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Why was Alfred Hitchcock a "little afraid" of James Stewart?
Far Out Magazine ^ | MON 3RD JUL 2023 | Swapnil Dhruv Bose

Posted on 07/03/2023 2:06:11 PM PDT by nickcarraway

While both Alfred Hitchcock and James Stewart collaborated with some of the greatest figures in the history of Hollywood, it’s no secret that they helped each other reach the pinnacle of their respective careers. Having worked together on masterpieces like Vertigo and Rope, Hitchcock and Stewart struck up a fascinating creative partnership that continues to have a seminal impact on the current trajectory of American cinema.

Although Vertigo is often the most-discussed out of all their collaborations, Rear Window is right up there with the very best when it comes to either of their illustrious filmographies. An incredibly complex thriller that completely changed the genre forever, Rear Window stars Stewart as an injured photographer who is stuck in his Greenwich Village apartment with a broken leg. Not used to a life of confinement, he starts spying on the neighbours to keep himself entertained.

Stewart’s performance in Rear Window is simply remarkable, steadily increasing in intensity as Hitchcock deftly weaves a tale of paranoia and intrigue. Due to his outspoken opinions on actors (he called them “cattle”), many were intimidated by the prospect of working with Hitchcock. However, on the set of Rear Window, it was the other way around because Hitchcock was reportedly a “little afraid” of Stewart’s behaviour and attitude.

When asked about the production process and the relationship between Hitchcock and Stewart, Rear Window co-star Wendell Corey revealed that there was a lot of tension. “There was a whopping big ego underneath that allegedly shy, stuttering, bumbling persona,” Corey said. “When Jimmy Stewart didn’t like the way a scene was going, he could yell with the best of them — you could hear him over to the next sound stage!”

According to Corey, Stewart was very meticulous about the details of each and every shot, often pointing out the flaws in the setup for multiple takes. The actor admitted that in addition to the crew, even Hitchcock was a little intimidated by Stewart. Corey added: “He was plenty fussy about the right shots, the right lighting, and he could out-argue and out-shout Hitchcock — I even think Hitch got a little afraid of him at times. There was steel under all that mush, believe me!”

Despite the on-set tension, Rear Window turned out to be one of the finest cinematic projects both of them had ever worked on. It’s an infinitely nuanced commentary on voyeurism and our connection with the cinematic medium, even anticipating modern issues such as surveillance states and contemporary media’s exploitation of the spectacle. In a post-pandemic world, it’s almost impossible to not be terrified by the claustrophobia of Rear Window.

Watch the trailer below.


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: hitchcock; jimmystewart; movies
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To: CaptainK

Read her wiki bio. She loathed him.


61 posted on 07/03/2023 6:08:05 PM PDT by LouAvul (Daniel 4:17: "..the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.." )
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To: Huskrrrr

Wiki says they were best friends but got into a fight over politics. They agreed to never talk politics again.


62 posted on 07/03/2023 6:09:47 PM PDT by LouAvul (Daniel 4:17: "..the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.." )
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To: LouAvul

I guess that’s where Jane got her leftism from.


63 posted on 07/03/2023 6:11:10 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: LizzieD

Grace Kelly was a ho who bedded older male actors. When they filmed Rear Window, Mrs. Jimmy Stewart drove him to the set everyday, stayed on the lot during the filming, then drove him home. I always got a kick out of that.


64 posted on 07/03/2023 6:14:32 PM PDT by LouAvul (Daniel 4:17: "..the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.." )
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To: LizzieD

A Dog named Bo. Saw him on Carson reading it. Not a dry eye in the place when he was done.


65 posted on 07/03/2023 6:15:36 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: nickcarraway

One of my favorite parts of Rear Window is their drinking — or ofreing a drink in virtually every scene. <p.

“What can I get you?”


66 posted on 07/03/2023 6:57:29 PM PDT by eastsider
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To: Dr. Sivana
I dunno, if I had Grace Kelly bringing me dinner I wouldn’t be taking out the binoculars to look at Raymond Burr.

LOL!

67 posted on 07/03/2023 7:07:45 PM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized of man.)
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To: devere

Agreed.


68 posted on 07/03/2023 7:08:19 PM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized of man.)
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To: Fledermaus
Gotta love Suzanne Pleshett in sweater

Oh yeah. And such a sexy voice....

69 posted on 07/03/2023 7:11:19 PM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized of man.)
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To: nickcarraway

My favorite Hitchcock movie is Strangers on a Train. Hitchcock’s favorite Hitchcock movie was Shadow of a Doubt. Or so I’ve read.


70 posted on 07/03/2023 7:24:41 PM PDT by ClaytonForester
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To: woodbutcher1963
I've read Jimmy Stewart wanted the lead in North by Northwest, but Hitchcock wanted Grant's glib sophistication. Hitchcock was a master of all the aspects of cinema.
71 posted on 07/03/2023 7:27:02 PM PDT by PerConPat (A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground.- Mencken)
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To: nickcarraway
Due to his outspoken opinions on actors (he called them “cattle”),

When accused of having said that "actors were cattle," Hitch clarified that what he had actually said is that "Actors should be treated as cattle."

Regards,

72 posted on 07/03/2023 10:47:16 PM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: CaptainK
Is Tippi Hedren an actual good acquaintance or an imaginary good acquaintance?

I'm probably on the delusional side of this, but I sponsored/promoted her animal sanctuary on my former radio show, which she guested. I wonder how she is these days.

73 posted on 07/04/2023 6:50:00 AM PDT by LittleBillyInfidel (This tagline has been formatted to fit the screen. Some content has been edited.)
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To: nickcarraway

Why is Tom Hanks so terrifying?

People figure any “nice guy” actor must have bodies buried in his basement.


74 posted on 07/04/2023 7:00:52 AM PDT by x
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To: irishjuggler
Tell us more, tell us more. How are you pals with Tippi? I have to admit to a crush on Birds-era Miss Hedren. She had it going on. In a big way. In any case, truly had an incredible knack for casting the right people for the right parts. You put Doris Day in the lead in The Birds, it’s a different movie. You cast anyone other than Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates, it’s a different movie.

She's just a former business acquaintance who was a sponsor/guest on my former radio show/podcast and then, later months, spent a night chatting at a mutual friends' anniversary party. She was lovely and beautiful. I think you would have enjoyed her stories. I agree with you about casting. Some of those casting agents are genius - and some are just dumb luck because they couldn't get who they really wanted. That's what my radio show was about: a behind the scenes of film/tv production and we got some pretty cool casting stories from Stephen Tobolowsky ("Ned Ryerson" on GROUNDHOG DAY) and Vernon Wells ("Wez" on ROAD WARRIOR).

75 posted on 07/04/2023 7:02:49 AM PDT by LittleBillyInfidel (This tagline has been formatted to fit the screen. Some content has been edited.)
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To: Retain Mike

Plus he could fly a rebuilt airplane put together with bailing wire and glue out of a death trap, my fav movie of his “Flight of the Phoenix”.


76 posted on 07/04/2023 7:19:54 AM PDT by ABN 505 (Right is right if nobody is right, and wrong is wrong if everybody is wrong. ~Archbishop Fulton John)
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To: ABN 505

I had forgotten about that. That was a great movie.


77 posted on 07/04/2023 8:33:24 AM PDT by Retain Mike ( Sat Cong)
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To: irishjuggler; LittleBillyInfidel

Thanks for your update. I know her most famous role was in “The Birds” but I thought she was brilliant in the very underrated “Marnie”.


78 posted on 07/04/2023 8:07:30 PM PDT by CaptainK ("If life's really hard, at least its short")
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