While it is true that young attractive woman fall for men nearly twice their age, that guy generally has to be attractive in some way. Stewart's character was not attractive in anyway. Never bought it, and it hurt the film.
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The Stewart character was completely unlikeable to me. He acted as though he was doing her a favor to use her when he felt like it and expected her to disappear when he didn't. He was too old for the role, too old for the job description he gave, and too old and mean spirited to ever attract a girl like that.
I guess it's like looking at clouds. You see one thing and I see another. Peace.
He was too old for the role, too old for the job description he gave, and too old and mean spirited to ever attract a girl like that.
And too old for the job? You can't be an action photographer at forty-five? Hell, Teemu Selanne, at forty-three years old, is still playing in the NHL and just led Finland to the bronze medal in ice hockey at the Winter Olympics, receiving MVP honors for the tournament. - joekiddlouischama
Stewart's love for a much younger woman was more believable in "Vertigo." In Rear Window, it's the complete opposite. Still, it didn't ruin the film for me.
When I get excited I sound Caucasian. You know, like that guy from 'Hangin' with Mr. Cooper'. - Griff, MWC
^ That I can agree with. I didn't find it unbelievable, necessarily...but it did feel a little less likely than in other movies where his character was different, and seemingly more desirable for--well, anyone, but especially for a younger woman. I'm living proof that some young females have a general preference for men at least twice their own age, but indeed, there has to be some other attraction factor going on besides "maturity." ;]
Saluki momshare
The casting choice was typical Hitchcock, luscious young babe with grampa. But I'm not sure that's how the characters were written by Cornell Woolrich.
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Please put some dashes above your sig line so I won't think it's part of your dumb post.
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I just took a gander at the short story and the Jeff's age is never given, but if we looked at the script I bet Jeff was no more than mid 30s.
As for the other unworkability issues, well, animal attraction and romantic yearning will bridge some big gaps.
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Please put some dashes above your sig line so I won't think it's part of your dumb post.
that makes a lot of people cling even tighter
Who cares about stairs? The main thing is ice cream.
Maybe she liked the challenge. Anyhow, opposites attract. We have no idea at
the end of the movie, though, that it's going to work out. Kelly didn't have
a ring, either engagement nor wedding, on her left hand in the final scene
when she picked up that magazine.
"Could be worse."
"Howwww?"
"Could be raining."
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As for his personality, he is more grumpy and sarcastic than downright abusive or unpleasant.
I don't remember a girl in Woolrich's story. That doesn't mean there wasn't one.
I think Jimmy Stewart was always attractive. You also have to understand that people in those days weren't so obsessed with the idea that every screen couple had to be Barbie and Ken. And Stewart's character is intelligent and successful, both qualities which women tend to find attractive.
I think it goes to show what her personality is for the movie. She acts like a girl still craving affection from her daddy (she didn't get) which now is a guy 10-15 years older than her. She's drawn to the fact that he ignores her and keeps pushing her away. She will do anything for his acceptance including risking her life by dropping off the note and then going into a murder's apartment.
The development of this relationship is important as to show why she would do the stupid things at the end of the movie including taking the ring to satisfy him but not say anything about it to the cops.
Agreed on all fronts.
On the off-side, I found her incredibly attractive in this film.
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People are forgetting that Jimmy Stewart was considered an extremely desirable leading man in 1954. He was past his physical prime (and was never a Robert Taylor in the looks department), but he was a huge star, a bona fide war hero and beloved by most movie goers. I'm sure that in 1954, very few people thought Stewart was "too old" for Grace Kelly. '
I hear the same criticism for two other movies of the same era:
High Noon ("Gary Cooper was too old for Grace Kelly!")
Love in the Afternoon ("Cooper was too old for Audrey Hepburn!")
These complaints are from people too young to have known how unbelievably iconic Gary Cooper was, or how gorgeous he was in his prime. Movie audiences in the 50's knew all this and all thought Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn were lucky to land such hunks as Coop or Jimmy Stewart.
Chicks dig jerks. It's science.
You just handle the justice, and I'll handle the revenge myself. - Foxy Brown
Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart were before my time, but I have seen their movies and understand their appeal- (Cooper, only somewhat aside from young pretty-boy looks). However, depending on the roles and circumstances, I am very aware of their age and keep thinking- popular or not- their roles were more suitable for younger men.
Now, Clark Gable, on the other hand, is another story. Even in his 50's, he is so robust, (unlike Cooper and Stewart) that he is completely believable with the younger women. Cary Grant, as well, because he is still dashing and debonair in his later years. So, it's not necessarily age that factors so much, it's how the actor carries themselves, even into old age.
Gable may have looked robust, but he died relatively young. Stewart at least had a normal life span. What counts in mid-life and beyond is not getting fat, and paying attention to your cardiologist.
shareI'm talking about the movies, not real-life. Gable died shortly after his movie, "The Misfits," in which he opted to form his own physical stunts, which were rigorous and some say may have sped up his death. If anyone else did what Gable did in the movie, it would've taken a lot out of them as well.
shareI completely agree with you, and let’s not forget about It’s a Wonderful Life. Donna Reed was 13 years younger than Jimmy and I’ve heard complaints about the age difference in that movie, too. And it wasn’t just Jimmy Stewart. How about Charade? Cary Grant was 25 years older than Audrey Hepburn in that movie. Grant was so concerned about the age difference and being perceived as a predator that he initially turned down the offer. But because the producers really wanted Grant for the role, Peter Stone re-wrote the script in one night to make Hepburn appear as the aggressor. No one thought it was a big deal back then, but these days it seems to be very important. I don’t understand why.
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I wonder how old are you people saying a young woman being with an "old" man is creepy.
I don't think James Stewart looked old in Rear Window at all.
Anyway, as long as both parties are adults and they like eachother, enjoy eachother's company and it's even working out for them, is it not their business and not anyone else's?
As to Stewart's character not being likeable, well, Jeff's not much likeable, but he's surely not the biggest idiot ever having a pretty girlfriend. People, both women and men, fall for persons others don't find appealing in any way.
And if James Stewart's not good looking, then who is? Sure, he's not like the pretty stars of these days whom one has to look at twice to be sure they're males, but he's a very fine and handsome man.
I don't think James Stewart looked old in Rear Window at all.
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Well, since movies are chiefly made by men we shouldn't be too surprised that they cater to male fantasies. That's why they often paired Grace Kelly with much older men.
In real life, of course, Jeff ought to consider himself pretty lucky for that catch…and the longer I think about it the more it seems that Thorwald married pretty well, too. Shrewish antics aside, Anna is quite lovely: Young (well, younger than he), blonde, cuts a nice figure in a neglige…
You may cross-examine.
Well, since movies are chiefly made by men we shouldn't be too surprised that they cater to male fantasies. That's why they often paired Grace Kelly with much older men.
In real life, of course, Jeff ought to consider himself pretty lucky for that catch…and the longer I think about it the more it seems that Thorwald married pretty well, too. Shrewish antics aside, Anna is quite lovely: Young (well, younger than he), blonde, cuts a nice figure in a neglige…
You may cross-examine.
In the fifties her and Kelly were the poster girls for co-staring with OLD, old, old men.
These people are ridiculous in their objections to casting older men with younger women.
Look at Tom Cruise's recent film, Edge of Tomorrow. He's 50. Does he look 50? Does it really matter that he's trying to romance a much younger Emily Blunt? Not to me. Age is just a number at one point.
People are forgetting that Jimmy Stewart was considered an extremely desirable leading man in 1954. He was past his physical prime (and was never a Robert Taylor in the looks department), but he was a huge star, a bona fide war hero and beloved by most movie goers. I'm sure that in 1954, very few people thought Stewart was "too old" for Grace Kelly. '
I hear the same criticism for two other movies of the same era:
High Noon ("Gary Cooper was too old for Grace Kelly!")
Love in the Afternoon ("Cooper was too old for Audrey Hepburn!")
These complaints are from people too young to have known how unbelievably iconic Gary Cooper was, or how gorgeous he was in his prime. Movie audiences in the 50's knew all this and all thought Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn were lucky to land such hunks as Coop or Jimmy Stewart.
Let's not forget that women were actually women back then, full of education and common sense. They weren't immature girls obsessing over their latest apps, desperate for someone to say something nice about them. They were far more sophisticated and mature back then.
shareIf he had at least treated her decently, it would have been believable. I just can't believe that a pretty young lady like Lisa would go for a loser who tells her to shut up.
2 things:
- Jeff was set up in a cast for weeks, shouldn't expect some cleaned up gent lol.
- Lisa's purse when they opened it, had 50 cents.
Lisa was probably so bored with city men she'd encountered that Jeff, someone not treating her like an object, switched her on.