I totally disagree with you! I thought there was so much happen ing in this film: each window in the courtyard has separate action, a full cast and story...the dancer and her menfriends, the musicians, the couple who sleep on the fire escape and their busy little dog, the depressed woman who drinks too much, and the bad guy... Then, Jeff is always busy, watching the action with binoculars and zoom lens, calling his detective friend or the murderer...witty intelligent dialogue, arguing about the significance of each thing he's seen, the women participating in his suspicions, the detective denying their accuracy. Stewart's acting here is fantastic--I forget he never left that wheelchair for (almost) the entire movie. There is the nurse played by one of my all-time favorite actresses, Thelma Ritter--in a role she'd repeat with Doris Day an d Rock Hudson. And, finally, the stunning Grace Kelly, in her best role, imo, because she's relaxed, excited, and so much fun. They even poke fun at her perfect, designer-clothed, flawless looks, super-beautiful ice queen persona! You can tell she was having fun.
I much preferred this movie to Vertigo. Vertigo left too many questions that were pointless along the way, such as Madelaine's entry into the hotel without the desk clerk seeing her, just 3 feet away, then disappearing without either of them seeing her....that was just dumb, frankly--in mysteries such as this, such things are supposed to have a meaning, illustrate a fact, tell us something. But this is just a scene they needed to explain his activity, but we learned nothing. Mysteries that relate to the plot are cool, but ones that are never understandable are just sloppy. Rear Window is tight. Nothing that goes nowhere or means nothing to the plot. And it shows Hitchcock's delicious sense of humor. Which is why we children of the 50s and 60s grew up loving him when he actually was responsible for frightening adult stories, not children's fare. His TV show and the snippets of his profile and droll voice made us adore him, and seeing this movie never disappoints!
As for excitement, I was never on the edge of my seat during Vertigo. It was interesting, but I'd guessed what was the likely plot. Kim Novak's acting was awful sorry to say, and Jimmy Stewart was just too old to supposedly have all this ambition ahead of him. He had not yet had a relationship, was still working as a cop until his breakdown--he's one year short of 50! And he thinks he's going to be a great detective and be appointed/elected Chief of Police of San Francisco? That ship sailed. That job requires a super active political lifestyle, the hand-shaking and networking we never see here. Thinning to disappearing gray hair, stooped shoulders, he looks like a senior citizen in many scenes. I just did not buy it.
On the other hand, in Rear Window, he comes to life; he looks like war correspondants and photographers who travel the globe, living on cigarrettes and booze, but handsome, worldly. THAT explains his single childless status in this film. He looks a lot better--I can see Grace Kelly falling in love with the dashing photographer, esp after we learn of her wild streak.
Rear Window is exciting, and builds to a dramatic high. We aren't disappointed. My heart was pounding as the drama reached a climax....the apt break-in, the scene in the dark, they had me so scared! And after all the excitement, Hitch took the time to show us a happy ending to each window's vignette--except one, of course. And then it all ended with a giggle. What more could we ask? A perfect movie!
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