Hitchcock Chronology: Rear Window (1954)
Entries in the Hitchcock Chronology relating to Rear Window (1954)...
1942
February
- Cornell Woolrich's short story "It Had to Be Murder" is published in the February edition of Dime Detective.[1][2]
1953
March
- Financial woes at Warner Bros. result in the studio halting production on all new projects for 90 days and studio executives are later asked to take a salary cut of up to 50%. This prompts Hitchcock to ask his agent Lew Wasserman to shop around for a new contract with a different studio — Wasserman eventually secures a lucrative deal with Paramount Studios on the proviso that Hitchcock adapts a story from a collection they've optioned by writer Cornell Woolrich as his first film.[3]
June
- 8th - Screenwriter John Michael Hayes is formally contracted by Paramount to write Rear Window on a salary of $750 per week.[4]
September
- Hitchcock begins assembling a new team of key personnel for his first Paramount film, Rear Window, including assistant director Herbert Coleman, production manager C.O. "Doc" Erickson, cinematographer Robert Burks, editor George Tomasini, costume designer Edith Head, production designer Hal Pereira and his team of Joseph McMillan Johnson, John P. Fulton and John Goodman.[5]
- 11th - John Michael Hayes submits his treatment of Rear Window.[6][7]
October
- Grace Kelly's agent telephones her to let her know she has been offered the role of "Lisa" in Rear Window. Kelly has already been offered the lead role opposite Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront, but jumps at the chance to work with Hitchcock again.[8][9]
- 20th - Screenwriter John Michael Hayes submits the first 21 pages of his initial draft of the Rear Window screenplay. The remaining 146 pages are completed by November 30th.[10][11]
November
- The cast for Rear Window is finalised by mid-November.[12][13][14]
- 13th - Cinematographer Robert Burks begins photography tests on the complex studio set of Rear Window to ensure each part can be lit independently for both day and night scenes.[15][16]
- 27th - Principal photography begins Hitchcock's first film for Paramount, Rear Window, starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly. The first sequence to be filmed is the complex opening title sequence — 10 takes are required before Robert Burks is happy.[17][18][19]
1954
January
- 5th - John Michael Hayes submits a new ending for Rear Window, which is the one used in the released film.[20]
- 13th - Principal photography on Rear Window is completed, 15 days behind schedule. One of the final scenes to be filmed is Hitchcock's cameo appearance in the songwriter's apartment.[21][22]
February
- The Production Code Administration office rejects the initial cut of Rear Window, in particular raising objections to scenes where Miss Torso appears to be topless. According to John Michael Hayes, Hitchcock had done this on purpose to divert their attention from other parts of the film that he had suspected they might object to. The scene is easily replaced with an alternative non-topless take.[23]
- 26th - Several retakes are filmed for Rear Window.[24]
March
- 30th - The Production Code Administration office issues a certificate of approval for Rear Window.[25]
August
- 4th - Rear Window is premiered in New York City at the Rivoli Theater.[26]
- 12th - Rear Window receives its Los Angeles premiere at the Paramount Hollywood Theater.[27]
- 16th - Rear Window receives it's Los Angeles premiere.[28]
September
- Rear Window is released nationally in the United States.[29]
1964
August
- Hitchcock negotiates a new contract with Universal Studios. In return for transferring ownership of Shamley Productions and distribution rights to Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Rope, Rear Window, The Trouble with Harry, The Man Who Knew Too Much and Vertigo, the director becomes the 3rd largest shareholder in the studio.[30]
November
- 22nd - Film editor George Tomasini, who worked with Hitchcock on Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Wrong Man, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, The Birds and Marnie, dies aged 55.
1967
February
- 24th - Composer Franz Waxman, who scored Rebecca, Suspicion, The Paradine Case and Rear Window, dies from cancer aged 60.
1968
September
- 25th - Writer Cornell Woolrich, author of the short story Rear Window was based on, dies aged 64. He lived his final years as a recluse and reportedly no-one attended his funeral.
1969
February
- 5th - Actress Thelma Ritter, who starred in Rear Window, dies of a heart attack aged 66.
1981
October
- 24th - Costume designer Edith Head, who worked with Hitchcock on Notorious, Rear Window, The Trouble with Harry, To Catch a Thief, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, Topaz and Family Plot, dies aged 83.
1990
April
- 17th - Production designer and art director J. McMillan Johnson, who worked on three Hitchcock films including Rear Window and To Catch a Thief, dies aged 77.
1997
July
- 2nd - Actor James Stewart, who starred in "Rope", "Rear Window", "The Man Who Knew Too Much" and "Vertigo", dies aged 89.
2004
July
- 18th - Dancer actress Georgine Darcy, who memorably played the role of "Miss Torso" in Rear Window, dies aged 73.
2007
February
- 15th - Song writer Ray Evans, who worked with Hitchcock on Rear Window and The Man Who Knew Too Much, dies aged 92.
2008
November
- 19th - Playwright John Michael Hayes, who wrote the screenplays for Rear Window, The Trouble with Harry, To Catch a Thief and The Man Who Knew Too Much, dies aged 89.
2009
February
- 27th - Illustrator Dorothea Holt, who worked with Hitchcock on Rebecca, Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt, Rope, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, and The Man Who Knew Too Much, dies aged 94.
References
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 11
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 480
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 6
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 11
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, pages 483-85
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 29
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 483
- ↑ The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock (1983) by Donald Spoto, page 345
- ↑ American Cinematographer (1990) - Hitchcock's Techniques Tell Rear Window Story
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 33
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 483
- ↑ The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock (1983) by Donald Spoto, page 346
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 41
- ↑ American Cinematographer (1990) - Hitchcock's Techniques Tell Rear Window Story
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 41
- ↑ American Cinematographer (1990) - Hitchcock's Techniques Tell Rear Window Story
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 43
- ↑ American Cinematographer (1990) - Hitchcock's Techniques Tell Rear Window Story
- ↑ Patrick McGilligan states filming began in October, but this is likely an error.
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, pages 45-46
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 46
- ↑ American Cinematographer (1990) - Hitchcock's Techniques Tell Rear Window Story
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 46
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 46
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 47
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 51
- ↑ Writing with Hitchcock (2001) by Steven DeRosa, page 118
- ↑ American Cinematographer (1990) - Hitchcock's Techniques Tell Rear Window Story
- ↑ American Cinematographer (1990) - Hitchcock's Techniques Tell Rear Window Story
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 653
