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Well, my dear blog friends, I am finding myself eating my words a wee bit with regard to nearly everyone's favorite Alfred Hitchcock film---Rear Window. As many of you already know, I have admitted to not liking that film. Yes, I know I am completely out of step with nearly every classic movie fan on the planet, but I just don't like it. Oh, it has never been one of my 1-star, "hate it" films; rather, since my first viewing of it 3 or 4 years ago, it has been a 2-star, "don't like it" for me, for the sole reason that I just don't happen to think a peeping Tom is a worthy ambition. (It seems rather sex predator-ish to me.) I could never root for a man who spied on this neighbors, and I kept wondering how I would feel if one of my neighbors looked through his binoculars at every house on the block. I am even out of step with my own family, as they like the film; when I complain about the peeping Tom aspect, my always-joking son tells me "it is the neighborhood watch program in action."
With yesterday being the 30th anniversary of Grace Kelly's death, our family decided to enjoy one of her films last night. Though I was hoping for The Country Girl (and, thus, a William Holden fix), the majority of my family was clamoring for Rear Window. Being the trooper that I am, I decided to go with the flow, and you know what---I actually found myself moving from 2 to 3 stars. I still don't like the fact that a Peeping Tom is a "hero," and I still would be greatly unsettled if one of my neighbors was focusing his binoculars on my house, but I recognize that the story is interesting and exciting, that the direction is fantastic, that the chemistry between the leads is perfect, that the wit of Thelma Ritter is terrific, and that Grace Kelly is her classy, elegant, beautiful self.
So, my friends, I wanted to let you know that when it comes to the beloved Rear Window, I am eating my words just a little bit. While it will never be my favorite Alfred Hitchcock film, the fact that I've gone from 2 stars, "don't like it," to 3 stars, "like it okay" is rather huge. I'm not quite so out of step anymore.
Rear Window is one of my favs, but i understand what you mean. I'm the same with Vertigo, i like all the actors and i see the great skill but i can't warm to any of the characters. It makes a difference because you need to be able to contnect.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa, yes, warming to and connecting with the characters in a film is important. That's why my favorite Hitchcock film is "I Confess." I completely and totally love the main character...Father Michael Logan. He is one of my 2 all-time favorite film characters. While "I Confess" is not a famous Hitch film and is not well-liked by many, I adore the character and, thus, the film.
DeleteOh, and by the way, I have never seen "Vertigo."
I'm happy you have it another chance! I feel the same about peeping toms in general, but I never felt that about Stewart's character. After all, he is confined to his apartment and in a wheelchair, and there was no cable TV or internet back then!
ReplyDeleteKyran loves this movie and his list of classic movies loves is rather short. I love it also and always have. I really don't see Jimmy Stewart as a peeping Tom, probably because I've spent so many years in apartments...you start to make up funny names for the neighbors and are able to figure out their lifestyle, to some extent. You can't help it if their blinds are open and they've got big glass sliding doors etc.! So I saw it more as he'd become familiar with his neighbors and, with the sheer boredom of being home bound, he started looking at them through his zoom lens.
ReplyDeleteI never tire of this movie!
Hey Patti! Glad you gave it at least one more star! I, too, have NEVER thought of Jimmy Stewart's character as a Peeping Tom! The people living in those apartments COULD have closed their blinds or curtains, ya know! :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, it was the 50s when most places didn't have a/c, so they needed their windows open. I still love it as one of my favorite Jimmy Stewart movies, AND Hitchcock movies.
P.S. He discovered a murderer, too! :D
Just wanted to add that I think Becky has a good point - they could have closed their blinds and curtains if they didn't want anyone looking in!
ReplyDeleteWell, I am definitely not in agreement with any of you...but I still love you all and consider you my friends. A person doesn't have to think the same as I do for me to be their friend!!
DeleteI will say, though, that I completely and totally thrive on sunlight. I need sunlight like I need air. To be without it is as difficult as flying to the moon!! I NEED to open my blinds to let the natural light in, so keeping my blinds closed to prevent my neighbors from staring at me is just NOT an option.
Suppose my across the street neighbor gets a huge telescopic lens just so he can look in my picture window to see what I am doing. No, I'm not half-naked as Miss Torso was, and no, I am not murdering anyone, but I would not like him just passing the time by staring at me. I find that creepy!
It's important to remember that Stewart's character was bored out of his mind, being stuck in a wheelchair - that was his only motivation for starting to spy on his neighbours. It's very clearly nothing sexual in the film so it seems unfair to judge him as a predator. Besides that, the whole premise of the film hangs on this one particular quirk of Stewart's character - without it there'd be no story. It's just a device to construct an unusual situation.
ReplyDeleteAlas, you are right, Johan. He COULD have read a book to satisfy his boredom...but then there would be no story, right?
DeleteAs is typical for me, I am marching to the beat of my own drum on this. As I said, that's okay. I am not offended if people don't agree with me. I am probably overly sensitive about the "spying" because I am a pretty private person. As it is, I look at some of the things my friends post on their Facebooks, and I think, "Really? You want hundreds of people knowing that? Isn't that a bit personal?" Clearly, I am in the minority when it comes to privacy concerns.
I love this movie.. but, I understand where you are coming from. What is fun about the movie is... that it is not real life and there are no rules. :)
ReplyDeleteP.S.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you you gave it a better rating..
I gave it a better rating because I decided to look for the good in it. And there was much that was good...the direction, the suspense, the chemistry of Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly, Grace's dresses, Thelma Ritter's wit. By focusing on the good instead of what I don't like, I was able to see the merit in the film and, thus, rate it higher.
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