The father of all peeping toms, lurker extraordinaire, is James Stewart in Rear Window.
His character was ‘wheel chaired up’, camping out in his apartment with some hot women coming about his quarters to feed him and pleasure him whenever he wanted. But he was much more interested in the ongoings of the plebs across the street. He took to his binoculars and began a campaign of being the biggest creep who had ever lived.
This is an absolute classic, a genre maker, game changer for the cinema industry.
Also, it’s worth noting the lead actress in this, Grace Kelly, was the hottest female commodity in Hollywood at the time. She retired, at her peak, when she married the Prince of Monaco. Yes, she literally became the Princess of Monaco, like in a fairy tale, and served for decades in that capacity until death. Her children continue to live and serve there, as royalty of course.
I am going to wrap up Hitch next week and then begin to throw out random films at you, all of distinguishable worthiness for your liking.
Mixing two themes together with this post, here is a ‘roast’, more like tribute, given by Orsen Welles for James Stewart.
Opening clip from Rear Window
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