Latefah Walker 

Professor Scanlan 

October 22nd, 2020

English 2400- Film and Literature 

Midterm First-Draft 

“Rear Window” and “It had to be Murder”

The film “Rear Window” by Alfred Hitchcock created in 1954 is an adaption of the written work “It had to be Murder” by Cornell Woolrich created in 1942, the depiction of the film is a traditional translation, based on Linda Cahir’s 3 definition of translation. The film and the written work both share the same basic plot line. A man by the name of Hal Jefferies who is suffering from some ailment is in his apartment and at night he peeps out his window and watches his neighbors. He is  very observant which is how he later discovers that one of his neighbors Lars Thorwald has murdered his wife Mrs. Thorwald. It is his mission now to expose the Thorwald for the murderer he is and bring justice to Mrs. Thorwald. The plotline is the same but the details of the two adaptations, some small and others not so small has changed and that truly is what sets the film and the written work apart.

The two adaptations have many similarities and differences, the similarities are not to be overlooked but the differences are what really sets the two works apart and makes it a traditional translation. Starting off the two are very similar in that their is a murder committed by the same character Lars Thorwald and the victim is the same aswell his wife Mrs. Thorwald. Another similarity is that Jefferies is suffering from an ailment that keeps him in his home and all he is left with is peeping on his neighbors. The differences are very noticeable, the first big difference is Stella and Lisa, they’re new to the show, in the reading Stella was a man by the name of Sam and Lisa didn’t exist. Another difference is the way that Jefferies investigated the murder, such as the note scene and his whole career playing a major role in his investigation as well as his survival. Lastly the sounds in the film and the lack of sound in the written work was a big difference for me, yes i know in literary works there is never sound and you go off of the author’s tone/mood but the two felt different to me because if the added sound in the film as well as the tone/mood that the characters portrayed. 

In conclusion the film and written work are very similar but the differences added an intensity to the film that the written work didn’t have and truly made the adaption of the two works a traditional translation. 

Literary term

Digetic sound and non- digetic sounds

Lightening 

Shots- close ups

 

Â