Each year I make a list of new things I want to try. Some are exciting, some are mundane, some are really, really difficult. You can read about past adventures here.
Friends, I have spent much of my life living under a proverbial rock, film-wise.
I didn’t see The Goonies till I was 22 (and, spoiler alert, that skeleton organ does little for college kids), I’ve only seen one Harry Potter movie and one LOTR movie. I quite literally own two dvds (this one and this one.) I wasn’t allowed to watch rated R movies till I was actually 17 (!) and I have big gaps in my pop culture knowledge from spending most of my twenties in other countries. I can, however, tell you all about this weird movie.
But I don’t want to be that weirdo who’s all “What now? Jurassic Park? The Simpsons? Who’s this Homer you keep talking about?” so I’m slowly but surely making my way through AFI’s Top 100 Movies.
And Rear Window? It’s good!
I mean, obviously, right? It’s a Hitchcock movie starring Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. How much better does it get? Jimmy is a professional photographer who’s homebound with a broken leg, who spends his time observing the goings-on in his apartment complex. It’s a summer heatwave so all of his neighbors have their windows and blinds open non-stop. His rich, beautiful, loving girlfriend is always stopping by, bringing him food, and flouncing around in beautiful dresses.
Jim becomes convinced that one of the neighbors has killed his wife and gets his nurse and girlfriend in on it. Drama ensues as they stake out the apartment and try to find evidence.
It’s amazing how sweetly subdued this movie seems after movies like Saw or The Ring. There’s was no visible blood and no weapons. Jimmy Stewart attempted to defend himself with flashbulbs! The most violent thing that happened was when the neighbor tried to strangle Jimmy and then he fell out of a second story window. There were plenty of tension filled moments, but I didn’t have to look away from the screen or pretend vomit. Not once!
What classic movies do you love? Are there any classics you haven’t seen yet?
I absolutely love this film- I love the mise en scene (ooh, fancy!) and Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly are all time favourites of mine. I love classic films, and while most of them tend to be musicals, I would say some that I have to recommend are: Harvey, Philadelphis Story (and the musical version High Society), Bringing Up Baby and Arsenic and Old Lace. The list goes on and on….
Katherine Hepburn is simple THE BEST. I loved every minute of Bringing Up Baby. With you on that one! Netflix has so many great films from the 40s. I can't get enough, lately! Cheers to like interests 🙂
-Eileen
http://www.leanerbythelake.com
dude, you gotta watch cool hand luke. we just did last weekend. #1) paul newman 2) paul newman, no shirt 3) paul newman says, "sometimes nuthin' is a pretty cool hand." OMGWHAT?! IT'S NOT JUST AWESOME SALAD DRESSINGS!!! 😉
I love him so much. More than salad dresses, INDEED! meeee-owwww!
You have to see Roman Holiday,Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn!loved it,shot entirely in Rome,great scenes and very funny.Put it on the list!
Rear Window is one of my FAVORITE movies! I love the little mini-stories going on in the other apartments, and I love their sass-mouth relationship. What a marvelous movie. My other favorite oldie movie: Singin' in the Rain. I could watch it every single day. I know all the words to all the songs and listen to the soundtrack when I run! Also: White Christmas.
They Shoot Horses Don't They is one of my favorites. Network was also really good.
I want to rewatch this now!
I'm a die hard Hitchcock fan (we have two posters in our front hallway). My mom showed me all the classics when I was little; I fell in love with his leading ladies, the suspenseful music, and thrilling plots that don't rely on gore. If you liked Rear Window, I suggest checking out some of his other films. Dial M For Murder is THE BEST and features the ever stunning Grace Kelly in some amazing wardrobe.
-Eileen
http://www.leanerbythelake.com
eileenragan
I love the old Hitchcock's, too, but I have a soft place in my heart for Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire (my earliest form of knowing musicals, beyond Sound of Music). I own almost all her movies, and love how Netflix is now bringing all those older movies back so you can rent them!
Sarah M
I remember watching this movie Rear window, long ago. A real suspense thriller a la Hitchcock style. Really enjoyed it.
Rear Window is my favorite Hitchcock film!
Rear Window will always make me think of Ugly Betty (a fashion photographer uses it as inspiration for a shoot, and no one gets it) but now that I know a little more about it I'm tempted to give it a shot!
My Favorite older movies are To Sir, With Love and Breakfast at Tiffany's But really anything with Audrey Hepburn is fabulous. If you like the suspense, then Charade and The Birds are both great to. One of thos where you never know who is good and who is bad till the end. My favorite musicals are Easter Parade with Judy Garland and of course Singing in the Rain.
One of my favorites is "Wait Until Dark." It's got Audrey Hepburn (always a win) and she plays a blind woman in the middle of a crime saga trapped in her apartment. Very suspenseful and not gory at all. I promise you'll like it 🙂
I was going to suggest this one as well! 🙂
I was going to suggest this one as well! 🙂
I love classic films, and I'm glad you're trying to fill your gap about them! I watched Rear Window when I was 16, and my grandma recommended it to me. It's still the best Hitchcock in my opinion, yet my favorite of the director is Strangers on a Train.
Kisses!
I love this movie! In fact I love anything James Stewart did I think… And Grace Kelly was so beautiful, you've just made me want to watch it again! 🙂
I'm in love with Hitchcock — I'm actually trying watch his whole filmography this year! A supposedly-great Hitchcock that I have never seen, and can't wait to, is 'Vertigo.' More Hitchcock + Jimmy Stewart goodness.
Lol, you're quite a bit behind with this one 🙂 I love Rear Window. Hitchcock is (was?!) amazing! What a great goal to get through that list! I should do that… 🙂
Still IS. : )
If you like that style of movie (almost a film noir, if you will) I recommend Double Indemnity, The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, and Dial M for Murder.
All classics, all amazing.
–Jamie
Ooh, I love Hitchcock! I went through a phase in high school where I watched every movie of his that the video store carried. My favorites are Vertigo and Rebecca- both are so twisty and suspenseful- I highly recommend.
As for other good classics, I can't get enough of How to Marry a Millionaire with Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall. It is absolutely hilarious, all about some gold-digging New York models and the scrapes they get into.
As a fan of 70's and 80's horror flicks, it's rare that a prior director is able to draw the intended emotion out of me. Rear Window is still able to shock and horrify decades later without use of more contemporary tropes. I was gasping and turning away from the screen!
I only saw this movie last year I think and loved it too! I also discovered Butterfield-8 and High Society which I love! High Society may be a musical but Grace Kelly's dresses are to die for in it too! And it's just such a sweet and funny movie.
I cant stomach horror movies so I enjoy a thriller like this one 🙂
I LOVE REAR WINDOW!! My dad made my sister and I watch this when we were young and I've always loved it! It's so good! It's just thrilling and exciting! I hate horror movies, so this is perfect for me (except I've seen Disturbia because it's kind of based off this movie, and while Disturbia is kind of like a horror movie, I just laughed through a lot of it because it was like Rear Window).
I love your blog! I love this movie!
http://whenthecowscomedancinghome.blogspot.com/