Latefah Walker
Professor Scanlan
October 29th, 2020
English 2400-Film and Literature
Midterm Final 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 now his mission to expose 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 . 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 as well 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 as well as discovering that a murder has occurred. These similarities are the basic plotline and what makes the two works traditional translation.
The work’s 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. Sam being a woman named Stella is hard to overlook and that changes the role of the caregiver from that portrayed in the reading. Lisa being included in the story changes it the most, it changes the feeling of Jefferies as well as major scenes. Jefferies is no longer some creepy old man that spies on his neighbors, that is sick, house ridden, lonely and has no visitors like the reading makes him out to be as shown on the first page “ Sure, I suppose it was a little bit like prying , could even have been mistaken for the fevered concentration of a Peeping Tom. That wasn’t my fault, that wasn’t the idea. The idea was, my movements were strictly limited just around this time. I could get from the bed, and from the window, and from the bed to the window , and that was all.” Instead the film makes him out to be someone still vivacious, perceptive, and not down for the count. The major scenes that Lisa changes was the note scene for one, in the reading the caregiver Sam is the one to sneak into the apartment of Thorwald and the one to deliver the note as well but in the film, Lisa, Jefferies love interest is the one to deliver the note as well as the one to sneak into the apartment. The most major differences in that particular scene is when Lisa and Thorwald have their unexpected encounter and he nearly kills her, but the point I want to focus on specifically is how the director used lighting to show that something sinister is happening, when Lisa is confronted by Thorwald the light is on and they’re just talking there is no sign of danger yet, but when Lisa is about to be attacked and potentially killed the light turns off and it’s dark and there’s only shadows and the sound of Lisa screaming for help, but then the cops come to the rescue the light turns on and Lisa is safe. That usage of lighting reinforces the saying that things go bump in the night, that only bad things happen when it’s dark. The lack of lighting gave it a sinister appeal. Not only was this scene excluded from the reading, the lighting of the scene sets it apart from the reading, it gives the scene a suspenseful and intense feeling.
Another difference is Jeffries whole career, in the reading Jefferies career is never mentioned but in the film he is a photographer. His career in the film played a major role in his investigation as well as his survival. The usage of his photography equipment is what assisted him through his investigation. In the film you see Jefferies looking through his lens to watch Thorwald and what he’s doing as well as gaining knowledge on what crimes and sinister things Thorwald is plotting. His equipment also saved his life when he really needed it. Towards the ending of the film when Thorwald finds out that Jefferies knows that he’s a killer, he shows up to Jefferies apartment and attacks him, the director uses a multitude of things to set the mood of the scene, such as lighting, close ups, and sound. The term that is to be focused on is sound, diegetic sound to be exact, the sound of the lightbulbs, and the flash sounds. Jefferies has a pack of lightbulbs and one of his equipment that holds the lightbulbs he uses it to defend himself. He implements his equipment in that when Thorwald shows up and is coming at him he puts a lightbulb in and flashes the light to disorient Thorwald. The sound of the bulbs hitting the metal as Jefferies fumbles to put the bulbs in as well as the sound of the bulbs hitting the ground in the dark, is very suspenseful, it creates so much tension in the scene, you pray that he’s fast enough to get the job done and stay safe. His career played a major role in his survival. The difference in his career in the fim and reading helped add a suspenseful addition to the film that the reading lacked.
Lastly the usage of close ups is implemented a lot in the film, the scene in particular is the scene that was mentioned previously, which is when Thorwald comes to attack Jefferies. The director in that scene used a close up on Thorwald that carried a sinister vibe, it caused the audience to see Thorwald for the villain he truly is. The director used lighting and camera work in this scene, there was no lighting and the director zoomed in so close that you could only see Thorwald’s eyes. Like diegetic sound in the last difference that was made between the film and reading, the use of close up also adds a sense of suspense and tension that the reading lacks.
In conclusion although the film and reading are a traditional translation, and that means they are very similar the differences such as Lisa, and his career added an intensity to the film that the written work lacked. The work of this traditional translation proves that minor changes as well as visual representation truly makes a difference in the effect that a reading and film will have on its audience.
