Analysis of the opening to Rear Window
The opening scene starts by the camera looking out of a window whilst the credits are shown. Slowly, each blind is raised revealing a section of the courtyard at a time already linking to its title ‘Rear window’ indicating that this particular window will play a big part throughout the duration of the film. Much like the curtains in a theatre, the viewer feels as if they are watching a show or play when the blinds are lifted slowly creating an exciting opening and the sense that drama is to come. The symmetrical close up shot of the window provides the audience with ‘front row seats’ as the scene unfolds further. Outside, the neighbourhood seems peaceful and like any other normal community with people carrying out their everyday lives in their everyday houses. Despite its normality, the courtyard seems enclosed and claustrophobic representing restriction and tension which could possibly be mounting. Everything seems too peaceful to be true.

After the opening credits, the camera zooms towards the bottom of the window until it is completely outside. It then cuts to show a cat in the courtyard walking up the stairs which could link to the normality and ‘city life’ feel which is being portrayed. The camera follows the cat’s steps from the bottom of the stairs to the top until it reaches a ladder and follows the ladder upwards as if we (the viewer) were voyeur and spying or following someone. As the camera approaches the top of the ladder, the many blocks of apartments can be seen; all coated in the same dull paint and brickwork browns and whites. The use of these dull drab colours is in contrast to the very theatrical beginning of the scene which automatically gave the audience a sense of excitement and drama to come. Our excitement is left compromised by these depressing colours and causes us to become curious.

Panning towards the left, the camera begins to show the individual apartments focusing in on people’s lives. Once again, we are made to feel like voyeur and that we are spying on the residents without them knowing. Every window is open in the apartment block which refers back to the impression that claustrophobia and tension is mounting throughout the neighbourhood. Windows seem to already play a big part in this film although we are only less than a minute in. By the windows and curtains being wide open for everyone to see, we can also interpret the community as an open one with no privacy or time alone to themselves. Everybody seems to always be in each other’s business without a break.
The first house the camera stops at once again appears to be regular home with nothing overly exciting or threatening happening. The camera pauses at a long shot of the house and a supposed milkman can be seen walking past the side of the property. Whilst the camera pauses outside the house, a girl in the top left bedroom is brushing her hair unaware of her privacy being invaded. The camera then pans further left back into the apartment we started in but dramatically changes from long shot to a close up of a man sweating. Due to the nature of this shot, the audience immediately understands this character to be important and key throughout the duration of the film.
Straight after the shot of the character sweating, there is a cut to show his reasons with a close up shot of the thermometer reaching a staggering 90 degrees, relating back to the close proximity and uncomfortable vibe of the community. The normality of the neighbourhood is now seemingly coming to an end as it appears that strange things are occurring such as the tense heat which may foreshadow future strange events.
Moving on from the thermometer, the camera swiftly moves outside again to the other side of the wall once again peering into somebody’s life. This time, the camera focuses on a middle aged looking man in the process of a shave listening to the radio. The man’s apartment is cluttered with a black grand piano in the view of the camera indicating that this is not a poor community and is in residence to wealthy people.

Adding to the impression that things aren’t all they seem, the camera then cuts to the balcony of an apartment where a mattress is situated. The alarm clock sounds and a man rises and wakes his wife up who is lay next to him. Now more than ever, we are led to believe that this is a strange place.

After the unusualness of the sleeping couple on the balcony, we are led down the ladder and are given access to a medium long shot view of a woman wandering around her apartment in nothing but pink underwear. Much like the characters in the neighbourhood and the overall feel, the audience now feels uncomfortable and on edge due to the close shot of the half naked lady we are witnessing without her knowing. An element of sex or sexual desire is brought forward by this shot as she bends and stretches around as if she was or may still be a dancer.

Calmly, the camera moves away from the woman’s apartment as if nothing happened and nobody was staring inside. The camera makes its way back towards the starting apartment back onto the important character who we can now identify is called ‘L.B Jefferies’ due to the cast on his leg. L.B Jefferies has obviously encountered an accident resulting in his ‘bed bound’ or ‘apartment bound’ condition. The liveliness from the other residents of the neighbourhood enhances his lack of mobility further as he cannot be like the woman stretching and dancing around or the others preparing to face the day. He is almost fully confined to his apartment which looks to be making him feel stressed and agitated.

The camera scans around the apartment revealing artefacts which hint about features of his life. On the table is a smashed up camera suggesting he is an avid photographer who possibly broke it during the accident which broke his leg. The wall is cluttered with pictures of dangerous scenarios of race cars and explosions implying he may be a daredevil who lives life on the edge. His unfortunate state means now he cannot enjoy his crazy lifestyle which may be a supporting reason to why he feels so uncomfortable and tense.
Another photograph is shown of a woman in a ‘negative photo format.’ There is something quite spooky and odd about the photograph which could signal a trait of his personality. He may be a quirky character who loves to experiment and try something new or perhaps enjoys photographing women and has a desire to find love.
Overall, the dull drab colours used in the opening to Rear window create the vibe that this is an ordinary community with ordinary people living ordinary lives. At first, we are made to believe something exciting and dramatic will happen due to the theatrical beginning to the scene then are left waiting as everything seems innocent. After a while and an insight into the lives of residents, the show like opening is supported by the weird and interesting lives of the locals.