With the exception of a single shot, the entirety of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954) is filmed from the apartment window of L.B. Jeffries (Jimmy Stewart). By this point in the film, Jeffries is convinced that he has witnessed a murder across the courtyard and is looking for clues within the hubbub of everyday life.
Discussion Questions
After watching this clip from Rear Window, consider the questions below. Then submit your response.
1. Describe the moving camera in this shot. Is camera movement motivated? (That is, does it move for a storytelling reason and/or to produce a particular emotional effect?) Is it “invisible”? (That is, is the audience aware that the camera is moving?)
2. Describe how the view could be shown with several different shots. Would the effect of cutting change the way we experience the film’s primary theme of looking?