Mr. Thompson's two cents:

'Pyscho' is Alfred Hitchcock's most famous film. 'Vertigo' is his most prestigious. 'Rope' and 'Strangers on a Train' are film nerd favorites.

But 'Rear Window' might be his most influential.

One of the terms you'll see in this week's reading is "voyeur." Like "mise-en-scene," this is a French word that refers to someone who watches those who don't know that they're being watched. We're all voyeurs at some time in our lives, whether innocently while people-watching at the mall or even in a more sinister vein like spying. Even bird-watching is a form of voyeurism, if you think about it. We will watch 'Rear Window' to open our study of editing because of its connection to something called the "Kuleshov Effect," a theory of how editing affects the psyche that you'll read about in this guide (and we'll go over in class). Understanding "voyeurism" and the "Kuleshov Effect" will be key to your appreciation of the brilliance of this film.

Some elements may seem a little dated to you, including the cheesy special effects in the climax, but the incredible editing (and don't forget that mise-en-scene!) are as effective now as they ever were. For this reason, 'Rear Window' is one of the highest ranked films on IMDB (#3 mystery, #14 overall), #48 on the AFI Greatest Films in American History, and a favorite among former Film as Lit students. Like 'Jaws,' this is a film about how to do a lot with very little. After all, the entire story takes place in Jeff's apartment. This time, instead of focusing on the composition, we'll be looking at the editing -- how the various shots are put together. How tension is built by moving from one shot to the next and how the specific order in which shots are shown has a profound effect on your viewing experience.

Enjoy Alfred Hitchcock's spine-tingling 1954 thriller, 'Rear Window.'