Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 thriller, captured many of the social anxieties of the Cold War era: paranoia, suspicion, surveillance. But it also ventured, on celluloid, into controversial territory: voyeurism, a daring subject for such sensitive, censorship-laden cinematic times. When most movie studios were making musicals and melodramas, Hitchcock crafted a suspenseful film about the thrill of spying on others. And though a grandiose Hollywood set was necessary to bring the auteur's vision to life, the main character never leaves his apartment.
Alfred Hitchcock's six classic films available on Netflix this June showcase his mastery of suspense and are a great introduction to his cinematic genius.