Scene Analysis: Rear Window

The film Rear Window is classified as a suspenseful, mystery thriller that focuses on solving the murder of a woman in the main character, Jeffrey’s neighbourhood from his window. However, another topic is prevalent throughout the film, and that is the theme of marriage and relationships. In this scene, the theme of marriage is first showcased, and the audience is introduced to both positive and negative views of marriage that will change throughout the film. The narrative function of this scene in Rear Window is to set up these contrasting views of marriage that run throughout the film. This is shown through the scene’s narrative, as well as the editing, the use of cinematography, the scene’s acting and diegetic sound.

In this scene in Rear

Window, the editing helps the audience understand the contrasting views of marriage as they are set up for the rest of the film. There are two specific examples in the scene where the shots showcase similarity and repetition: the dialogue between Jeff and Stella, and while Jeff is watching the newlywed couple through the window. In the dialogue between Jeff and Stella, this repetition of the shots focusing on Jeff and Stella help to place focus on what they are discussing. Jeff is shown at the same medium shot scale throughout the dialogue, and the shots focused on his explanation of his negative, “intelligent” view of marriage are given a shorter shot duration than Stella’s explanation of her simple, positive view of marriage. This sets up the romantic conflict that Jeff faces throughout the film: should he marry Lisa, even though he does not believe they are a good match, or should he leave her to continue his life of freedom and adventure? The second example that showcases similarity and repetition is while Jeff is watching the newlyweds through his window. Again, the longer shots are given to the positive and innocent painting of marriage during this scene, and shots focusing on Jeff are very short, only used as match-on-action to show his face in between shots of the action occurring in the window that he is watching. This is also where the Kuleshov Effect is used. The short shots of Jeff’s face in between the long takes of the newlyweds help the audience to infer how he feels about what he is watching. For example, a look of confusion is inferred to be on Jeff’s face when the husband invites his wife outside the door, followed by a look of understanding when he realizes that the husband is carrying his new wife over the threshold. While he still does not believe in this positive view of marriage, he cannot look away up until the blinds are shut and he cannot see them anymore.
The cinematography and devices of mise-en-scène in Rear Window help to place focus on the narrative function of the scene: the contrasting attitudes on marriage.

The framing of the scene is especially important. The natural framing of the window of the newlywed’s apartment help to put focus and emphasis on what is occurring inside that apartment. It becomes like Jeff’s own private viewing, show him what marriage between him and Lisa could possibly be like. The selective focus throughout the scene also helps to show that he really is focusing on what is inside the window, as the tree branches and items in the way of the window are out of focus, and are forgotten about by the audience of the film. Throughout the whole scene, the point-of-view shot is used from Jeff’s perspective when he is looking out the window, as it is consistent with the rest of the film. The audience gets to see exactly what he is looking at through eyeline match shots of the neighbourhood people and of his face. As well, in terms of mise-en-scène, the actors of the newlyweds are specifically placed in the natural framing of the window. All of their action that occurs in this scene is visible perfectly through this window, ensuring both the audience and Jeff see exactly what is happening, and they can fully take in the positively contrasted view of marriage, a view that Jeff previously discussed he disagrees with. Again, he sees what he and Lisa could be like if they were to get married: a perfectly happy couple living in a simple apartment together, which is not necessarily what he wants in

life.
Another formal device that is subtle and often overlooked in this scene is the diegetic sound that runs throughout it. The dialogue is important in the beginning, and sets up the narrative information concerning the simple and positive view of marriage, versus Jeff’s negative view on it. There is also more slight dialogue that occurs in the scene between the newlyweds, and the apartment’s landlord. While the dialogue is extremely quiet, it can be understood if one listens very closely, and it works with the actors to infer what the newlyweds are doing (i.e., when the husband wants to carry his new wife over the threshold). It also can increase the audience’s understanding of what is going on if it is not already inferred by what the actors are portraying. Another overlooked diegetic sound element throughout the scene is the music that is playing in the neighbourhood. The song playing while Jeff is looking out at the neighbourhood is an instrumental version of the popular love song “That’s Amore”, which was made famous in 1952 by Dean Martin, only a few years before Rear Window is released (Queenan). It is fitting for the film to use such a recognizable love song, when Jeff is looking at such a depiction of marriage, especially since “Amore” means “love” in Italian. Even today, the song is still recognizable, which makes it a perfect fit for the scene, and a subtle expression of the positive and simple view of marriage that is seen with the newlyweds in this beginning scene.
In Rear Window, a theme of marriage underlies the main story of the mystery of a neighbourhood murder. This scene’s function is to set up a contrast between a positive view of marriage, as depicted by Stella and the newlyweds in this scene; and a negative view of marriage, as discussed by Jeff. Through the scene’s editing, cinematography, mise-en-scène, and sound, it puts emphasis on marriage for the rest of the film. It starts the internal dialogue that Jeff contemplates about regarding his relationship with Lisa, and his view slowly changes throughout the film. While the newlywed’s relationship slowly is dissolved to nagging and argument, Jeff and Lisa’s relationship only improves through the film as she shows more of an ability to participate in the adventure that Jeff continues to crave in his lifestyle. He realizes maybe marriage could be for him, and it does not necessarily have to be simple and innocent like shown through the newlyweds in the beginning – it can be an adventure.