Rear Window:

           An Alfred Hitchcock film made in 1954 by Paramount, an excellent piece of filmmaking, the story is about a photographer (played by James Stewart) who is confined to a wheel chair with a broken leg. He has nothing else to do except for peeping through the zoom lens into various apartment houses surrounding the court yard adjoining the rear of his apartment. All the activities are shown through the rear window from his point of view.  

         His observations make him aware of a murder committed in one of those apartments. Without moving out of his apartment, he solves the mystery with the help of his girl friend (played by Grace Kelly).        

           In the entire film the camera doesn’t more out of the apartment of the photographer except for one instance when he leaves out of the window frame and looks into the adjoining apartment.

           The camera moves out of the window from his point of view, shows the activity in the adjoining apartment and comes back. The entire movement was a single slot, no cuttings, an intelligent use of crane and tracking. The characterization of James Stewart as a photographer also helps technically the implementation of zoom lens in a very effective manner. 

            Once again Alfred Hitchcock brings a touch of excellence in the making of a murder mystery. 

The Seven Year Itch:

            Directed By Billy Wilder the film was made in 1955 for the Twentieth Century – Fox 

          It’s a comedy about a middle-aged businessman (played by Tome Ewell), who meets a beautiful girl (played by Marilyn Monroe) in the absence of his wife.  

           The script was written by Billy Wilder and George Axelrod based on a Broadway play by George Axelrod. 

The Ten Commandments:        

         Contrary to the earlier making of the same subject (1924) by the same director (more…) the film concentrated completely on the Biblical narrations*. Charleston Hesston played Moses supported by Edward G. Robinson, Vincent Price, Yule Brenner, John Carradine, Anne Bancroft and Cedric Hardwick.

            The film was a mega success on Box-Office.

* The 1924 version had a parallel modern story.

         A Mike Todd film produced in 1956 by Todd & United Artists. The film was adapted from the famous novel by Jules Verne.            

        Besides the casting of major characters like Shirley McClain (as Princess Auda), Robert Newton (as Inspector Fix), popular Mexican star Cantinflag (as Passé partout the Valet) & David Niven (as Phileas Fogg); the film had a fleet of about 40 stars including Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Ronald Colman, Charles Boyer, Bustor Keaton and Fernandel giving special appearances. 

             Perelman, John Farrow and James Poe wrote the screenplay. Victor Young scored music. 

            The film received 5 Oscars for the best Picture of the Year, Screenplay, Colour Photography, Music and Editing.

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