REAR WINDOW
Hitchcock’s Set is a Supporting Character in Rear Window
Director Alfred Hitchcock has created an expressionistic set in his film Rear Window to demonstrate that Americans live in a voyeuristic society and how human beings take personal pleasure in watching what is going on in our surroundings. The illustrious set, built at Paramount Studios feels like the movie was shot on location in New York City with its busy, noisy urban feel. Hitchcock focuses in on the main character, LB Jeffries (James Stewart), who is laid up in his apartment with a broken leg. The majority of the story is told from Jeffries visual point of view from his wheelchair. The audience is able to identity with Jeffries curiosity of his neighbors from watching them through the rear window of his apartment overlooking the courtyard and adjacent apartment building. The set adds to the suspense of the film with the panoramic views of the neighboring apartment building and courtyard. The audience observes the various sizes of windows from floor to ceiling windows in the studio apartment to small, medium, and large windows in the other apartments. Hitchcock fills the rest of the set with mystery in the areas of the apartments with no windows that are out of sight from Jeffries and the audience. Like Jeffries, the viewer feels compelled to keep watching to see what is happening next. Hitchcock has created a canvas for Jeffries and the audience to watch the neighbors like viewing Art on display at a museum or gallery. Hitchcock has tapped into the psyche of America in his suspense thriller Rear Window.
Director Alfred Hitchcock has created an expressionistic set in his film Rear Window to demonstrate that Americans live in a voyeuristic society and how human beings take personal pleasure in watching what is going on in our surroundings. The illustrious set, built at Paramount Studios feels like the movie was shot on location in New York City with its busy, noisy urban feel. Hitchcock focuses in on the main character, LB Jeffries (James Stewart), who is laid up in his apartment with a broken leg. The majority of the story is told from Jeffries visual point of view from his wheelchair. The audience is able to identity with Jeffries curiosity of his neighbors from watching them through the rear window of his apartment overlooking the courtyard and adjacent apartment building. The set adds to the suspense of the film with the panoramic views of the neighboring apartment building and courtyard. The audience observes the various sizes of windows from floor to ceiling windows in the studio apartment to small, medium, and large windows in the other apartments. Hitchcock fills the rest of the set with mystery in the areas of the apartments with no windows that are out of sight from Jeffries and the audience. Like Jeffries, the viewer feels compelled to keep watching to see what is happening next. Hitchcock has created a canvas for Jeffries and the audience to watch the neighbors like viewing Art on display at a museum or gallery. Hitchcock has tapped into the psyche of America in his suspense thriller Rear Window.
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