Rear Window and CSI
When comparing forensic scenes in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” to CSI it is clear that technological, individual, and professional differences are numerous while personal intentions remain the same. Hitchcock’s main character, L.B. Jeffries, suffers from a broken leg and is bored to the point of watching the lives of his neighbors. One married couple in particular arouses suspicion with arguments and strange behavior. Jeffries begins to collect informal data from his bedroom window using only binoculars. He watches his “suspect” leave at unusual hours of the night, sees the man wrapping up knives, binding rope, and then notices his sick wife is no longer in the apartment. For Jeffries, this is enough evidence to arouse his curiosity into believing a murder must have taken place.
In the clip from CSI, a pair of twins is murdered with one bullet in what seems to look like a warehouse. The data collection process on the part of the detective is slightly more formal than that of L.B. A bullet, DNA, and bodies are recovered to help assist the process of solving the crime. Legitimate theories were discussed with various professionals to reach a logical conclusion.
Although Jeffries was motivated by boredom, while the detective was simply doing his job, in the end the goal was the same. Both men knew wrong had been committed that needed to be made right. In the case of L.B. we know he was injured, bored, confused about his own life, and seemingly depressed, while we know nothing about the detective. We can only assume that he began his career in forensics in order to provide a much needed serve that he believed was important. Perhaps despite social status, self-satisfaction, occupation, and any other differences human beings have a subconscious desire to solve problems when the circumstances become apparent.
