A965948260&scp=3&sq=Rear%20Window%20Reviews&st=cse

Bosley Crowther
Published August 5, 1954 (newspaper)

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CE6DD113EE53BBC4D53DFBE66838F649EDE&scp=1&sq=Rear%20Window%20Reviews&st=cse

Jeff Miller
Published May 12, 2004 (website)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ae/movies/reviews/480322.html


Many people think differently about the film “Rear Window” by Alfred Hitchcock; however most people cannot deny that this film is surely entertaining.

Bosley Crowther tells us that this film focuses on the fascinating pastime of peeking into other people’s homes-a thing that New York apartment dwellers have a slight disposition to do. “Rear Window” is entertaining because of this fact; you, yourself feel like you are spying on the neighbors along with L.B. Jefferies . . . this allows for some suspense. Let’s be honest, not many people can actually deny that they haven’t spied on someone, especially a neighbor.

In Crowther’s review, he focuses on how Alfred Hitchcock uses brilliant camera angles to make the film entertaining, and suspenseful. He also states that because Alfred Hitchcock picked a terrific cast, he did not do much directing. He essentially is this way with many films, and I believe he does this to make the film seem more real. After all, James Stewart did get injured during the filming of the fall off the balcony scene, as stated in a review by Janet Maslin.

Like Crowther, Janet Maslin focuses her review on the unique way that Alfred Hitchcock directs (or lack thereof) the film. She also tells us that Hitchcock controlled the rights to all of his films and felt that their value would increase if they became rarities. Sounds like a smart idea right? This makes me believe that Alfred Hitchcock, although not always understood, was very cleaver with his tactics, and knew exactly what he was doing. Who wouldn’t want their film to become a classic for all time? Unlike Crowther, Janet Maslin also tells us that anyone that watches the film needs to keep their eyes open, or else you might miss something. This is very true, because “Rear Window” is a complicated thing, and much of the film is purely visual.

Jeff Miller, in a third review, explains mostly the setting for the film and the history of what life was like in the 1950s. He states that there is no airconditioning in the summer, and it is very hot. And because Jefferies is kept to his wheelchair, the world is his television, and he holds the remote. This is very true; when you are bored what else are you going to do? Much like the other two reviews, Miller explains how “Rear Window” and “Rope” (another Hitchcock film) relate in the sence that there is virtually no edits or cuts during the films. Miller furthermore, explains to us that this film should be watched on the big screen, because the small screen simply doesn’t give it justice, and you could miss important things.

“Rear Window” was very entertaining for me. I believe it would have to be in order to keep your eyes on the film so that you don’t miss anything. I would have to say that this was Hitchcock’s intent . . . to create a film that draws on what everyone secretly does from time to time, peep on others; and he does this in a way that makes you feel like you have to find out what happens next. Alfred Hitchcock makes his films entertaining by talking about real life, with some suspenseful adventure. He also makes people want to see his films by including some big name actors at the time such as James Stewart; and by withholding the rights to his films he attempted to make his films stand the test of time . . . and he did exactly that because people like you and me still watch them today.