Rear Window is a 1954 American 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". The film stars James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr.
Plot
Professional photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jeffries (James Stewart) breaks his leg while getting an action shot at an auto race. Confined to his New York apartment, he spends his time looking out of the rear window observing the neighbors. He begins to suspect that a man (Raymond Burr) across the courtyard may have murdered his wife. Jeff enlists the help of his high society fashion-consultant girlfriend Lisa Freemont (Grace Kelly) and his visiting nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter) to investigate.
Cast
- James Stewart as L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies
- Grace Kelly as Lisa Carol Fremont
- Wendell Corey as NYPD Det. Lt. Thomas J. Doyle
- Thelma Ritter as Stella
- Raymond Burr as Lars Thorwald
- Judith Evelyn as Miss Lonelyhearts
- Ross Bagdasarian as the Songwriter
- Georgine Darcy as Miss Torso
- Frank Cady and Sara Berner as the husband and wife living above the Thorwalds, with their dog
- Jesslyn Fax as sculptor neighbor with a hearing aid
- Rand Harper as the newlywed man
- Irene Winston as Mrs. Anna Thorwald
- Havis Davenport as the newlywed woman
- Gig Young as the voice of Jeff's editor at telephone (uncredited)
- Harry Landers as the Miss Lonelyhearts' guest (uncredited)
- Ralph Smiles as Carl, the waiter (uncredited)
Reception
Critical response
The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and is considered one of Hitchcock's finest films. On the website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has been universally praised, garnering a 100% certified fresh rating, based on 61 reviews, with the consensus stating that "Hitchcock exerted full potential of suspense in this masterpiece."
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