Hitchcock rear window analysis

You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper. In this video essay, we break down alfred hitchcock s masterpiece rear window. All essays fully annotated so you know exactly what you. Rear window is one of hitchcocks most visual films.

They venture out into dangerkelly even entering the apartment of the suspected wife killer. There was a mile and several hills between us and our nearest neighbours, so. Alfred hitchcock was a master of editing and everything else in the realm of cinema, and nowhere is his editing skill, as well as that of editor george tomasini, more on display than in his classic, rear window. Stephanie bittar narrative analysis paper mcs 273 rear window 1955 alfred hitchcocks 1954 film, rear window, explores many dimensions in cinematography. The limited perspective of the voyeur alfred hitchcock s 1954 thriller rear window encapsulates his masterful use of controlling information to create deepseated suspense in the audience. Rear window is a 1954 american technicolor mystery thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock and written by john michael hayes based on cornell woolrich s 1942 short story it had to be murder. Rear window is a good candidate not just for hitchcocks best but also hitchcocks most accessible for newcomers, and its because its a film that makes us feel as deeply as we are afraid. In his suspense masterpiece, hitchcock utilizes all of his favorite gender roles for his male and female characters. Alfred hitchcock s rear window analysis essay hitchcock s rear window is often remembered due to its stark display of voyeurism and the moral ambiguities it provides. Over his career, alfred hitchcock has implemented hundreds of different techniques to. Rear window by ben elliott hitchcock s rear window 1954 builds a distinct view of the world and how, in the directors opinion, men and women fit in it. Hitch winds the clock and turns his face toward the camera.

The film rear window, directed by alfred hitchcock in 1954, enthralled worldwide audiences through its clever and original depiction of a suburban murder. For all intents and purposes, rear window is a film about voyeurism, so it makes sense that hitchcocks approach to the film would be to force audiences to become voyeurs. The third act of rear window is about jeff taking action to prove his suspicions about thorwald. When he passes his long days and nights by shamelessly maintaining a. John michael hayes screenplay was based on cornell woolrichs with penname william irish original 1942 short story or novelette, it had to be murder. My goal in this paper is to set forth different points of view and make my own original evaluation of this movie.

On one hand youre a passive spectator watching a film about a recentlyincapacitated photographer spying on his neighbors out of boredom, but on the other you are an extension of good ol jimmy stewarts intrusive gaze. Hitchcock never leaves that camera view except to show us jeffs reactions. Jefferies gradually becomes more and more engrossed with this activity of his, and soon brings. The art of looking in hitchcocks rear window limelight. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of rear window by alfred hitchcock. One of the main lighting techniques is low key lighting, this leaves a majority of the background dark, you only see a portion of the actor, and it adds to the scene by making the character, in. With the darkness and mystery of the film, alfred hitchcock was able to.

Textual analysis the opening of rear window from the very beginning to stellas entrance. Watch this video and see hitch explain in his inimitable and entertaining. Jefferies james stewart attempting to defend himself from his neighbour, lars thornwald raymond burr, after the latter discovers that jefferies has been witness to his crimes over the course of the film. Rear window is a good candidate not just for hitchcock s best but also hitchcock s most accessible for newcomers, and its because its a film that makes us feel as deeply as we are afraid. Watching alfred hitchcock s 1954 thriller rear window is an interesting and somewhat unusual experience.

Of course, if that was the case, there would probably have been no murder and thats what we want right. The one i chose is the scene in which the little dog is discovered dead. In rear window, hes the man winding a mantel clock in the songwriters apartment. Jeffries james stewart, the resident of one of the secondfloor apartments, is a photojournalist who recently broke his leg while on the job. In her essay, mulvey focuses largely on hithcocks rear window, and understandably so. In this video essay, we break down alfred hitchcocks masterpiece rear window. Parallel characteristics in rear window the dilemma of prying rear window as a snapshot of its era. Alfred hitchcock rear window analysis 1412 words 6 pages. Miseenscene analysis of hitchcocks rope and rear window contd. Documentary about hitchcocks movie rear window made by students from the university of central florida. The crowded greenwich village apartment complex of the film acts as an effective narrative device, as hitchcock employs the physical proximity of the apartments to reinforce the overwhelming sense of voyeurism and paranoia amongst neighbours. Through the narration of hitchcock and jeff, the audience realizes jeffs changing. The narrative techniques used by hitchcock in rear window l. Alfred hitchcocks rear window this essay will try to give an overview of two interpretations of rear window, both of which focus on the gaze and voyeurism of the movie, and both of which can be situated to a greater or lesser extent within a psychoanalytic context.

Unlike most of the analysis found herewhich simply lists the unique individual story appreciationsthis indepth study details the actual encoding for each structural item. The cinematography of rear window mainly focuses on the use of lighting and shadows. All through the film we can hear sounds and voices from these apartments in the distance, carefully balanced to sound realistic and as would be the case in real life none too clear. It is a widely renowned crime thriller that employs many conventions of the genre, while subverting others, in order to portray a realistic environment that collapses into tension and mistrust. Alfred hitchcocks rear window cambridge university. Pointofview editing allows the audience to sit in the seat of our main character, jeff jefferies, and witness his reactions to what is going. Rear window is a 1954 american technicolor mystery thriller film directed by alfred hitchcock and written by john michael hayes based on cornell woolrichs 1942 short story it had to be murder. Rear window movie analysis alfred hitchcock youtube. The hero of alfred hitchcocks rear window is trapped in a wheelchair, and were trapped, tootrapped inside his point of view, inside his lack of freedom and his limited options. The music gained the film a great influence on mass culture on the postwar american society. While analyzing the film rear window i found several authors with opposing opinions about it. Rear window is an american suspense film released in 1954 and directed by alfred hitchcock, a man who is commonly known by his pen name william irish.

The difference between you and me rear window hitchcock presents duration. Analysis of themes in rear window essay 1424 words. Jefferies gradually becomes more and more engrossed with this activity of his, and soon brings his girlfriend, lisa, in on the thrill of his voyeurism. In relation with the research questions, our main objective, as we have already mentioned, is to study what we can learn from this film of hitchcocks in relation with. The pathos at rear window s root is a big part of what makes the film more than an experiment. How to write a rear window film analysis lisas study guides. In alfred hitchcock s rear window, he is a temporarily wheelchairbound man and his voyeuristic side appears later on in the film.

How hitchcock used editing to turn rear window into a. Hitchcock made a career out of indulging our voyeuristic tendencies, and never better than in rear window. As the story continues, youll see how this man goes from voyeur and. There is a strong indication through analysis that rear window is one of alfred hitchcock s greatest films because it is one of the films hitchcock spoke of with the most unmitigated pleasure and more frequently referring to it as being his most successful experiments in pure cinema fawell 1. Through stellas transition from naysayer to accomplice, hitchcock shows us how easy it is to become focused on the outside world while ignoring our own problems. Rear window 1954 is an intriguing, brilliant, macabre hitchcockian visual study of obsessive human curiosity and voyeurism. Thus, before analysing alfred hitchcocks 1954 thriller rear window, it is important to consider its cultural, political and social context. Originally released by paramount pictures, the film stars james stewart, grace kelly, wendell corey, thelma ritter, and raymond burr. The importance of set design in hitchcocks rear window ksa. The importance of set design in hitchcock s rear window today i will be be presenting a critical view of rear window directed by alfred hitchcock in 1954. Rear window essays are academic essays for citation. Hitchcock and jeff remain behind the camera, while their crew goes out to actualize their vision. Hitchcocks the 39 steps at tbts is an absurdly silly, physical comedy. Apr 01, 2018 part 1 rear window study guide the director, the cast, the story.

Rear window was the first instance of this diegetic approach in a film, lending to hitchcock s tendency towards innovative filmmaking practices. What you actually need to know to ace your essays themes, context, analysis. Editing of rear window alfred hitchcock structurally alfred hitchcock s 1954 classic, rear window appears rather simple but when you examine the films editing, complexity and intention is revealed. Still, mulveys idea about the male gaze has some validity to it, which we find in hitchcock s films. Lighting the movie, rear window, filmed in 1954, directed by alfred hitchcock utilizes a wide variety of lighting techniques. The main character, jeff, is immobilized for the summer and in order to pass the time begins to follow the lives of his neighbors by spying on them. It is a thriller based on cornell woolrichs 1942 short story it had to be murder. Rear window s aplot is a harrowing mystery thriller that we watch unfold with a systematic unraveling thats unnerving in part because hitchcock has orchestrated it all in a limited space. In alfred hitchcock s rear window 1954 is a story about a photographer on his last week of recuperation from his last assignment where he was severely injured on the race track taking a picture of the wreckage. Jeff develops the narration of hitchcock by his investigation of the murder case.

Before, he likes to put himself in risk and adventure as showed in the photos in the apartment. He keeps the camera at jeffs eye level, so everything we see we see from his perspective. The markets are headed for a rear tire blowout, so fasten seat belts. Critical analysis of alfred hitchcocks rear window jess cinema. Alfred hitchcock s rear window is a short story about a bored voyeuristic man who idealizes a woman who is under appreciated by her husband. Documentary about hitchcock s movie rear window made by students from the university of central florida. However, he is confined to his wheelchair, ever the observer just like a film director.

Alfred hitchcocks 1954 thriller rear window encapsulates his masterful. By sharing this voyeuristic activity with the audience, rear window shows hitchcock s view on voyeurism that it is a universal pleasure that all human beings pursue. Rear window is yet another great example of how hitchcock manages to influence and even manipulate his audience into believing and participating in his cinematic experience. In a playful bit of self analysis, hitchcock wrote in the new york times that his motives for inserting himself into his films were devious, or, if you prefer a more devious word, sinister.

Jul 25, 2012 the first time i watched rear window, i was 14 or 15 and living in a remote part of ireland. The narrative techniques used by hitchcock in rear window. In a playful bit of selfanalysis, hitchcock wrote in the new york times that his motives for inserting himself into his. The markets are headed for a reartire blowout, so fasten seat belts. Hitchcocks cinematic exploration of voyeurism disguised as a topnotch thriller. Sep 20, 2017 perhaps rear window doesnt have an iconic scene in the way that north by northwest and psycho do, but it does have several scenes that are worth taking a closer look at. His rear window looks out onto a courtyard and several other apartments, where the binocularwielding jefferies spends his days as a voyeur spying on his neighbors. The movie, rear window, filmed in 1954, directed by alfred hitchcock utilizes a wide variety of lighting techniques.

The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the storyform for rear window. By maintaining the voyeuristic point of view from the rear window of jefferies. According to, as of april 2014, rear window directed by alfred hitchcock is the 31st highestrated movie on internet movie database, with an imdb rating of 8. The phenomenal film is well known for proclaiming its voyeurism issues that goes on in todays society. Perhaps rear window doesnt have an iconic scene in the way that north by northwest and psycho do, but it does have several scenes that are worth taking a closer look at. The entirety of rear window takes place in and around the back courtyard connecting apartments in the west village of new york city. And there are a lot of cinematic elements at play in rear window that help put audiences into the role. Awards and nominations for rear window 1954 awards won.

Hitchcocks great achievement in the period of his career was showed by rear window. The greenwich village of rear window is an example of one of these suburbs. Dream analysis was written and submitted by user ezequiel colon to help you with your own studies. Hitchcocks rear window is often remembered due to its stark display of voyeurism and the moral ambiguities it provides. Rear window has been referred to be hitchcock s most intellectual film. Rear window endorses introspection rather than voyeurism spoto. Alfred hitchcocks 1954 rear window is a film full of symbolism, narratives, voyeurism and characterisation. Hitchcock s aesthetic configuration of the film manipulates the audience into questioning several aspects of the filmdid mr. Miseenscene analysis of hitchcocks rope and rear window.

Rear window by alfred hitchcock lisas study guides. The first of his most famous films, with vertigo, north by northwest, psycho and birds to follow successively in the nine years to come. There was a mile and several hills between us and our nearest neighbours, so the concept of looking out. The film is based on the film it had to be murder, a 1942 short story by cornell woolrich fawell 2. Dec 08, 2015 the importance of set design in hitchcocks rear window today i will be be presenting a critical view of rear window directed by alfred hitchcock in 1954. Alfred hitchcocks 1954 thriller rear window encapsulates his masterful use of controlling information to create deepseated suspense in the audience. Mar 02, 20 the pathos at rear windows root is a big part of what makes the film more than an experiment. Alfred hitchcock s 1954 thriller rear window encapsulates his masterful use of controlling information to create deepseated suspense in the audience. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. A study of hitchcocks film the rear window seamus final. This essay will try to give an overview of two interpretations of rear window, both of which focus on the gaze and voyeurism of the movie, and both of which can be situated to a greater or lesser extent within a psychoanalytic context. Mar 23, 2016 this analysis will be conducted on this scene from alfred hitchcocks rearwindow 1954 situated at the climax of the film, this scene depicts l. In alfred hitchcocks enthralling film, rear window, set in manhattan, new york in the 1950s, hitchcock draws attention to the way physical immobility is simply an echo of emotional immobility as represented by the protagonist, l. The remotecontrol suspense scenes in rear window are hitchcock at his most diabolical, creating dangerous situations and then letting lisa and stella linger in them through jeffs carelessness or inaction.

Jul 29, 2014 alfred hitchcock was a master of editing and everything else in the realm of cinema, and nowhere is his editing skill, as well as that of editor george tomasini, more on display than in his classic, rear window. Hitchcock s the 39 steps at tbts is an absurdly silly, physical comedy. When most people think of hitchcock, its the screeching violins from psycho that first come to mind. In this retrospective, we look back at alfred hitchcocks classic masterpiece rear window, one of his most clinical and compelling thrillers that. Jan 16, 2016 mr gatts example of how to make a video analysis of a scene. As the story continues, youll see how this man goes from voyeur and knight in shining armor to investigator. The camera then tracks towards the window as though it is going to leave the room, however the camera pans down and stops tracking when it reaches the window sill.

The family hitchcock by mark levin and jennifer flackett. Whilst he is indeed known for his haircurling thrillers, rear window is a slightly subtler film which focuses not on a murderer at large, but rather a crippled photographer. One of the main lighting techniques is low key lighting, this leaves a majority of the background dark, you only see a portion of the actor, and it adds to the scene by making the character, in this case the murderer, look mysterious and suspicious. For all our education and filmwatching experience, we still.

Shots in rear window alfred hitchcock, the master of suspense, and quite possibly the greatest film director of all time, has used optical pointof view shots in many of his classic films. Rear window aesthetics windows are usually a metaphor for freedom, but in hitchcock s rear window 1954 they expose privacy, they symbolize confinement, and they allude to suspenseful plot devices. The classic hitchcock film, rear window, is an intelligent and engaging analysis of human perception, voyeurism and what it means to see, to be perceptive. Techniques used in alfred hitchcocks the rear window. Mulvey argues that female main character, lisa fremont. Rear window hitchcock made a career out of indulging our voyeuristic tendencies, and he never excited them more skilfully, or with more gleeful selfawareness, than in rear. Rear window 1954 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The art of looking in hitchcock s rear window is a 196page volume written by stefan sharff in 1997. The importance of set design in hitchcocks rear window. However, jeff does not heed her warning here, and eventually, draws stella into his new hobby as well. I have wormed my way into my own pictures as a spy.

Rear window alfred hitchcock 1954 rear window s opening credits is with a static shot of a window from the inside of a room and the blinds on the window are going up one by one. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of rear window by cornell woolrich. Jefferies, a photographer bound to a wheelchair in his apartment as his broken leg heals. By simply using pov shots, clever editing, and camera work, the director transformed his audience from mere spectators into active participants of the voyeuristic exploits of rear windows main character. Narrative analysis of rear window by alfred hitchcock bartleby. Alfred hitchcocks rear window is a short story about a bored voyeuristic man who idealizes a woman who is under appreciated by her husband. The first time i watched rear window, i was 14 or 15 and living in a remote part of ireland.

In alfred hitchcock s enthralling film, rear window, set in manhattan, new york in the 1950s, hitchcock draws attention to the way physical immobility is simply an echo of emotional immobility as represented by the protagonist, l. Rear window alfred hitchcock 1954 production skills. Rear window, originally published in 1942 in dime detective magazine under the. The hero of alfred hitchcock s rear window is trapped in a wheelchair, and were trapped, tootrapped inside his point of view, inside his lack of freedom and his limited options. Well, anyways, rear window still stands as my favorite hitchcock picture and one of the most clinical and compelling thrillers of all time. It is a hard hitting, creative work of social comment which hitchcock and many of his peers considered to be true horror. Jeffries is a highclass magazine photographer for what seems to be a worldwide publication. When he passes his long days and nights by shamelessly maintaining a secret watch on his neighbors, we share his obsession. Rear window is so involved with the idea of the gaze, that it is essentially a film about the gaze. In rear window, what is unique about the use of sound.