Why Rear Window Was Shot from Exactly One Position

[@leokimvideo]

I have watched this film so many times, every time I notice something different. But the eternal beauty of this film is Grace Kelly.

[@sheranlanger247]

Her wardrobe and figure are incredible 😍

[@mistag3860]

Perfection, only a prince and the promise of a kingdom was good enough for such beauty, what a story, what a gal!

[@FunkySpunkyJunky]

and she was just 25 years old when this was filmed.

[@leokimvideo]

@@FunkySpunkyJunky I'm not surprised, in the Hollywood system once you hit 30 your done.

[@jon9103]

​@@leokimvideonot anymore, lots of older actresses now but still very insular.

[@BlaBla-jj6sh]

I think Rear Window is Hitchcock's finest film, the work of a true master. Even better than Vertigo, Psycho or North By Northwest and that's saying something. There is also the wonderful subplot with miss Lonelyhearts, especially the perfectly staged, blocked and timed scene where she has to fend off an intrusive lover only to then burst out in tears. That scene alone is a pure masterclass in directing. It says everything that needs to be said without a single word of actual dialogue. Hitchcock should have won the Best Director Academy Award for this film. And Grace Kelly never looked more elegant and beautiful than she did here, it's almost surreal. It speaks to the genius of Hitchcock that he then contrasted Kelly to the down-to-earth no-nonsense of Thelma Ritter, also perfectly cast. And it's dark humor by having the villain look like Hitchcock's own nemesis, David O'Selznick. Seventy years on and this is still a masterpiece that should inspire new filmmakers for generations to come.

[@jml-rj5re]

Well said. This film is a masterclass and masterpiece of purity in storytelling.

[@NIGHTGUYRYAN]

and as the movie progresses, you see grace kelly slowly become more casual in dress (despite still rocking some monster couture looks). he's showing us a character arc with fashion. its wild and omg what a perfect movie

[@lefantomer]

@@NIGHTGUYRYAN One of my favorite moments is her climbing the fire escape in the dress with all those petticoats.

[@Art-is-craft]

It is more iconic than Vertigo but not a better movie.

[@jeff__w]

I think _Rear Window_ is Alfred Hitchcock’s best film in color. It is, as you say, a masterclass in directing, and, as is typical with Hitchcock, perfect in technical execution-the set, the camera shots, everything achieves (or seems to achieve) what Hitchcock set out to do. Not to quibble but I think _Notorious_ is Hitchcock’s best film overall. There is a minimalism to it for me-not a line or a scene is extraneous or out of place-and also a subversiveness (Ingrid Bergman is _supposed_ to engage Claude Rains sexually on the part of the “good guys” and Rains is the rather courtly villain of the piece, who genuinely loves Bergman, whereas the US agent, played by Cary Grant, who is Bergman’s love interest, acts like a cad throughout most of the film) that makes it very enjoyable.

[@uziforyoutosay1749]

Kelly was absolutely striking in this movie.

[@timdanyo898]

Like no other.

[@jml-rj5re]

Grace Kelly is a goddess in Rear Window. Her acting when playing off Jimmy Stewart is epic.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Lisa trying to get Jeff to stay with her makes my heart melt. She's one in ten thousand.

[@SgtMjr]

The most beautiful woman ever. That entrance shot is one for the ages, breathtaking.

[@ebayerr]

46-year-old Jimmy Stewart and 25-year-old Grace Kelly in an unlikely relationship.

[@bastiangugu4083]

What a masterpiece. I simply love Hitchcock's work, especially Rear Windows, Vertigo and North by Northwest. The cinematography is breathtaking.

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

@@bastiangugu4083 Those are my top 3 Hitch as well.

[@sharpbends]

A masterpiece, exquisite use of film.

[@ericarobbin]

I watched fashion runway shows this weekend, loving the ode to several vintage styled dresses I saw, then today a top 10 fashion icons commentary featuring Grace Kelly in Rear Window, and then you've just now posted this. I feel so satisfied and well-rounded. Great analysis, I'll enjoy rewatching the film and giving attention to this, her clothing, and the color story that I love in this particular era. Alfred Hitchcock was genius.

[@lefantomer]

The only criticism I've ever had about RW's set is that short flight of stairs from the apartment door. You'd break your neck some day! But they are necessary for the proper perspective and to show off those wonderful dresses.

[@RogerWilmut]

I'm glad you mentioned the sound: the sound design is in my opinion the finest in the history of cinema - the sounds from the other flats are suitably distant but when necessary you can hear every word. It should have got an Academy Award but lost out - incredibly - to 'The Glenn Miller Story.' Incidentally there are two shots from outside the flat: at the end, when Steward falls out of the window; and earlier on there is, mysteriously, one shot from ground level. Why did Hitchcock break the single position rule just this once?

[@timdanyo898]

This film.. oh my. In the top 10 of ALL time.

[@christophergallagher6736]

I just watched a 70th anniversary viewing at the cinema last weekend. Great timing for this video!

[@olliehopnoodle4628]

I did too! A very nice experience. And it had been long enough that I forgot exactly how it ended.

[@mdturnerinoz]

Thanks for this! We watch this movie once a year or more often. We have most of Hitch's movies on DVD or streaming. Your exposition will cause me to view it more crucially when I watch it again, maybe this weekend!

[@pedroblancou]

For me, it is Hitchcock's best film. I have studied it a lot and it always surprises me. A masterpiece.

[@JackAcid]

There has never been a screen goddess like Grace Kelly. What an era of cinema ❤

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

And no onscreen character like Lisa.

[@dedskin1]

i dont get that , there are 1000s of girls like her if not more .Nothing special about characters at all , one can make 10 teams do the same thing and you would not notice the difference .

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@dedskin1 I've met a thousand girls and I never saw one as pretty, as sexy, and as together as her.

[@wifegrant]

I loved Rear Window as a kid. Wasn't a huge fan of all my grandparent's movies. But this one stood out.

[@Art-is-craft]

Your grand parent’s movies were more real than what exists today. They tended to have amazing dense scripts, character acting and none of the method acting nonsense today.

[@Coachjstein9]

Awesome job on this! Thank you! Great timing too; I am starting RW with my Film 3 high school class tomorrow.

[@tinderbox218]

Hitch’s greatest film. One of my personal top five of any film. Who am I? Nobody special, just a GenXer lifelong classic movie buff and have seen all of his films many times. This film has fantastic sound design that is very important to the story. It rewards seeing it at an actual movie theater or at least with headphones.

[@Blankford777]

"Rear Window is a standout example of how technical precision can enhance narrative tension" Well said, great video.

[@UXXV]

Its 70 years old now, I saw it first 30 years ago in the mid 90s. And it still looks amazing!

[@NIGHTGUYRYAN]

i saw it for the first time last year and it blew my mind! easily one of my favorites

[@starlifter303]

I saw it first 30 years ago too. time flies so fast.

[@EugenethePhilostopher]

- How do you like your window? - Rear please. *it's a joke about your pronunciation, yes*

[@verslalchimie5824]

In the first minute of this video, I saw at least a dozen camera positions

[@generessler6282]

My favorite of all time. Watched many times. You did a great job of explaining the way it reaches out and pulls you into the plot. Brilliant on so many dimensions.

[@markuswx1322]

Thanks for the technical details behind the visual fascination of RW. I long ago became bored of the plot and the very contrived relationship between the two Hollywood icons, but I return to key moments in the filming and lighting. Your insights will aid my future viewing. (Am I the only one who actually fantasizes about living in that apartment?!)

[@josesandoval6512]

RARE window?

[@wilwad]

Hoping to watch that one too

[@SuburbanDon]

Back door.

[@mylifefornick]

Medium rear

[@illuminahde]

Where indeed

[@DDDDD760]

It’s odd because the narrator doesn’t seem to have an accent.

[@CIS101]

Great video. I don't know much about photography, but I love movies. Hitchcock was a genius. Either Netflix or KZbin has/had the movie about him staring Anthony Hopkins as Hitchcock. Very good movie.

[@svencarlsson343]

Total masterpiece...

[@Nicksonian]

Nicely done! One of my favorite films. Of course, I’m a photojournalist so that might figure. Thanks for expanding my knowledge about this film and how it was shot. And Grace Kelly may look as amazing in this film as any woman ever has on film.

[@raccoon5824]

Great analysis! Never heard of this film but studying to be a film major, I’ll be sure to give this a watch if I can find it!

[@moagnor]

Rear Window is on my top 10 films of all time.

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

Without a doubt, one of the great films in cinema history! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 Have watched this movie dozens and dozens of times.

[@marianneegland5576]

Me too!!!!!❤

[@quazar912]

wow dudes....

[@dale4853]

You need to get a life.

[@ebayerr]

I've not seen it once. But after watching this video, I'm now intrigued.

[@BabarKhan-oh6zq]

Fantastic analysis!

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you!

[@fancypants2007]

The most beautiful appearance by any actress in any movie -- especially her introductory shot.

[@BurritoSupreme42]

this showed up in my feed and i'm glad it did. subscribed :)

[@numbersix8919]

To me this film is the ultimate 1950s cool. A lot went into it, of course. Thanks showing us some of that in another neat conspectus!!!

[@davidllewis4075]

1955, 12 years old, 50' high screen at North Drive-in, Grace Kelly fills the screen, still most beautiful woman ever seen any movie..

[@David0Perez0]

I have been a total fan of this movie since my father introduced me to Hitchcock when i was a kid and i have learnt more with this video about the movie that ever before. I would add that another fan of his work and clearly relatable is Steven Spielberg.

[@MoxieMcMurder]

Excellent video! I love this film and could listen to people talk about it all day long.

[@hknapp-hj2sn]

This is one of my favorite Hitchcock films; I've seen it many times, but never realized the POV. It'll be interesting to see it again with this perspective.

[@NoosaHeads]

Excellent presentation. Thanks for the technical data on the film stock and lenses. I couldn't work out how it was done. That extreme illumination explains it. Kudos to the actors who kept a lookung natural, with such extreme brightness in their faces.

[@DieselDahl]

One of the best movies of all times. Thanks for covering it from this angle in such detail. One minor thing, the murderer and the victim were named Lars and Emma Thorwald, not Thornwald.

[@johndonaldson3619]

What an intelligent, well researched and narrated essay, thank you.

[@paillette2010]

Adore this one. It’s important to note that the camera pulls back and shows the window when people are questioning what on earth he is really doing. I think I’ve seen it at least 10 times.

[@GeoffPlitt]

Incredible analysis. I really enjoy your videos, a gift to cinematography.

[@besidethewoods]

Really enjoyed the analysis. I wish I could come to half of your thoughts and insites when watching a great classic like Rear Window. Also loved "if I were to list all directors who borrowed techniques from Hitchcock it would take up most of IMDb." :)

[@kendn01]

The best way to see this movie, if you ever get the chance, is in a theater that has a balcony. I saw it years ago in the balcony of a grand old theater in our town and felt like I was sitting in Jeff's apartment with Grace Kelly!

[@pck1166]

"Dial M for Murder" was filmed in 3D. That must be impressive.

[@TheNathanMChannel]

I watched this as a kid with my mom and we always loved the movie but watching it decades later I appreciate the stunning look of it. The lighting, the punchy color…it’s beautiful. But oh my god Grace Kelly on film is an 11. She’s got to be an elf, regular humans can’t possibly be that glamouous.

[@pafilmfestival]

Great video and masterful film! Thank you.

[@btreese7]

Grace Kelly is so amazing in this movie!

[@drmatthewhorkey]

Great breakdown

[@jml-rj5re]

It's funny - IMO well done on the examinations of Lawrence of Arabia and Rear Window. I think they are the 2 greatest films of all time,.

[@jml-rj5re]

Lawrence of Arabia's greatness comes from the masterful use of Expanse. Rear Window's greatness is the brilliant use of Economy.

[@doug6259]

Didn't anyone believe in using curtains back then?

[@SharmClucas]

That's why the heat is pointed out, to explain why no one is closing their windows. AC wasn't as common back then. It was mostly found in commercial buildings, and so people would do things like go see a movie just to cool off.

[@mikesmithgall5195]

I don’t think I saw this until the 90’s when I was in my twenties. I’ve loved it ever since. And grace kelly was absolutely stunning. In that aims to catch a thief she is beyond beautiful.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

More proof of why Quentin Tarantino's opinion of Hitchcock is idiotic. I was lucky to have seen this film properly in 35mm screened in a theater at a Hitchcock retrospective 40 years ago. Thank you for this excellent analysis.

[@wolfcrow]

You’re welcome!

[@chrisk19791]

QT is a scumbag

[@WayTooClose]

What did Tarantino say?

[@Art-is-craft]

@@WayTooClose Tarantino beloved that Hitchcock movies were held back due to the Hays Code and he fells that Hitchcock started to make the types of movies he wanted with Psycho onwards.

[@erichstocker8358]

Nice video analysis. I love this film!!

[@brucedrummond370]

Excellent technical analysis of a great film. Thought your point about Hitchcock's restraint was important and on the money. That the audience's view of the area outside the apartment is confined to what we can see is big part of what makes this film so effective. First saw it at university 30+ years ago for a media studies subject. Seen many times since.

[@SalveRegina8]

Wonderful analysis. ❤

[@DouglasKnisely]

It was so thrilling to see Rear Window and Vertigo in a theatrical release in the 80s. I never had any particularly affinity for Hitchcock before that, but the experience of real cinematography was a revelation

[@SO_DIGITAL]

This is excellent!

[@chrisk19791]

Just saw this in the theater for a special 70th anniversary screening. I brought my daughter and her boyfriend (teenagers) - they loved it.

[@lordtherapeutics]

The main characters all have blowtorch-blue eyes. I love your expositions of the directors' works.

[@Video81501]

Great analysis!

[@IrnBruEnthusiast]

Love this movie so much

[@NIGHTGUYRYAN]

this is a perfect movie. I've never wanted to live in a movie so bad. yeah, there is some murder, but omg was it fun. A customer recommended it and it blew me away. I was truly expecting a pleasant but boring old movie, and i fell in love with all of the characters and this close knit corner of the city.

[@thechri5357]

great work!

[@theonlymegumegu]

2:36 "...connected at the hip to the window." nice XD

[@phpn99]

A simple look at Rear Window will show that it WASN'T shot from one position. If by "position" you mean "vantage point" as opposed to setup, say so. This is not a new concept : All of theatre is done from a single vantage point and Hitchcock's early movies had a stage-play setting as well.

[@tory5534]

Yes, he defines position as vantage point. 🤷‍♀️

[@nicksgarage2]

@@tory5534 But there are also shots from the garden up. So two vantage points. Still one of my favorite movies. I've probably watched it 100 times.

[@tory5534]

@@nicksgarage2 I was just commenting on the author’s definition of position being vantage point, not that I agreed or disagreed that there is or isn’t more than one! In any case, one of my favorite movies, as well!

[@ukaszgroblewski7713]

Thanks, finally someone did an analysis that convinces me :)

[@KingfisherSeven]

Brilliant - thank you.

[@wolfcrow]

You’re welcome!

[@ardiffley-zipkin9539]

Still a favorite after many viewings❤

[@akashmihir84]

This was Hitchcock's masterpiece in Camera department. Camera is character in this story.

[@baronvaldez8127]

An Exakta camera !

[@mrwoodandmrtin]

Grace Kelly is so pretty. The single POV is a neat constraint that yields interesting results. Sure. break that rule on occasion if it's needed. I feel sorry for them having to work with such low sensitivity film/sensors. Of course, you can't use one lens to get all three levels of magnification... and clarity. Camera man needed danger pay on the boom shot. Did the friends tv show move into one of the apartments on that set?. If so, where's naked guy.

[@MrinmayChakravarty-jf4nr]

You are doing great job bro sharing knowledge God bless u❤

[@jeffanderson3584]

The masterpiece of Hitchcock.

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

Don't know how many times I watched this film. And Rope is another one similar to this. I like both of them.

[@dalangilbert]

False. Your map is inaccurate. Ackchyually, Miss Lonelyhearts is all the way down and to the left, farther left than even the married couple. You also omitted the Sleeping Couple - who sleep on the fire escape above the Thornwalds - and whose dog serves a major plot point. I still love you with every fiber of my being.

[@johnfontaine2760]

This film is amazing on a big screen in a theater. You feel like you are staring into the courtyard.

[@jatigre1]

Raymond Burr. I need to watch it again.

[@Je-Vette]

It’s still riveting to watch Jeff watch Lisa go across the courtyard into the apartment. This and Rope are both brilliant and I prefer them to most other films by hitch

[@wodan74]

I saw that movie for the first time when I was still a young kid, like 9 or 10 years old at my grandparents, 40 years ago, but I remember that the sound broke the realism a bit. I didn't realize this was a complete indoors stage, but the reverb felt a bit off. But I thought this was normal for old movies. Like records crackled and cassette tape hissed. And now I hear it got nominated for Best Sound... wow, we've come a long way. I'm gonna watch it again very soon though. Being a professional (3d)animator, I'm curious to analyse it again.

[@stoatystoat174]

I also enjoyed the 'one continuous shot' of Hitchcocks film Rope

[@mslaerik66]

I recently saw it on the big screen was amazing

[@Mac-USA]

Cinematic genius.

[@WMCheerman]

Great video

[@lefantomer]

I used to live in Greenwich Village, and this movie did such an amazing job of reproducing that New York neighborhood as a set that I was able to identify its probable location within a block. (My best guess is 11th - 12th St. West.) But then everything about RW is pretty much perfect.

[@lefantomer]

The oddball variety of building types and ages is actually accurate for that neighborhood; the only anomaly is the layout of the apartment building where the Thornwalds live -- a "shotgun" lineup of kitchen, living room and bedroom would be very unusual in that type of building, but it's necessary here for the story continuity.

[@jeff__w]

The set was actually based on the back of 125 Christopher St (renamed 125 W. Ninth St, which doesn’t exist. in the film), that is where Miss Torso and Miss Lonelyhearts, et al. live. So your guess is very nearly spot on.

[@binaryguru]

Hitchcock was a master of his craft.

[@mistershopper7752]

restraint is what's so woefully missing in many modern American films

[@stevegordon695]

I have a theory. The songwriter’s apartment is Monica’s apartment in Friends. Both Rear Window and Friends take place in Greenwich Village both apartments have the slanted window overlooking the courtyard. Am I wrong?

[@johnshields3658]

Such a good film

[@RobKristjansson]

I think of Hitchcock as the paragon of filmmakers who thinks to themselves, "If I could only [insert production limitation here], what story could I tell? Scratch that, what story could only told this way?" I can't imagine Rear Window not being shot this way. Of course, not every attempt was a rousing success. Rope (making it look like one long take) was cool, but you could imagine it shot in any number of ways and build the tension as it did, or even better ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@johneyon5257]

there is at least one exception to the rear window POV - when the dog was found dead and lifted via the basket - Miss Lonelyhearts' face is shown in medium closeup - the camera was facing towards Jeff's apt - - there may be another - but i can't remember "Rope" (1948) and "Rear Window" (1954) were Hitch's films that were large experiments with camerawork - one seeming to be one long take - and "Rear Window" - seeming to be a fixed perspective - Hitch regretted "Rope" - he musta been proud of "Rear Window"

[@jeffandersen7397]

Thelma Ritter is the true Star of the film. Might have to watch it again tonight.

[@mplsmark222]

I’ve never been in love with a female character in a film the way I fell for Grace Kelly. Great film, timeless.

[@rebaz7256]

I love this film 🎥

[@imaginationworkshopstudio]

Hitch is still a #MasterofCinema especially compared to filmmakers out there these days.

[@WrathOfWood]

its about a guy who is stuck looking out his window, turns out there were a lot of window shots from the same place. not exactly a big mystery but a nice break down of the movie.

[@olegariocamara9308]

Gracie Kelly is so royalty !

[@dedskin1]

You should do the booth , its the same concept , i know another movie like it but cant remember the name

[@area51pictures]

God, can we please get low speed Tungsten stocks back? 25T, 50T, 100T. (Salivates)

[@markstevens1729]

True. The film looks delicious.

[@kwikbit]

I think the fact that this film is still being watched/talked about (and 150K+ views of just this review) says it all....🤓

[@GeorgeCrosley]

5:34 Bausch and Lomb misspelled.

[@sbfarmer8]

just saw it at look theatre, redlands, ca.