Ep 53: Rear Window & North by Northwest

Flixwise Podcast

We are extremely honored to welcome back to the show renowned author and film historian, James Naremore. He's joining Lady P in covering two of the films tied for the 53rd spot on the Sight and Sound Critics Poll - both of which happen to be directed by Alfred Hitchcock. First up in our Hitch 'Double Feature', the Master of Suspense's 1954 thriller, Rear Window. If you've been following our show for a while, you know that both James and Lady P adore Rear Window co-star, Thelma Ritter. You'll recall that they expounded on her virtues at length in the Journey to Italy episode. If that episode was any indication, expect the Thelma Ritter hour, with a smattering of other details about Jimmy Stewart and the Masculine Gaze thrown in for good measure.

Then, for the second feature, they go on a high stakes jaunt around the Eastern United States, with an in-depth analysis of Hitchcock's 1959 feature, North by Northwest. They talk about how a film with a plot so nonsensical can possibly be considered one of the greatest of all time. Don't worry, there's no contrarianism or hot takes. North by Northwest is an unmistakable masterpiece. The discussion focuses on how the film's shagginess plays to its strengths - namely its sense of humor and over-the-top visuals.

Finally, they wrap things up with a brief discussion on James Naremore's recent projects, including his commentary track for the Criterion edition of Chimes at Midnight.