Scene 9: Doyle on the case 56:14-1:00:49

Doyle returns to Jeff’s apartment and gives a highly detailed account of Mr Thorwald’s private life including that he always pays his bills on time, that he ‘drinks, but not to drunkenness’. This intrusive report is characteristic of how McCarthyism worked to document the privacy of citizens, reminiscent of the Stasi in Berlin and the KGB in the Soviet Union. This is significant as the film heralds in the beginning of the Cold War where spying and reconnaissance were important to governments.

Doyle suggests that the Thorwalds were seen leaving their apartment at 6.00am, when Jeff admits he had been asleep. Doyle takes a step closer to the window and a smile can be seen spreading across his face. It is revealed that he is leering at Miss Torso until Jeff subtly asks: ‘How’s your wife?’ Although Jeff has highlighted Doyle’s lustful gaze, Jeff too has been looking at Miss Torso lustfully, which highlights the motif of the ‘male gaze’.

Undeterred, Jeff continues to question Doyle about the witness who supposedly saw the Thorwalds leave. Doyle produces a postcard that indicates Mrs Thorwald is alive and well in Merritsville, 80 miles north.

Jeff’s frustration in trying to scratch an itch on his toe mirrors his frustration in breaking the Thorwald case.

Scene 9: Doyle on the case Quotes

‘He’s quiet, drinks, but not to drunkenness. Pays his bills promptly with money earned as a costume jewellery salesman: wholesale. Kept to himself.’ (Doyle about Mr Thorwald) Scene 9

‘How’s your wife?’ (Jeff to Doyle when Doyle leers at Miss Torso) Scene 9

‘If I were caught in there, they’d have my badge within ten minutes.’
‘Make sure you don’t get caught, that’s all.’ (Doyle to Jeff, about not wanting to search Mr Thorwald’s apartment for evidence without a warrant) Scene 9

Scene 10: The case goes cold 1:00:49-1:22:26

The scene opens up with a close-up of a glass of milk, a sandwich, and a camera. Reflected in the lens in the camera are the apartments that Jeff has been watching. Placement of the camera alongside the meal shows that Jeff’s needs to watch is a form of sustenance.

Outside, the dog is lowered once again in the wicker basket to the garden.

Jeff takes up his camera and the faded edge of the shot alert the viewer that they are viewing as Jeff is, through the camera. Miss Lonelyhearts is doing her make-up in preparation for a night out. She has a couple of shots of alcohol to fortify herself before leaving, displaying her trepidation.

Miss Lonelyheart’s depression and isolation is contrasted with the lighter mood of other apartment residents, such as the Songwriter’s apartment as he smiles amidst the company of two women and Miss Torso as she practises her dancing with company.

Miss Lonelyhearts is seen crossing the street. She becomes aware of a man who gazes at her in passing and is also watched by a patron as she enters the diner across the road.

Entering the scene of Miss Lonelyhearts at the diner, Mr Thorwald takes front and centre in Jeff’s lens as he passes in front of the diner. Jeff immediately tracks Mr Thorwald’s movements as he enters his apartment with a box of men’s shirts. Triggered by Thorwald’s actions, Jeff calls Lieutenant Doyle although he is not home and his wife says that she’ll have him call back. Jeff insists that he should just come over rather than call. Jeff indicates that the message is about Thorwald but reassures her that ‘Thorwald’s a man, don’t worry’.

Jeff observes Thorwald pulling out pieces of jewellery from the alligator handbag his wife used to keep on her bedpost.

Lisa arrives into Jeff’s dimly-lit apartment and Jeff proceeds to explain Thorwald’s ‘laying out all his things on one of the beds’. The contrast between Jeff’s dimly-lit apartment and Thorwald’s brightly-lit apartment implies guilt in Jeff’s spying, in that it is done covertly, compared to Thorwald’s overtness in acting in plain sight.

Thorwald leaves the apartment. Lisa turns on the lights and outlines her theory that a woman would not leave her handbag behind or put her jewellery in it so it would get scratched and tangled, therefore, Mrs Thorwald had not voluntarily gone on a trip. She further suggests that although witnesses saw Mr Thorwald leave the apartment with a woman, the woman could not have been Mrs Thorwald.

Lisa indicates that she will be staying the night, which for its time would have been quite scandalous given she and Jeff were unmarried. Lisa meets Jeff’s challenge that she would be unable to live out of a suitcase when she shows him her compact overnight bag and its ample contents. When Lisa places her bag down, the delicate fabric of her overnight attire contrasts the mise-en scene of Jeff’s apartment, which is filled with explosive action photos and heavy trinkets from far-away places.

Lisa notes the Songwriter is playing ‘that song again’.

As Lisa prepares coffee and brandy, Jeff sees the Newlywed husband, Harry, having a cigarette out of the window, before being summoned once again by his wife.

A clearly exhausted Doyle arrives and hears Lisa humming from the kitchen and notices her overnight bag with its contents spilled out. The camera follows Doyle’s gaze to the Songwriter’s apartment which is full of party revellers. Like Jeff, Doyle’s eyes move from apartment to apartment and he asks Jeff as to any new evidence he has discovered.

Lisa brings the brandy, and a sly grin appears on Doyle’s face, perhaps almost congratulating Jeff on his conquest. His gaze returns to the nightwear protruding from the overnight bag. Sensing Doyle’s connecting of the evidence that suggests Lisa and Jeff will be spending the night together, Jeff warns him with a ‘careful, Tom’, indicating Doyle should not pursue the matter further.

As the three share a brandy, Lisa and Jeff put their evidence regarding the jewellery, the handbag, the knife and the saw to Doyle. Doyle is dismissive, saying ‘that feminine intuition stuff sells magazine but in real life, it’s still a fairy tale’. Ironically, Lisa’s intuition is 100 per cent accurate.

Doyle is satisfied with his own answers to all of the evidence Jeff and Lisa present and, sensing their disappointment that he will not pursue the case, leaves the apartment, announcing that the phone call he received while at the apartment was from the police at Merritsville stating that Mrs Thorwald had just collected the trunk.

Upon Doyle’s departure, Lisa and Jeff resume gazing out the window. They notice the Songwriter looks despondent and seemingly still lonely despite being surrounded by a room full of people appearing to have fun, emblematic of the fact that one can feel lonely despite being surrounded by many people.

Jeff sneaks a peak at Miss Torso.

Miss Lonelyhearts arrives home with a date who Lisa and Jeff critically judge as a bit young for her. The young date perceives his invitation as a physical opportunity and forces himself on Miss Lonelyhearts, who rejects the advance and pushes him out of her apartment before collapsing in sorrow. After such a scene, Jeff is forced to question whether it is ethical to be watching ‘a man with binoculars and a long-focus lens’. Lisa has also experienced some remorse in her behaviour at having been swept up in the idea of a crime being committed. She had become preoccupied with solving a crime without regard for the human aspect, that is, that a woman may have been murdered.

For the first time since the opening scene when the curtains in Jeff’s apartment are raised, Lisa lowers them, signifying they feel their time of voyeurism is over and experiencing guilt at their own behaviour.

Scene 10: The case goes cold Quotes

‘Well, I never saw him ask her for advice. She volunteered plenty, but I never saw him ask her for any.’ (Jeff to Lisa about Thorwald) Scene 10

‘I guess it’s safe to put on lights.’ (Lisa to Jeff) Scene 10

‘Women aren’t that unpredictable.’ (Lisa to Jeff) Scene 10

‘Why, a woman going anywhere but the hospital would always take make-up, perfume and jewellery.’ (Lisa to Jeff) Scene 10

‘You said I’ll have to live out of one suitcase. I’ll bet yours isn’t this small.’ (Lisa to Jeff) Scene 10

‘Besides, you’re not up on your private eye literature. When they’re in trouble, it’s always their Girl Friday that gets them out of it.’ (Lisa to Jeff) Scene 10

‘That’s a secret, private world you’re looking into out there. People do a lot of things in private they couldn’t do in public.’ (Doyle to Jeff and Lisa) Scene 10

‘That feminine intuition stuff sells magazines but in real life, it’s still a fairy tale.’ (Doyle to Jeff and Lisa) Scene 10

‘I wonder if it’s ethical to watch a man with binoculars and a long-focus lens.’ (Jeff to Lisa) Scene 10

‘Do you suppose it’s ethical, even if you prove that he didn’t commit a crime?’ (Jeff to Lisa) Scene 10

‘Of course, they can do the same thing to me, watch me like a bug under a glass, if they want to.’ (Jeff to Lisa) Scene 10

Scene 11: A dog’s death reopens the case 1:22:26-1:34:23

Although the case appears to be closed, one small event will reignite Jeff’s interest in the case. It involves the neighbour’s dog. At the opening of the scene, Jeff is still behind closed blinds and has turned his attention to Lisa who has modelled her nightware.

This is interrupted by a scream from outside. The curtains are opened once again, symbolic of the reopening of the case. At the sound of the scream, the surrounding apartment occupants begin opening windows and doors to see what has occurred. The neighbour’s dog lays dead in the courtyard. Miss Lonelyhearts, who has gone to the dog and examined him, announces that he is dead, his neck broken.

The Woman from the Fire Escape, the dog’s owner, yells to the residents of the complex asking which one of them killed her dog, and stating that they ‘don’t know the meaning of the word “neighbours”. Neighbours like each other’.

Close-ups of Miss Torso, Jeff, Lisa and Miss Lonelyhearts show that the Woman’s emotional plea has struck a chord, but, as if to confirm her accusations, as soon as the dog’s body is removed, the Songwriter’s party continues and the neighbours return to their homes, not offering any support.

Jeff notices Thorwald was the only neighbour who didn’t come to his window and small glowing embers from his cigarette in a pitch-black apartment indicate that he is inside. This is enough to reignite Jeff and Lisa’s suspicions regarding Thorwald.

After a fade to black transition, an over-shoulder shot reveals that Stella has joined Jeff and Lisa and all three are spying on Thorwald, who is cleaning his bathroom walls. Stella speaks in her usual frank manner and her choice of words unsettle Lisa’s sensibilities. Stella points out that ‘nobody every invented a polite word for a killing yet’.

Jeff notices something and asks Lisa to fetch a viewer and some slides that he had taken of the garden some time earlier. A first-person view replicating the placement and removal of the viewer to Lisa’s eye reveals a difference in the height of several flowers. Jeff points out the difference and they remember this is where the dog was sniffing when Thorwald shooed it away. They believe something must be buried there. Lisa suggests it may be Mrs Thorwald. Stella points out that its not enough room for a body to be buried. They agree it may be the knife, and Lisa offers to go over and dig around when it gets darker. This demonstration of Lisa’s boldness surprises Jeff who takes the role of a masculine protector, telling her she should not go.

Upon seeing Thorwald packing, the trio embark on a new plan and write a note to Mr Thorwald asking, ‘what have you done with her?’

In a wide shot that reveals both Thorwald’s apartment and the hallway outside his apartment, Thorwald is seen smoking while Lisa arrives to deliver the note. Thorwald is alerted to the note coming under the door but by the time he opens the door, Lisa has disappeared from the hallway. Thorwald immediately races out of his apartment. An external shot of the building shows Lisa’s escape and a mid-shot of Stella and Jeff shows their relief.

Thorwald continues packing. Stella, who was adamant that all of this spying out the window would lead to trouble, has slowly become a part of the watching and takes Jeff’s camera to observe the neighbours. She focuses on Miss Lonelyhearts, who is pouring a handful of pills into her hand.

Lisa reappears and a close-up of Jeff’s face shows admiration as the group quickly resume their focus on Thorwald, relegating the situation regarding Miss Lonelyhearts to lesser importance, perhaps supporting the allegation of the dog owner that the neighbours do not look after each other or ‘care if they live or die’.

As the trio observe Thorwald again going through his wife’s handbag, the topic of her wedding ring comes up and a discussion takes place about the fact that a woman would not be separated from her wedding ring. This emblematises the sanctity of marriage and that although the women are seen as emerging and gaining in independence, there is still a security to be found in marriage.

The two women boldly plan to dig in the garden in search of the ring. Considering Jeff’s evaluation of women in the initial stages of the film, this contradicts his opinion that women are unable to do the things that he would do. Jeff has a plan to phone Thorwald to lure him from the apartment.

A long shot reveals Miss Lonelyhearts closing her blinds.

Thorwald answers Jeff’s phone call. Jeff feigns that he is blackmailing Thorwald and arranges to meet him at the Albert Hotel for ‘a little business meeting to settle the estate of your late wife’.

Scene 11: A dog’s death reopens the case Quotes

‘You don’t know the meaning of the word “neighbours”. Neighbours like each other, speak to each other, care if anybody lives or dies! But none of you do!’ (Woman on the balcony on learning her dog had been killed) Scene 11

‘You know, for a minute, that Tom Doyle almost had me convinced I was wrong.’ (Jeff to Lisa) Scene 11

‘Nobody ever invented a polite word for a killing yet.’ (Stella to Jeff and Lisa) Scene 11

What have you done with her? (Jeff’s note to Mr Thorwald) Scene 11

Scene 12: Lisa collects evidence 1:34:23-1:44:51

Lisa and Stella leave Jeff’s apartment to enter Thorwald’s residence and Jeff says that he will signal with a flashbulb if he sees Thorwald returning. Jeff then dials Lieutenant Doyle but only manages to contact the babysitter, asking her to get Doyle to contact him the minute he returns. Through Jeff’s lens, the viewer sees that Thorwald has left and Jeff gets his flash ready to signal.

While Jeff watches the women dig in the garden, he still finds time to look at the Songwriter’s apartment and also notices Miss Lonelyhearts writing a note.

A first-person view through Jeff’s telephoto lens shows a close-up of Stella shaking her head to indicate they have found nothing in the garden. Lisa decides to enter Thorwald’s apartment via the fire escape.

Once again, the first-person telephoto view reveals that the search has been fruitless as Lisa reveals the handbag is empty. Jeff is anxious, and urges her to leave the apartment under his breath. Stella returns to Jeff and says that Lisa said to ring Thorwald’s phone when they see him return.

Stella notices that Miss Lonelyhearts has positioned her note in the manner of a suicide note and, realising the extent of Miss Lonelyhearts’ intentions, she urges Jeff to call the police. As the musicians in the Songwriter’s apartment continue, their music causes Miss Lonelyhearts to pause and Stella says: ‘Mr Jefferies, the music stopped her’. This is a rare sign of neighbours producing something positive to help one another, albeit unknowingly.

A wide shot reveals Miss Lonelyhearts’ and Mr Thorwald’s apartment, Miss Lonelyhearts enthralled by the music stares out the window, as does Lisa. To the top left of screen, Thorwald is seen returning. Jeff and Stella have failed to notice and warn Lisa. Lisa triumphantly holds up the jewellery that she has found. A mid-shot of Jeff and Stella reveals their shock and fear as they notice Thorwald has returned, trapping Lisa in the apartment. Lisa hides and a windowpane reflection shows Thorwald entering his apartment.

Jeff, who had been on hold with the police after calling in relation to Miss Lonelyhearts, now informs the precinct that a man is assaulting a woman at 125 West Ninth Street.

Thorwald notices that something is amiss and then notices Lisa. He follows her menacingly as she retreats towards the door with the jewels in one hand behind her back, appearing to offer an explanation as to why she is in his apartment. With just one hand, he violently throws her. This displays that despite Lisa’s boldness, Lisa is still vulnerable to the brute physical force of a man. A close-up of Jeff’s face reveals the anguish that this violence is causing him.

The scene alternates between the anguish on Jeff’s face and the events taking place in Thorwald’s apartment with Thorwald threateningly looming over Lisa, demanding the jewels. Lisa cries for Jeff as Thorwald turns out the lights. This is another example of when characters know they are doing the wrong thing and wanting to remain in the dark.

Just in time, the police arrive, and Thorwald stops his attack on Lisa and turns on the light to answer the door. The police enter the apartment and Stella questions why Lisa doesn’t inform on Thorwald for attacking her. Jeff acknowledges Lisa’s intelligence in that he realises that she would be arrested for illegally entering the apartment.

Lisa subtly signals to Jeff and Lisa that she has Mrs Thorwald’s wedding ring by putting her hand behind her back and pointing to the ring with her other hand. Jeff and Stella notice this, Jeff through his telephoto lens and Stella through the use of binoculars. A point of view through the telephoto lens shows that Thorwald also noticed the signal and his eyes meet Jeff’s for the first time. Jeff immediately asks Stella to turn off the light, reinforcing that darkness will give some anonymity to their actions.

Jeff and Stella immediately gather together some money for Lisa’s suspected bail that Jeff estimates will be $250. Ironically, when they go to Lisa’s handbag, she only has fifty cents. This infers that glamourous women like Lisa can make their way through the world on the kindness of men, a point that seems to be reaffirmed when Stella states: ‘When those cops see Lisa, they’ll even contribute’.

Stella leaves with the bail money as Doyle returns Jeff’s call. Jeff relays the events of the night and the implication of the evidence involving the wedding ring, seemingly with a sense of pride at Lisa’s daring quest into Thorwald’s apartment.

Scene 12: Lisa collects evidence Quotes

‘Mr Jefferies, the music stopped her.’ (Stella to Jeff when Miss Lonelyhearts is stopped from suiciding by the music from the Songwriter’s apartment) Scene 11

‘When those cops see Lisa, they’ll even contribute’. (Stella to Jeff about the shortfall on Lisa’s bail) Scene 11

Scene 13: Thorwald attacks Jeff 1:44:51-1:50:31

A semi-long shot of Thorwald’s apartment shows that it is completely dark. The lack of cigarette glow suggests that Thorwald is not in the apartment. Jeff’s phone rings, and he suspects it is Doyle. When there is no answer at the end of the line, Jeff wonders whether it may have been Thorwald. After Thorwald’s direct gaze at him, Jeff suspects that Thorwald is after him.

A close-up of Jeff’s face reveals his panic. He slowly turns his wheelchair around so that he is facing the front door to his apartment and attempts to get out of his chair, perhaps to lock the door, but is unable to. The light that had been visible under the door from the hallway is extinguished.

Jeff retreats from the door with his back to the window and arms himself with his flashgun and several flash bulbs. The door slowly opens, Thorwald enters, his face completely covered by shadow. As he closes the door, he faces off with Jeff in the dark apartment and asks Jeff what he wants from him. Thorwald’s place on the landing means he towers over Jeff in his chair, making Thorwald appear intimidating and powerful. Jeff does not reply to Thorwald’s questions.

As Thorwald moves towards Jeff, Jeff covers his own eyes and fires a bright flash in Thorwald’s direction. The bright light makes Thorwald wince, causing him to stop in his tracks, temporarily blinded. As the characters throughout the film have enjoyed the anonymity of a dark place when conducting activities that seem dubious, the bright light represents the exposure of their ill-deeds. Jeff continues to fire off flashbulbs that halt Thorwald’s advance. Special effects applied to Thorwald’s perspective show that the flash initially blinds him and then, after an orange haze, that he regains his sight. Thorwald’s walk is laboured and hulking, giving him a monster-like appearance.

Noticing that the detectives have returned to Thorwald’s apartment, Jeff screams across the courtyard to get their attention as Thorwald seizes him around the throat. Lisa notices the struggle and alerts the others. Neighbours emerge from their apartments as the struggle continues. Thorwald is attempting to throw Jeff from his apartment window. In a succession of rapid-movement shots, the complex bursts into life with neighbours appearing to watch the event, and the police and Doyle racing towards Jeff apartment.

An upward pan from Doyle on the ground floor reveals Jeff dangling precariously from his window. Doyle aims a gun at Thorwald but does not shoot as Thorwald is restrained by police from within the apartment. However, a dramatic shot from above Jeff, which employs special effects, shows Jeff fall from his window and crash to the courtyard below. Doyle, Stella and Lisa race to his aid. Despite his obvious pain, Jeff appears glad that Lisa is fine, and a close-up of a loving look he gives her as she cradles her head in her arms reveals that his feelings for her have grown, feelings that are confirmed when he says: ‘Gee, I’m proud of ya’.

In an exchange between Doyle on the ground floor and a detective in Jeff’s apartment, the detective reveals that Thorwald is willing to confess and take them ‘on a tour of the East River’.

Stella prompts Doyle to ask what was buried in the garden bed and the detective confirms that the dog had been too inquisitive and Thorwald had removed the buried object and put it in a hatbox in his apartment. Doyle asks Stella if she wants to have a look and Stella replies that she doesn’t ‘want any part of her’, which brings a surprised expression to her face as she realises the macabre irony that it may Mrs Thorwald’s head that is in hatbox. This reinforces the impersonality through which Mrs Thorwald has been viewed, as an object of voyeurism, and contrasts her personal situation as a victim of a crime.

Scene 13: Thorwald attacks Jeff Quotes

‘Gee, I’m proud of ya.’ (Jeff to Lisa) Scene 12

‘No thanks. I don’t want any part of her.’ (Stella to policeman who offers her to have a look at what Thorwald had initially buried in the garden bed) Scene 12

Scene 14: Resolution 1:50:31-1:53:39

After a transition fade to black, a close-up of the thermometer reveals that the temperature, while still hot, has started to subside, introducing the resolution to the film.

The camera pans across the apartment windows, as it has done throughout the film. As there has been no reference to Jeff, the viewer is unaware if it is solely the viewer watching the scene or if Jeff is also watching. The first apartment is the Songwriter’s apartment where Miss Lonelyhearts and the Songwriter, dressed in light summer outfits, appear to have found a more positive outlook. The Songwriter places his recording on the turntable and Miss Lonelyhearts explains that she cannot tell him what the music has meant to her. The song will be the soundtrack that plays out the film, a song which Lisa had previously called ‘our song’, referencing Jeff, and which is now complete with orchestral backing, signifying the growth in their relationship.

The camera pans left and reveals the Thorwald apartment being painted, signifying a fresh start.

The pan continues upward to where the Man and Woman from the Fire Escape are enjoying the cooler weather and lowering a new dog in the wicker basket to the garden.

The continued downward left rests at Miss Torso’s apartment as she affectionately welcomes her new partner, Stanley. Stanley’s height, stature and humble service uniform are a far cry from the rich wolf-like men who have been circling Miss Torso for most of the film. This added information adjusts any viewer’s preconceived views that Miss Torso was superficial and lacked substance.

A further downward pan sees Miss Hearing Aid asleep outside in a sun chair.

The Newlyweds appear in a post-honeymoon phase, the wife’s scolding of her husband lending support to Jeff’s characterisation of wives as nags.

As the camera retreats to Jeff’s apartment, the viewer realises that they have been watching the scene alone, as Jeff symbolically has his back towards the window and is asleep. A contented look on Jeff’s face belies the fact that he now has two legs in plaster casts. Lisa is laying on the lounge in sensible attire that befits Jeff’s lifestyle. The cover of the book she is reading Beyond the high Himalayas suggests she has bought into Jeff’s rugged nature until, fully certain Jeff is asleep, she places the book down and picks up a copy of the fashion magazine, Harpers Bazaar. This shows Lisa has fulfilled the challenges set by Jeff at the outset of the film about balancing a glamourous and intrepid life. Throughout the film we have seen her scale fire escapes and windows in high heels and elegant dresses and boldly confront a murderer. This encapsulates the film’s commentary on the emergence of a modern woman in the period following WW2.