Well folks, the first ever Freedom Film Series came to a close last night as we had a nice sized crowd for our screening of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. Last night's screening ended our four week series celebrating Alfred Hitchcock. I was really pleased the reception the Freedom Film Series has received so far and at the numbers we have been getting. Of course, we can always hope to do better. Once again, I would like to thank everyone here at the library that helped contribute to the film series in any way and I would especially like to personally thank those who make sure the library basics get done while I am screening these movies for two hours. Thank you!
Now, ladies and gentlemen, it is time to say good-bye to Alfred Hitchcock (for awhile at least) and look forward to the next Freedom Film Series on the horizon. Our next series will be in October when we will be screening five consecutive weeks of classic and contemporary scary movies. I am not releasing that months screening schedule yet, but keep an eye out for it and the introductory blog post for that series in mid-September. So, I want everyone to mark their calendars and keep every Wednesday night in October open for our Halloween Movie Madness Film Series!
Until next time....
P.S. My next Movie-Man Movie Review should be coming soon.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
F.F.S. HITCHCOCK: "REAR WINDOW"
Well ladies and gents, our first Freedom Film Series is coming to a close and it has been an encouraging and successful experience. With the turn-outs we have had so far, I am confident that we will continue to have audiences for the other Freedom Film Series that I have planned for the library. Thank you to everyone who has come out to see one of the Hitchcock movies we have shown so far and to those who will be coming to see Rear Window on August 13. I would also like to take a moment and apologize to those of you who came out to see The Birds last night. We made it half-way through the movie when we had to close the library early because of the broken air conditioner. I was incredibly disappointed that we were unable to finish the movie for you and I hope it does not stop you from coming out to next week's screening.
Speaking of which......
Our final screening in the Hitchcock-themed Freedom Film Series will be Rear Window (which happens to be my personal favorite.) Rear Window had its original premiere in 1954, but was stored away shortly after the premiere. It and four other Hitchcock films were locked away and were prevented from being released because of a dispute over rights. These films became known as the Five Lost Hitchcocks and would not be seen for almost 30 years. After that 30 year span, the disputes were settled and the five films were all re-released around 1984. Rear Window stars two Hitchcock regulars, James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr (that's right, Perry Mason) also provide excellent supporting performances. The movie was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, Best Director, Best Color Cinematography, Best Screenplay, and Best Sound. Though most critics believe that Vertigo was Hitchcock's true masterpiece, Rear Window is considered one of the greatest movies of all time. As proof, it holds the #48 spot on the American Film Institute's list of the Greatest American Movies of All-Time.
James Stewart plays L.B. Jeffries, a photographer for National Geographic. When we meet him, he is confined to a wheelchair in his apartment because of a broken leg. He is being cared for by a home care nurse (Thelma Ritter) and his fashion model girlfriend (Grace Kelly). Since he is extremely limited to what he can do, Jeffries often finds himself looking in on his neighbors with the use of one of his larger zoom lenses. Through his lens, we, as the audience, get to meet his neighbors and get a glimpse into their lives. We also witness, along with Jeffries, what appears to be foul play involving one of his neighbors (Raymond Burr) murdering his wife. Jeffries does not know for sure whether she has been killed, but becomes increasingly obsessed with finding out the truth. He becomes so obsessed, in fact, that he begins to ignore his girlfriend and even asks her to go in harm's way by searching the adjacent apartment. All of this leads to a suspenseful and thrilling conclusion that has the audience on the edge of its seat.
Technically, Rear Window has some of the most impressive, yet subtle, distinctions out of all of Hitchcock's movies. The entire movie was shot on one set, and it was the biggest set at Paramount Studios at that time. Not only was it shot on just one set, but it was shot (for the most part) from a single perspective. Except for a couple of shots near the end of the movie, the entire film is shot from the James Stewart's perspective; basically the view from his apartment window. We do not see the apartment courtyard or the inside of the apartments from any other vantage point. Hitchcock even went as far as to only direct and work from that apartment and would not work from anywhere else. The actors in the other apartments were given earpieces so that Hitchcock could radio to them his directions.
All the technically aspects, along with the nature of the plot, place the focus on one of Hitchcock's favorite themes: voyeurism. Normally, voyeurism is combined with the objectification of women in Hitchcock's movies, but this time it is based on obsessive curiosity. Because the audience sees only what Stewart's character sees, the audience shares the burden of his fears and his anxiety as he is trying to piece together what has happened in Burr's apartment. Each person watching the film becomes Jeffries and is subjected to the consequences of his voyeurism and curiosity. This is what separates Rear Window from Hitchcock's other films, and other films in general. The film absorbs us into itself and we have no choice but to wait, agonize, and watch along with Jeffries.
So, come out and celebrate the closing of the first ever Freedom Film Series, as well as celebrate Hitchcock's 109th birthday! Rear Window will be screened at 6:00pm in the Freedom Regional Library Community Room on Wednesday, August 13th. It will be free of charge and there will also be free popcorn served! Hope to see you there.
Until next time....
Speaking of which......
Our final screening in the Hitchcock-themed Freedom Film Series will be Rear Window (which happens to be my personal favorite.) Rear Window had its original premiere in 1954, but was stored away shortly after the premiere. It and four other Hitchcock films were locked away and were prevented from being released because of a dispute over rights. These films became known as the Five Lost Hitchcocks and would not be seen for almost 30 years. After that 30 year span, the disputes were settled and the five films were all re-released around 1984. Rear Window stars two Hitchcock regulars, James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr (that's right, Perry Mason) also provide excellent supporting performances. The movie was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, Best Director, Best Color Cinematography, Best Screenplay, and Best Sound. Though most critics believe that Vertigo was Hitchcock's true masterpiece, Rear Window is considered one of the greatest movies of all time. As proof, it holds the #48 spot on the American Film Institute's list of the Greatest American Movies of All-Time.
James Stewart plays L.B. Jeffries, a photographer for National Geographic. When we meet him, he is confined to a wheelchair in his apartment because of a broken leg. He is being cared for by a home care nurse (Thelma Ritter) and his fashion model girlfriend (Grace Kelly). Since he is extremely limited to what he can do, Jeffries often finds himself looking in on his neighbors with the use of one of his larger zoom lenses. Through his lens, we, as the audience, get to meet his neighbors and get a glimpse into their lives. We also witness, along with Jeffries, what appears to be foul play involving one of his neighbors (Raymond Burr) murdering his wife. Jeffries does not know for sure whether she has been killed, but becomes increasingly obsessed with finding out the truth. He becomes so obsessed, in fact, that he begins to ignore his girlfriend and even asks her to go in harm's way by searching the adjacent apartment. All of this leads to a suspenseful and thrilling conclusion that has the audience on the edge of its seat.
Technically, Rear Window has some of the most impressive, yet subtle, distinctions out of all of Hitchcock's movies. The entire movie was shot on one set, and it was the biggest set at Paramount Studios at that time. Not only was it shot on just one set, but it was shot (for the most part) from a single perspective. Except for a couple of shots near the end of the movie, the entire film is shot from the James Stewart's perspective; basically the view from his apartment window. We do not see the apartment courtyard or the inside of the apartments from any other vantage point. Hitchcock even went as far as to only direct and work from that apartment and would not work from anywhere else. The actors in the other apartments were given earpieces so that Hitchcock could radio to them his directions.
All the technically aspects, along with the nature of the plot, place the focus on one of Hitchcock's favorite themes: voyeurism. Normally, voyeurism is combined with the objectification of women in Hitchcock's movies, but this time it is based on obsessive curiosity. Because the audience sees only what Stewart's character sees, the audience shares the burden of his fears and his anxiety as he is trying to piece together what has happened in Burr's apartment. Each person watching the film becomes Jeffries and is subjected to the consequences of his voyeurism and curiosity. This is what separates Rear Window from Hitchcock's other films, and other films in general. The film absorbs us into itself and we have no choice but to wait, agonize, and watch along with Jeffries.
So, come out and celebrate the closing of the first ever Freedom Film Series, as well as celebrate Hitchcock's 109th birthday! Rear Window will be screened at 6:00pm in the Freedom Regional Library Community Room on Wednesday, August 13th. It will be free of charge and there will also be free popcorn served! Hope to see you there.
Until next time....
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