Rear Window

Rear Window

In Rear Window James Stewart plays L.B. Jeffries, an adventurous photographer who finds himself unconvinced of his current romance with a beautiful and “perfect” Lisa Freemont played by beautiful Grace Kelly. Jeffries is a sports photographer currently recovering from a broken leg sustained on duty as a photographer. In the entering scene of the film, we are specifically shown the broken camera, a negative of a women, picture of wars and car races telling us he is an adventures photographer. Confined to his wheelchair in his New York apartment, Jeffries occupies his time off work spying on his neighbors through his rear window – voyeur.

At first we believe the theme is murder, but later on we figure out on how every single neighbor and action relates to their romantic relationship. He is constantly comparing that relationship with each and every one of the neighbors, every neighbor representing a different point of view of Lisa. His instinct for adventure and nomadic way of life obligates him to consider ending his too perfect relationship. Even though many characteristics clearly differentiate one from another, it is the commitment issue that makes them be so alike.

Jeff introduces us to his neighbors, the newly married, the sculptures’ artist, Miss Lonely-hearts, Miss Torso, the lonely composer, the dog-loving wife and at last the Thornwalds. As Spoto adds, “Each of this neighbors offers Jeff a kind of correlative for the future.” In his first scene, he’s talking on the phone, explaining his opinion on marriage. When referring to a nagging wife, we are directed towards Mr. Thornwald, who in that precise moment is arriving home to a nagging wife.

In difference to Spoto, Fawell focuses on Miss Torso as Lisa’s main mirror throughout the film. At first Fawell implies that the theme during the film is not only Jeff’s view on relationship, but “ perhaps the theme of women being underappreciated and misunderstood…”(90) In the first hour of... [continues]

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