Peeping Tom And Rear Window Essay

Films are a product of, as well as intrinsically inspired by the culture that surrounds them at the time of their creation. Current happenings such as political and socioeconomic issues are reflected in cinema, for the portrayal of life through film is entirely contingent on what influences those who create them. As a result, when film is observed period by period, one can see the evolution of values and worldly perspective based on current culture. The films Peeping Tom and Rear Window were created during the post-classical period, and are directly reflective of events such as a massive technology boom, as well as the Cold War, which generated paranoia throughout the United States in the 1950’s. Each film shows a slightly different take on the suspense/thriller genre, for despite the short timespan between the creation of both films, distinct cultural influences and values separate the content of the two.

Hitchcock’s film Rear Window follows Jeff Jeffries, played by Jimmy Stewart, as he leads the audience on an adventure involving love, mystery, and a potential murder- all from the confines of a wheelchair. After breaking his leg on the job as a professional photographer, Jeff takes up the immobile hobby of voyeurism, and observes the day to

Barreira 2 day happenings of several neighbors through his camera lens. His apartment shares a courtyard with dozens of different tenants with windows that give him a clear view into many of their personal lives. There is Miss LonleyHeart, a single woman desperate for a stable relationship, a couple with a beloved dog, a discontent composer and Miss Torso, a beautiful dancer who frequently throws parties for male guests. Most importantly is Mr. Torvald, an angry man with a bedrid...

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...od is the merging of genres. Rear

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Window and Peeping Tom can both be classified as suspense/thrillers and contain iconographies such as shadows, dark lighting, and confined spaces. However, Rear Window possesses the most identifiable iconography of the mystery genre: the focus on a crime investigation. The intersection between genres is another result of sophisticated viewers expecting more from the content they watched during the classical period. (Thanouli)

The films Peeping Tom by Michael Powell and Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock can easily be identified as post-classical period suspense/thrillers based on the time they were released, as well as defining period characteristics. However, after further analysis it is clear that Rear Window in particular can also be identified as containing influences from the classical era as well.