"It only takes one witness to spoil the perfect crime."
Rear Window - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
We've become a race of Peeping Toms. What people ought to do is get outside their own house and look in for a change.
— Stella
Context:
Stella delivers this line early in the film while chiding Jeff for his obsessive spying on his neighbors, warning him that "trouble" will come of it.
Meaning:
This line serves as the film's central thesis statement on voyeurism. Stella critiques the modern tendency to pry into the lives of others while ignoring one's own issues. It's a direct challenge to both Jeff and the audience, suggesting introspection as an alternative to observation.
She's too perfect. She's too talented, she's too beautiful, she's too sophisticated, she's too everything but what I want.
— L.B. 'Jeff' Jefferies
Context:
Jeff says this to Stella while complaining about Lisa's desire to marry him. He is trying to justify his reluctance to commit by painting her as someone unsuited to his rugged lifestyle.
Meaning:
This quote perfectly encapsulates Jeff's anxieties about his relationship with Lisa and his fear of commitment. He perceives her perfection not as an asset, but as a sign of their incompatibility, revealing his own insecurities about being tied down to a life he feels is not adventurous enough for him.
You don't know the meaning of the word 'neighbor.' Neighbors like each other, speak to each other, care if somebody lives or dies! But none of you do!
— Woman with the dog
Context:
The woman screams this to the entire courtyard after she discovers that her dog has been murdered. Her grief-stricken outburst breaks the silence and forces the neighbors (and Jeff) to momentarily confront their collective indifference.
Meaning:
This quote is a powerful indictment of the isolation and apathy of the apartment complex's residents. It highlights the film's theme of a failed community, where people live physically close but emotionally distant, indifferent to each other's lives and tragedies.
A woman never goes anywhere but the hospital without packing makeup, clothes, and jewelry.
— Lisa Carol Fremont
Context:
Lisa says this to Jeff and Detective Doyle, arguing that Mrs. Thorwald couldn't have simply gone on a trip because she left behind her most essential personal items, particularly her jewelry and wedding ring.
Meaning:
This line showcases Lisa's sharp intuition and her ability to use her knowledge of the world—in this case, fashion and feminine habits—to find a crucial flaw in Thorwald's story. It's a key moment that demonstrates her intelligence is as valuable as Jeff's observational skills.