REAR WINDOW
US, 1998, 89 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Reeve, Daryl Hannah, Robert Forster, Reuben Santiago- Hudson, Ritchie Coster, Alison Mackie.
Directed by Jeff Bleckner.
Rear Window attempts what seems to be the impossible, a remake and updating of Hitchcock’s Rear Window. The original Rear Window is a classic, with a strong central performance by James Stewart, the glamour of Grace Kelly, the humour of Thelma Ritter, the sinister murderer in Raymond Burr, Wendell Corey as the detective.
The film capitalised on the central character being curious, being laid up and watching the people out from his window and discovering the murder, investigating, running risks. It is vintage Hitchcock and remains a popular classic.
This film is based on the original story by Cornell Woolridge who wrote many stories, the bases for popular Hollywood thrillers. However, it stars Christopher Reeve in the central role. In fact, part of the fascination of the film is watching Reeve act after his becoming a quadriplegic. The screenplay incorporates the reality of his experience in the character, much of the detail of how he exists, manages, his attitudes, people’s treatment of him all reflect the reality of Reeve’s experience. He also acted as executive producer of the film.
Reeve had a strong screen presence (though not a strong screen voice, especially in his state). However, he manages as an architect confined to his room after a car accident and becoming involved in the murder that he sees through his rear window. Daryl Hannah is a good screen presence but lacks the gravitas and glamour of Grace Kelly. She is much more the 1990s professional and practical businesswoman. Robert Forster appears in the role of the detective. Ritchie Coster is the sinister artist who is the murderer.
For those who have not seen the original film, this could well be an entertaining and satisfying thriller. However, the remakes of classics always run a risk of odious comparisons – and in 1999, Gus van Sant released a scene-by-scene remake of Psycho (in which Robert Forster also appeared).
1.The popularity of the original Rear Window? Hitchcock, James Stewart, Grace Kelly? The theme, the treatment?
2.The risk in remaking a classic? Updating it? How well did this film stand in comparison with the original?
3.The title, the focus on the apartment, the window, the windows visible outside, the range of characters, their lives?
4.The references to being a peeping tom? Getting the surveillance equipment? The law? The appropriateness of what Jason was doing? Claudia’s joining him? The reaction of the detective? Antonio installing the equipment? Moral and ethical issues?
5.The opening accident, the woman talking on the phone in the car, the crash, her death? Jason and his being hospitalised? Giving a reasonable situation for Jason’s condition? His concern about his responsibility for the woman’s death? The audience knowing that he was not? Charlie Moore and the later news that he was not in any way responsible?
6.Jason, the treatment by the doctor, the nurses? His friendship with Antonio, Antonio looking after him? His nurse? Set up in the apartment, the chair, the mechanism in his mouth for movement? Voice-activated machinery? His ability to cope? The film highlighting his isolation? Much of the helplessness in practical things? His looking out the window, seeing the people becoming involved?
7.His business practice, his partners, their decisions, having to work with Claudia? Her talent? His friendship with her, her collaboration, genial, helping him, able to admit her embarrassment? Their working together, the success, the dedication of the building – her cutting the ribbon, the bond between the two?
8.Charlie Moore, the detective, seeing Jason in hospital, coming to the party, his being called in for the investigation, his seriousness, his thinking the situation was farfetched, the lack of evidence? His collaboration, pursuing the theme? Interviewing Thorpe? The resolution – and his arrival, just in time?
9.The characters across the way, their lives? The prurient touch? Julian Thorpe, the artist, his fights with Ilene? Brutality? Her behaviour, grief? Arguments, the television? Her disappearance? Jason’s suspicions? Checking out where she was, at her sister’s? The new woman with Thorpe, the irony that she was Ilene’s sister? Jason and his sending the emails, Thorpe and his discovering the truth, threatening Jason, the battle of wits, changing the password, voice-activated lift, security shutting, trapping Thorpe? Thorpe and his brutality towards Alison?
10.Claudia, her work, friendship with Jason, interest in the investigation, the theories, going over to interview Thorpe about his artwork, leaving a trace? The aftermath and the work of art in the foyer, the red herring in the body not being there?
11.Thorpe, character, brutal, the artist, the murder of his girlfriend, his relationship with her sister, the threats to Jason, his being trapped? The sister and her being held for impersonation?
12.Antonio, friendship, support, help in the difficulties?
13.The build-up to the climax, the confrontation with Jason? The aftermath, the theories? The film being open-ended – and the suggestion of where the body was?
14.An entertaining dramatic thriller in itself – and as a remake?
