1953
Confined to his apartment with a broken leg, photographer L. B. Jefferies suspects his neighbor, Lars Thorwald, of murder after his invalid wife disappears. With the help of his girlfriend Lisa and nurse Stella, Jefferies gathers circumstantial evidence, despite the skepticism of his detective friend. Lisa's brave attempt to find evidence in Thorwald's apartment leads to her arrest and escalates the danger, prompting Thorwald to confront Jefferies. Thorwald attacks Jefferies, pushing him from his window, but the police arrive to arrest Thorwald, allowing Jefferies to recover and deepen his relationship with Lisa.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Photographer Jeff is confined to his apartment and passes the time by watching his neighbors.
Open full beat sheetL. B. Jefferies is listed as Protagonist. A tall, lean, energetic photographer with a broken leg in a wheelchair. In the parsed data, L. B. Jefferies is connected to 43 scenes, 190 dialogue lines, 192 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
43 scenes / 190 dialogue linesLisa Fremont is listed as Love Interest. A beautiful, sophisticated, and talented woman. In the parsed data, Lisa Fremont is connected to 23 scenes, 84 dialogue lines, 88 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
23 scenes / 84 dialogue linesStella McGaffery is listed as Nurse. A husky, unhandsome, dark-haired insurance company nurse. In the parsed data, Stella McGaffery is connected to 20 scenes, 65 dialogue lines, 65 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
20 scenes / 65 dialogue linesLars Thorwald is listed as Antagonist. A salesman living in the apartment across the courtyard. In the parsed data, Lars Thorwald is connected to 13 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 42.
13 scenes / 9 dialogue linesThomas J. Doyle is listed as Detective. A police detective and friend of Jeff. In the parsed data, Thomas J. Doyle is connected to 8 scenes, 81 dialogue lines, 82 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
8 scenes / 81 dialogue linesIvar Gunnison is listed as Editor. Jeff's editor at the magazine. In the parsed data, Ivar Gunnison is connected to 3 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
3 scenes / 7 dialogue linesJack Bryce is listed as Assistant Editor. Gunnison's assistant. In the parsed data, Jack Bryce is connected to 1 scene, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
1 scenes / 4 dialogue linesIntroduction to Jefferies' apartment and the view of the neighborhood.
L. B. JefferiesGunnison and Bryce discuss Jefferies' potential assignment to Indo-China.
Ivar Gunnison, Jack BryceJeff talks to Gunnison on the phone while observing the neighborhood.
L. B. Jefferies, Ivar GunnisonStella arrives to check on Jeff and they discuss his behavior.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGafferyStella massages Jeff's back while they discuss his relationship with Lisa Fremont and his reluctance to marry.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGafferyJeff observes his neighbors through the window, including a newlywed couple.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGafferyLisa arrives for dinner, they discuss their relationship, and Jeff observes Miss Lonely Hearts.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa FremontJeff and Lisa discuss the neighbors while having dinner.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa FremontA heated argument between Jeff and Lisa about their future and lifestyles.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa FremontJeff calls Gunnison to confirm his trip to Indo-China.
L. B. Jefferies, Ivar GunnisonJeff observes the salesman making multiple trips with his suitcase during the night.
L. B. Jefferies, Lars ThorwaldJeff wakes up at dawn to see the salesman leaving with a woman.
L. B. Jefferies, Lars ThorwaldStella massages Jeff's back while they discuss his sleeping habits.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGafferyStella massages Jeff's back while they discuss the neighbors, specifically the salesman Lars Thorwald.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGafferyThe salesman looks out his window, causing Jeff and Stella to hide. Jeff observes the salesman's behavior.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGaffery, Lars ThorwaldStella leaves, and Jeff prepares to watch the salesman with binoculars and a camera.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGafferyLisa visits Jeff. They discuss the salesman's suspicious activities, and Lisa begins to share Jeff's concern.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa FremontJeff and Lisa communicate via phone to confirm the salesman's identity.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa FremontJeff watches Thorwald's apartment while on the phone with Lisa.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa FremontJeff talks to Doyle on the phone while Stella brings him breakfast.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGaffery, Thomas J. DoyleJeff and Stella watch Thorwald's apartment as men arrive to move a trunk.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGaffery, Lars ThorwaldDoyle visits Jeff to discuss the case.
L. B. Jefferies, Thomas J. DoyleDoyle returns to report on his findings.
L. B. Jefferies, Thomas J. DoyleJeff watches Miss Lonely Hearts through his camera.
L. B. JefferiesJeff observes the neighborhood through his long-focus lens, noticing the songwriter and Miss Torso.
L. B. JefferiesJeff observes Thorwald packing and calls Mrs. Doyle to check on Tom.
L. B. Jefferies, Lars ThorwaldLisa arrives at Jeff's apartment and they discuss Thorwald's suspicious behavior.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa Fremont, Lars ThorwaldDoyle arrives and discusses the Thorwald case with Jeff and Lisa.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa Fremont, Thomas J. DoyleDoyle argues with Jeff and Lisa about the Thorwald case, dismissing their suspicions and claiming the wife is alive.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa Fremont, Thomas J. DoyleJeff and Lisa observe the neighborhood, witnessing a dramatic scene at Miss Lonely Hearts' apartment.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa FremontLisa models a nightgown for Jeff, but their moment is interrupted by a scream.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa FremontThe neighborhood discovers a dead dog in the courtyard.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa FremontJeff, Lisa, and Stella observe Thorwald cleaning his bathroom and notice a suspicious dip in the flower bed.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa Fremont, Stella McGafferyJeff, Lisa, and Stella discuss the suspicious activity in Thorwald's apartment and decide to investigate.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa Fremont, Stella McGafferyJeff writes a threatening note to Thorwald.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa Fremont, Stella McGafferyLisa delivers the note to Thorwald's door while Jeff watches.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa Fremont, Stella McGaffery, Lars ThorwaldJeff calls Thorwald to lure him out of the apartment.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa Fremont, Stella McGaffery, Lars ThorwaldLisa and Stella dig in the garden while Jeff monitors the situation.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa Fremont, Stella McGafferyLisa searches Thorwald's apartment while Thorwald returns unexpectedly.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa Fremont, Stella McGaffery, Lars Thorwald, Thomas J. DoyleJeff and Stella watch the police arrive at Thorwald's apartment to arrest Lisa.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGaffery, Lars Thorwald, Lisa FremontJeff and Stella discuss Lisa's situation and prepare bail money.
L. B. Jefferies, Stella McGaffery, Lisa FremontJeff speaks with Doyle on the phone, then Thorwald enters Jeff's apartment.
L. B. Jefferies, Thomas J. Doyle, Lars ThorwaldJeff falls from the window and is rescued by police.
L. B. Jefferies, Lars Thorwald, Thomas J. Doyle, Lisa Fremont, Stella McGafferyA panoramic view of the neighborhood apartments showing various residents' activities.
The songwriter plays his new symphonic song for Miss Lonely Hearts.
Thorwald's apartment is empty and being repainted.
Lars ThorwaldThe siffleuse and her husband train their dog.
Miss Torso welcomes home her soldier boyfriend.
The newlyweds are arguing.
Jeff sleeps in his wheelchair while Lisa reads nearby.
L. B. Jefferies, Lisa FremontWhich one of you did it? Which one of you killed my dog? You don't know the meaning of the word "neighbor". Neighbors like each other -- speak to each other -- care if anybody lives or dies. But none of you do! You don't talk, you don't help, you -- you don't --- Even see. But I couldn't imagine any Even of you being so low that you'd kill a little helpless, friendly dog! The only thing in this whole neighborhood who liked anybody!
Not a bit. I was all morning in a sales meeting. Then over to the Waldorf for a quick drink with Madame Dufresne -- just over from Paris. With some spy reports. Back to the "21" for lunch with the Harper's Bazaar people -- that's when I ordered dinner. Then two Fall showings -- twenty blocks apart. Then I had to have a cocktail with Leland and Slim Hayward -- we're trying to get his next show. Then I had to dash back and change.
He has a six months lease, and has used up a little over five and a half months of it. Quiet. Drinks, but not to drunkenness. Pays his bill promptly, with money earned as a consume jewelry salesman -- wholesale. Keeps to himself, and none of the neighbors got close to him, or his wife.
In sections! And one other thing, doubting Tom -- it just occurred to me that all the calls Thorwald made were long distance! If he called his wife the day she left -- after she arrived in Merritsville -- why did she need to send him a postcard saying she'd arrived?
From the looks of Davidson's cable, it might even go higher than that. And we haven't even got a camera over there.
I thought Doyle would get here before the trunk went -- or I'd have called the police. Now we're going to lose it.
It's happened before, you know! Some of the world's happiest marriage have started 'under the gun' you might say.
Depends on the quote. Let's see -- there's the plane tickets over, import duties, hidden taxes, profit markups --
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