Tyler Perry Remaking Hitchcock's 'Rear Window'

Here's a remake I never saw coming: Tyler Perry will make a new version of Rear Window called It Had to Be Murder. Technically, I suppose, it's not really a "remake," but another adaptation of the Cornell Woolrich story that bears the name of the new Perry movie, and the story was also turned into Disturbia a few years ago.Full disclosure: Rear Window is my favorite film. I don't have a top ten or a top twenty or anything, but I know what a few of them would be off the top of my head. Rear Window is just it for me, though, but I'll also acknowledge it's not the best film ever made. That's a separate argument. It is one of Hitchcock's best, however, and is among the highlights of a ten-year period probably unmatched by any other commercial director who has ever lived: Strangers on a Train, Rear Window, North By Northwest, Vertigo, and Psycho were all produced between 1950 and 1960, the last three coming right in a row, which is staggering. But I don't care if Perry remakes it or re-adapts the Woolrich story. It will be quite a bit different, anyway, so it certainly wouldn't make me think less of the Hitch movie even if Perry's update is lousy. Plus, both Hitchcock and Perry have already remade their own films, so this is nothing new. Right now, Perry is only operating as the producer, according to Pajiba, but he has a history of writing and directing, so that wouldn't surprise me. At least it's kind of a bold departure from Madea movies.

Comments

[D]

This still sounds better than Chris Rock rewriting Kurosawa.

[D]

Oh and sorry for the double post, but your point about Hitchcock in 50's really is amazing to give the world that many great movies in that short of a time frame is nuts. Really only Coppola in the 70's (GF, GF II, Conversation, Ap. Now and even the screenplay for Patton) is his only competition for most dominant decade by a filmmaker. (Though I suppose if you count the period from 1975-1985 you could maybe argue for Spielberg for Jaws, Close Encounters, Raiders and ET)

[Taylor]

"Madea Spies on Her Cracker Neighbors" is a horrible idea, but it will still pull in $4.3 Billion in the US alone.