Hitchcock was labeled 'The Master of Suspense', and not without good reason. Although he occasionally added horrific tones to his films (The Birds, Psycho), it was works such as 'Rear Window' that cemented his reputation. Hitch turns us all into amateur sleuths as we peek over James Stewart's shoulder monitoring his neighbours' activities. Stewart is immobilized with a broken leg, and his only fun is getting a close-up view of what's happening in other apartments through his powerful binoculars. Hitchcock turns this simple exercise into a fascinating 110 minutes of on-screen voyeurism. Perhaps Stewart's character should have been more cognizant of what was happening in his own apartment as his attractive companion, the royal Grace Kelly, seemed willing to play house. Thelma Ritter didn't drop a note as Stewart's go-fer, and Canadian Raymond Burr had a small but key role as the suspicious neighbour. This is one of those rare perfect films: strong performances, excellent timing, beautifully photographed and accessible to all audiences.
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