Rear Window (1954)

REAR WINDOW
DIRECTED BY: ALFRED HITCHCOCK
WRITTEN BY: JOHN MICHAEL HAYES
OVERALL SCORE: 10/10
TOP 100 FILMS: #67

Wheelchair bound photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies (Jimmy Stewart) uses his passing time to spy on his neighbors, until one day he believes he's found a murderer... now all he needs is someone to believe him.

Influential from beginning to end, Hitchcock has always shown a knack throughout his career for re-inventing the conventional thriller in ways that boggle the audiences minds. In Rear Window he certainly outdid himself with a classic series of misdirection, inspired doubt, dark characters, questionable actions, and a main character you just get absorbed into to. Of course it never hurts when you have Jimmy Stewart in front of the camera, one of the most charismatic and entertaining actors of all time.

Supporting Stewart is the always beautiful Grace Kelly, and a mile long list of talented b-role actors who really bring the film to life. As a writer Hayes knows how to get the most out of his characters, who are for the most part stuck in rather one-dimensional situations. Bringing these characters to life and giving them depth is crucial to making this thriller work, without such we'd be stuck in a boring attempt at social commentary. Luckily though nothing is lost in the hands of Hayes who wonderfully adapts the short story, giving us a great collection of characters to feed off of.
Rear Window is a character driven classic, with solid thrillers, great tension, and characters to die for.