MovieChat Forums > Rear Window (1954) Discussion > The opening sequence!

The opening sequence!

posted 4 years ago by Ace_Spade (9658)
2 replies | jump to latest

It starts on the windows and we peer out onto the courtyard. We look around, a voyeur's eye view into the world of the film. We see the fire escape sleepers and other denizens of the world. Next we see the temperature, first physically by sweat, then by the thermometer. Then comes the best part: LB sleeps by the window in his chair, we look down and see the cast. How'd he break his leg? Intrigue immediately! Pan to a smashed camera. Okay, that's a clue. Plus, we know he's a shutterbug. Moving up now we see the photo that got him that leg. He keeps a negative of a cover girl in a frame on a table.

We now know everything we need to know about our hero, the environment, the circumstances, and the theme of the film in three minutes flat. This is one of the best openings of any film ever. It tells us a little story, keeps us intrigued, gives a tiny, mini-mystery, and makes us want to know where we're going from here.

[–] Hans-Wilhelm (1372) 4 years ago

Yes, and don't forget the tired old Hollywood pervert angle.

In the 1950's all of the horny writers and producers and directors couldn't go full in yet with pretty much every film and movie requiring some young woman to strip nude for some meaningless scene....or every girl has to be filmed taking a shower....so the actresses were somewhat safe from having to be actresses/strippers/soft porn workers to get an acting gig but they still took it as far as they could at the time.

Of course the apartment would the young, attractive woman had to have her drop and lose her top....then stretch and bend over in her little tiny short shorts for the men to get their kicks for a minute or two before moving on with the story itself.

Young? Pretty? Want to work in films? Well as long as you are willing to get naked, simulate sex with some male actor, get filmed undressing, showering, bathing, skinny dipping....or just wandering around the house/apartment naked.....you can work.

[–] Ace_Spade (9658) 4 years ago

One of the themes of the movie is the unhealthy level that L.B. has taken his voyeurism. He's peering at others' lives and many people point out how warped it is. The movie also, of course, shows us the pure fascination of secretly watching another person.

As far as gratuitous nudity and sex in film goes, yes, I agree wholeheartedly that there is too much sex and nudity for its own sake; I roll my eyes at that stuff.