“REAR WINDOW” REVIEW: I’M SO OVER MALE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954) is an undisputed classic and it’s not hard to understand why. The film is extremely easy to watch, a perfectly crafted thriller that keeps the audience engaged with every beat. It is also an astute commentary on society’s voyeuristic impulses, one that only becomes more relevant by the decade as technology develops. And you have to admire its simple, play-like sets, and how exciting the story is despite the fact that they are essentially in one room the entire time.

However, problematic characters and events seriously brought me out of the story at several points. At the time of its release, I am sure these concerns would not have even registered, but today, it was definitely a struggle to keep cultural differences in mind and enjoy the film fully.

First, I found the protagonist, Jeff (played by the lovely James Stewart) to be extremely pompous and annoying. Here is this man, with nothing to say or offer besides an alleged skill in photography, spending significant screen time complaining about his perfect, outrageously stunning girlfriend, Lisa (Miss Grace Kelly, of course). His issue? She is too perfect for him. Cue eye roll.

Seriously, this woman will do anything for him, and he just can’t accept that. Thus, her entire character arc is based around her proving to him that her love is legit before she ultimately wins his approval. Objectively, he was not nearly likable enough to have scored this goddess, let alone deserve her level of devotion.

I thought it might have been more dramatic and effective had Jeff realized his feelings for her after stupidly put her in harm’s way, but alas, Hitchcock did not.

Does he even grow or learn anything at all by the end of the movie? I’m not convinced. 

I understand that the idea of the cinematic male gaze was not anywhere close to being on the radar at this point, and I appreciate how in many ways, this movie was revolutionary for its time. That being said, it doesn’t really make it any less disturbing to watch now.

The three perspectives we get in the film are of Jeff and Thorwarld, as well as Hitchcock’s subjective camera. Any focus on female characters hardly moves past their physical appearances, and when it does shift to their actual lives, all I see are the victims of an abusive patriarchy.

Lisa is the “perfect” woman, but she struggles to please Jeff, who clearly sees her as some fancy, yet frivolous floozy. In both her first and last shots, she is pointedly presented as beautiful and silent, driving home the idea that women should be sexualized, seen, and not heard.

The character of Mrs. Thorwarld caters to the stereotype of the sickly, nagging wife, which is the ultimate explanation for her murder. This reinforces the idea that women should be quiet and agreeable; beautiful, not sickly.

“Miss Torso” exists for the purpose of being eye candy, and her only plotline is that she manages to find domestic bliss in the end. “Miss Lonelyheart” also shares this one goal, and when her efforts nearly result in rape, the characters don’t even address it, let alone intervene.

In the end, the audience is supposedly content to see that Lisa, “Miss Torso,” and “Miss Lonelyheart” have all found happiness in the prospect of marriage, living in their partners’ homes, and shaping their lives around them.

In its disappointing last scene, we see Lisa, having apparently moved in with Jeff’s, attempting to read an adventure book as her master lover snoozes. After confirming that he is not looking, she sneakily puts the book down and in favor of a fashion magazine, a passion of hers that Jeff had blatantly criticized earlier. This comes across as an offensive infantilization and an insult to the completely legitimate fashion industry!

Though I did find myself entertained watching Rear Window, I cannot fully enjoy it because of all of these reasons. However, I definitely think it’s worth watching if only just to help understand the values, societal ideals, and gender politics of a bygone era. Lots of funky, fresh conversation to be had! Overall, I give the movie a solid 6/10.