Symbolism in Hitchcock's Rear Window - Jeff's Broken Leg

[@ogdenj]

Brilliant examination of a great film! I and countless others have always loved this movie, and your insights reveal the reasons why it all works so well.

[@liquidbraino]

Another thing I love about this film is the symbolism of the window itself. He's used to being out in the elements, living life dangerously and suddenly all he has is a window into the lives of other people. The camera never leaves his point of view from that window until the end but it's still his POV. And I love that the entire story is told from this one single location/perspective. It's something Stephen King does a lot with his stories, where the entire story is told from a limited perspective and/or location. We don't get to see ALL of the details, only enough detail to cast doubt on the protagonists perspective and assumptions.

[@joeanimalskull4243]

If I would see my girlfriend in a very dangerous situation, I never would be aware of my genitals. I often broke my bones, but never felt impotent. But I love this movie. The dialogs are well written, Grace Kelly is very heroic and James Stewart is wonderful - especially when he realizes, what a brave girlfriend he actually has (for a second he looks at her like a child onto a christmas tree).

[@Georgie2500]

his cast is in a phallic shape??? wtf is a cast suppose to look like

[@Georgie2500]

@Yousef Maverick k yousef

[@pilroberts6185]

She’s a Leftwing nut, what else can you say? This is typical arrogantly ignorant vapid vainglorious narcissist drivel bullshine we get them. They tear everything good down and replace with their all about me stupidity.

[@meanhe8702]

If a phallus is shaped like a leg in a cast, then whom ever shaped it has never actually seen one. 🍆

[@JT-rx1eo]

😂😂😂I know. Lefties are so funny.

[@kathleengenieve3804]

In essence the Misogynistic Adventurer has been Domesticated. The very thing he wanted to avoid.

[@StuMas]

This is more about you and your politics than it is about the film.

[@reigels]

You're missing a lot by watching this through your 21st Century eyes.

[@JT-rx1eo]

And the overanalysis among liberal film school teachers and students is hilarious. Misanalysis really.

[@David-dd8og]

Great analysis. Thank you for your insights Josephine.

[@abhishekdev258]

What is this? *"Symbolism of Rear Window - Feminist Edition"* Here is my take- 1.) On the role of main actor and actress. Lisa realizes that she will never get his attention by being the sophisticated model we know this because he keeps rejecting her advances. So when she gets a chance to prove that she becomes careless and eager that is why she went into the criminal's house. There we see that when the Police is questioning her she sneakingly (but is caught) points at the ring to her lover which is in a way of proposing because she thinks she has proved that she too can play with danger hence she thinks she can now change his mind. 2.) The 2 Broken legs. He breaks his another leg towards the end of the story it shows the price one has to pay for voyeurism. 3.) Lisa at the end. She is reading a book and she is dressed in a way which is not expected from a famous modelling girl. It shows that she indeed has changed herself for him but soon she picks up a magazine which shows she will not let go what she truly enjoys. 4.) Notice he is positioned in a way in which he is facing away from the window.Which shows ow he has other interesting thing in her life rather than being peeping tom. What? Lisa ofcourse. 5.) Miss torso is there to show that what matters in a relationship is loyalty and being able to keep each other happy. Which her not so good looking husband does. And Miss lonelyheart is there to show what happens if you do not enter into one. 6.) Piano player is there to show no matter how much you keep practicing life will not go smoothly but it is important to carry on as he keeps practicing the same thing on and on. 7.) The couple was just a red-herring. P.S. - I can't believe that I just typed such a long comment but this was such a foolish review that I thought it was important for other people to understand.

[@fergalhughes165]

Not at all foolish.

[@abhishekdev258]

@@fergalhughes165 what the hell you are talking about...... oppression and suppression of anyone is not even in the theme. What is next? Hitchcock was a biased person because he preferred blondes?? Maybe he was so??

[@estelamartinez9185]

The couple was not a red-herring...they were symbolic of what Jeff didn't want, yet it's what will be of him too....

[@fergalhughes165]

@@abhishekdev258 Hitchcock didn't prefer blondes. He said himself in an interview that he didn't know where that popular idea came from .. that the reason he mostly chose blondes was for identification (the dark-haired man and the fair-haired woman).

[@abhishekdev258]

@@fergalhughes165 He did choose them.

[@CaptChrispy]

A couple of points I've been realizing: in the photo, you can see to guys falling out of their cars; it's possible that Jeff rushed out to get a dramatic photo and caused a crash which got two guys killed. it was possible that Jeff would have trouble with his leg after and have to stop taking as many trekking assignments but now, his travelling around will get cut down much sooner; with Lisa's movement toward being down and dirty, they will probably be able to meet somewhere in the middle.

[@liquidbraino]

07:04 Also, he has an "itch he can't scratch". And it's interesting how helpless he is without the women in his life.

[@ipsurvivor]

Great analysis. Appreciate learning more about this movie. His broken leg and cast and wheelchair represent castration and impotence. This is drawn out as we see his cowardice when he doesn’t scream out when Lisa is being man handled by Lars Thorwald and when he even hides from being seen by Thorwald whereas Jeff’s mere manly presence might have limited or stopped Thorwald’s pummeling Of Lisa.

[@mtravis5215]

Idk about that one chief

[@CaptChrispy]

I agree. He thinks he's powerless against Thorwald but if he got up to the window and screamed to leave her alone the police were on their way, he could have ensured her safety.

[@ipsurvivor]

Name of the Rose 👍

[@lathanandrews417]

So screaming would have saved her?? Umm ok lol

[@ipsurvivor]

@Nicolette Bardot 👍

[@NiteOwl2013]

Calling a man a "perv" because he finds women attractive shows that the author of this video does not understand men.

[@abhishekdev258]

I agree. Check my comment.

[@garyhighley9022]

amen

[@oneeyedpoe1624]

DUDE! He’s watching peoples private moments THROUGH BINOCULARS AND A CAMERA without permission!!! That’s the very definition of a perv….

[@elizabethbrauer1118]

5 years later ... The perv comment applied to his peeping tom-like behavior. He is not _working_ with his camera, he is peeping. Remember this is set in the mid-20th century, when doing such a thing would have been frowned upon.

[@mutinyonthekitkat]

I can't see how the broken leg is meant to be 'phallic' personally. I suppose a broken just leg ticks most boxes for the purposes of the film. He had to be physically incapacitated with something obvious that would keep him confined in the room at the window but not affect him mentally or in terms of his face and upper body that appear in most scenes. A broken arm or neck would mean he wasn't confined to the window. If he was completely wrapped in bandages except for his eyes and mouth for some reason it would just seem strange. It's interesting to think how different the film would be varying the ailment Jeff had, or his mental state.

[@frankfeldman6657]

You're reading way too much into the ending, IMO.

[@MrMucciacito]

Spero che tu Davide D'Aviera stia bene

[@cjpreach]

Jeff needs to wake up. The greatest adventure in this movie is Lisa Carol Fremont. Just saying.

[@okay5045]

When it comes to Jeff and Lisa I believe it is more of a class issue than a gender.

[@liquidbraino]

Love your accent!

[@michealradd264]

Josephine u need more exposure, great movie to tackle but if u want more exposure for urself try tackling a Martin Scorsese, u will then get the traffic u deserve just work a little more on ur linguistic skill, no umms. U r better than that.

[@lathanandrews417]

“She’s able to take risks without Jeff’s instruction and protection”?! 🤣 She wouldn’t have even taken the risk if she wasn’t trying to impress Jeff!! Ok, there definitely IS a romantic story hidden in this suspenseful thriller! But we don’t need to throw in this gender-dynamics lens in which to view it. Respectfully, Random Commenter

[@parsa8624]

That was awesome.

[@rhyssiebert9884]

Well, my friends it’s today. The last ever time you will study English. And I’m sooooooooooo fucked for the exam

[@GialloEurocrimeWorldChannel]

I see a lot of myself in Jeff.

[@anthonymurphy6312]

Thank You Josephine.

[@i.p.knightley6970]

Oh dear

[@keyboardkung-fuwarrior8932]

This "reviewer" does realize that this movie was made in 1954 right? And if she knew Alfred Hitchcock, she'd know the man didn't subscribe to feminist agenda. She just basically applied 2019 politics to a 1954 film. Applying her world views to those of man born in a time where her takes on life didn't exist. If this movie was made in the past 10 years "Sure i'd be inclined to believe she was right" but this movie was made in a time where, what she calls "stereotypical" was considered normal and her politics didn't really exist... No offense but, if you really want people to subscribe to your channel, you should do better research, know what you're talking about and create better quality work which isn't based solely on Gender-Politics. Not everything in life has to do with Gender-Politics... Classic Cinema is proof of that.

[@mmastoryline623]

Hitchcock was self aware of his misogyny

[@CaptChrispy]

The reviewer mentions that this is 1954 and so doesn't apply anymore. Did you miss that?

[@JT-rx1eo]

​@@CaptChrispyBut still this "analysis" was from a ridiculous modern liberal perspective, making things up and constructing an alternative but false reality. We didn't miss that 😂.

[@MrSmackdab]

somehow I dont think hitchcock would have went for a woke rear window

[@citadelofwinds1564]

A great summary of a great film.

[@GialloEurocrimeWorldChannel]

Great video by the way.

[@fergalhughes165]

Nice review

[@margauxb1981]

Your kind of feminist view on it is not very relevant. And the overall analysis is quite shallow. Don't need to watch this video to understand all that. This is so obvious.

[@garyhighley9022]

who cares

[@freebeerishere]

this film is studied in victorian schools, this is a school resource

[@JT-rx1eo]

"Which we know by the end of the film really isn't the case (Jeff is more capable and powerful)" 😂 What a misinterpretation. "Stereotypical" gender roles? You mean NATURAL ones? Comforting to know film students are still so liberal. Lots of diversity of thought there.