None of Hitchcock's films has ever given a clearer view of his genius for suspense than Rear Window. When professional photographer J.B. "Jeff" Jeffries (James Stewart) is confined to a wheelchair with a broken leg, he becomes obsessed with watching the private dramas of his neighbors play out across the courtyard. When he suspects a salesman may have murdered his nagging wife, Jeffries enlists the help of his glamorous socialite girlfriend (Grace Kelly) to investigate the highly suspicious chain of events… Events that ultimately lead to one of the most memorable and gripping endings in all of film history.

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I must say after seeing an advance copy of this film that Rear Window looks incredible, especially compared to the Laser Disc copy I have as well as the poor copies that have been showing up on television and VHS over the years.

The colors are vibrant, in particular the reds which don't give a hint of bleeding into the frame, and the image looks I imagine as close to the original as possible given the fact that this film is almost fifty years old now.

The aspect ratio is 1.66:1 which is the proper framing for this film, the sound is the original mono soundtrack and has been scrubbed up to remove any audio imperfections that have built up over the years.

Also included on this disc is a 55 minute documentary titled, Rear Window Ethics:Remembering a Hitchock Classic which is quite enjoyable.

There is a still frame gallery, a shorter documentary with the screenwriter John Michael Hayes, as well as the standard fare of biographies, filomgraphies etc.

All in all a quite impressive package and should be of interest to any Hitchcock fan as well as Cinema fans in general.

45 of 49 found the following review helpful:

the ultimate Hitchcock classicOct 20, 2001
By Byron Kolln
The ultimate Hitchcock classic, REAR WINDOW gives us a glimpse into the mind of Alfred Hitchcock, and in turn Hitchcock turns the mirror on us and forces us to admit our darkest desire...to be voyeurs.

That is exactly what Jeffries is. Jeffries (James Stewart) is a wheelchair-bound photographer who spends his time cooped up in his apartment, peeping in on the neighbours across the courtyard. He comes up with "names" for them; Miss Torso the ballerina; Miss Lonely-Hearts; The Newly-Weds and so on. His only contact with the outside world is his girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) and his wisecracking nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter).

Unknowlingly witnessing the murder of Mrs Thorwald, he, along with Lisa and Stella, set out to expose the truth about Mr Thorwald (Raymond Burr) and uncover the mystery of her quick disapperance.

A beautifully-restored print by James Katz and Robert Harris (also responsible for the beautiful new renderings of MY FAIR LADY and VERTIGO), is the highlight of this DVD. The original negative was severely faded and turning green when Universal aqquired the entire Paramount film library. Color-correction and shadow detail are now back to their original state, as is the soundtrack featuring Franz Waxman's sparkling score.

The ULTIMATE Hitchcock thriller, with more than a touch of romance and comedy.

47 of 54 found the following review helpful:

Hitchcock's Classy Voyeurism Thriller...Mar 17, 2000
By Benjamin J Burgraff
One of the joys of Alfred Hitchcock films is his ability to take social taboos, present them in an enticing context, throw in major stars we know and love to perform them, and thus make abhorrent behavior seem attractive! 'Vertigo' is the best-known example of this Hitchcock trait ('Psycho' also comes to mind), but 'Rear Window' is the most fun to watch, because of the appealing combination of James Stewart and Grace Kelly!

Stewart is a photographer, laid-up while recuperating from an accident (cleverly shown through photographs in his studio), who, out of boredom, begins spying on his neighbors. Jimmy Stewart a 'Peeping Tom'? Only Hitchcock could get away with this!

Of course, Kelly, as his high fashion model girlfriend, and Thelma Ritter (who is fabulous as his nurse), are appalled by Stewart's behavior, but are drawn into voyeurism by Stewart's devotion to it, particularly after he witnesses an apparent murder (committed by Raymond Burr, in one of the most wonderfully EVIL roles of his career!)

The film takes on a cat-and-mouse intensity, as Stewart attempts to prove Burr's guilt to his skeptical policeman buddy (nicely played by Wendell Corey). To add a touch of sexual foreplay to the proceedings, Kelly models a variety of '50s evening and nightwear, while teasing the injury-constrained Stewart ("Previews of Coming Attractions", she purrs). All this leads up to a fabulous, claustrophobic finale, with camera flashes, and a twist ending that is pure Hitchcock magic!

The restoration of the film gives the movie a clarity and modern 'feel' that viewers will love!

Watch this 'new and improved' edition, and see why 'Rear Window' is one of the most popular Hitchcock films!

19 of 20 found the following review helpful:

Hitchcock classic in new 2-disc Special Edition due out October 7th, 2008!Jul 10, 2008
By Sanpete
Rear Window is considered by many Alfred Hitchcock's best movie. The story suited him well. A man confined to a wheelchair, watching things that may be innocent or murderous, a beautiful woman out of her element, in danger, with gradually building suspense that takes a potentially fatal turn as we watch helplessly with our immobilized protagonist, and a cliffhanger climax. The movie has been analyzed by very smart people looking for much more than that, deeper meanings and allusions, and some of their ideas are true, and some are fun. But it's the basic story elements, sharp dialogue, fine acting and the direction of a master that make it a great movie.

The immobilized man is "Jeff" Jeffries (James Stewart), a Life Magazine photographer who's laid up in his New York City apartment with a broken leg. Accustomed to an active life of adventure and world traveling, he's reduced to passing his time using binoculars and a telephoto lens to spy on the small world of neighbors across a small courtyard from his rear window. The beautiful woman is his girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly), a high society woman whom he is avoiding marrying on the excuse that she isn't cut out for his rambling life of action and danger, and he doesn't want to settle down. As events across the way take a potentially sinister turn, the tables are turned as Lisa shows her grit in risky investigations while Jeff must remain passive. Raymond Burr (of Perry Mason fame) plays the suspect neighbor who may or may not have killed someone. Thelma Ritter is Jeff's house-call nurse who also gets involved.

Most of the film is presented from Jeff's powerless perspective, giving the suspense an extra edge. There are allusions to impotence and, through the lives of the neighbors, a range of romantic and marriage relationships mirroring the fears of many men and women, including our protagonists. Much has been made of the theme of voyeurism, the window as a representation of the movie screen and so on, though I think it's easy to make too much of that. Screenwriter John Michael Hayes and Hitchcock work in the usual Hitchcock cameo and humor, including a dog who "knew too much" (a reference to another Hitchcock film).

The new 2-disc Special Edition DVD looks to be an excellent set. It will include new special features:

-- audio commentary by John Fawell, author of Hitchcock's Rear Window: The Well-Made Film
-- Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of the Master
-- Hitchcock/Truffaut interview excerpts
-- Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock
-- Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mr. Blanchard's Secret
-- original theatrical trailer

There will also be features carried over from the 2001 Collector's Edition:

-- Rear Window Ethics: An Original Documentary (55 minutes)
-- A Conversation with Screenwriter John Michael Hayes (13 minutes on the Collector's Edition)
-- 1983 re-release trailer for Vertigo, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Trouble With Harry, Rope, and Rear Window, narrated by James Stewart (6 minutes)
-- production photographs
-- production notes

There's no mention in the press release of the screenplay feature that was on the older DVD. It allowed you, using a DVD-ROM drive, to read the script while watching the movie, or to print out the script. (The script is available online now.)

The picture will be in the original 1.66:1 widescreen format, anamorphic, with the original mono sound.

No announcement for a Blu-ray edition yet.

63 of 75 found the following review helpful:

What a Wonderful Window!/ Where's the DVD?May 14, 2000

Rear Window is almost too good to be true. It is definitely one of the most perfect movies ever made. To me Rear Window is a perfect movie. Everything in it is extraordinary, from the actors James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter, and a menacing Raymond Burr, to the writing, editing, and directing by "Hitch", to the beautiful color cinematography by Robert Burks, and even the musical score. Further proof that Rear Window is so incredibly great, is that it is able to completely enthrall both passionate cinema viewers, as well as casual movie viewers. Also, what is amazing is that the entire movie takes place in the apartment of James Stewart's character. I Drove 600 miles about a couple of months to have the opportunity and privelege to be in the presence and view Rear Window at the Stanford Theater, because it is the nearest theater to me that would play this miraculous film on the big screen, and it was worth every mile! Rear Window is a perfect example of what Hitchcock called "pure cinema", and there have been very very few films that are in the same league as Rear Window, and two others are "Psycho" and "Vertigo." All that set aside, when for heaven's sake is the "DVD"! going to be released? It is frustrating as hell to look at all of the garbage that is released on DVD and some even with a load of Bonus feautures, while Rear Window being held back for some reason or another.

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