The power of 46 inches of HD help to recently reminded me of the brilliance of Alfred Hitchcock's impeccable masterpiece, Rear Window (based on a short story from Cornell Woolrich, who you might remember from my best of list). I know many of you have likely already seen it, but any that haven't – you must correct this wrong and rent it immediately.
The film's greatness is, in no small part, due to Hal Pereira – the art director behind the magnificent set that still dazzles. The film was shot entirely on a soundstage which was the largest at the time in Paramount Pictures history. It consisted of 31 apartments, many fully furnished, built to represent the courtyard view of Jimmy Stewart's West Village apartment. Of course, Hitchcock deserves some of the credit on his greatest work and even had the initial idea to shoot on a set rather than on location.
Pereira's career is long and distinguished despite only having won one of the 23 Oscars he was nominated for. Among his 200 film credits are Breakfast at Tiffany's, Hud, Vertigo, Houseboat, and Double Indemnity.
But what do you think?