At the movie’s outset, extreme boredom has driven its protagonist L.B. Jeffries into observing his neighbors’ lives through their apartment windows. Because Jeffries has a broken leg and is confined to a wheelchair, his perspective is limited and changes very little. Jeffries’ perception of his neighbors’ lives is conveyed through static shots of the outside of their windows. The decision to frame these scenes through windows, rather than through close-up shots of the apartments’ interiors, creates a sense of distance between Jeffries and the people he watches. Since the window frame is always present, the viewer is always aware of the act of watching they are participating in. As Jeffries’ neighbors move in and out of frame, it is as though they are moving about a movie screen, or a theater set. The effect of these shots is the impression of a frame within a frame, which highlights how boxed in Jeffries feels by his limited perspective.
As the film’s murder plot progresses, what occurs unseen beyond the bounds of the window frames becomes just as important as what is visible through them. The limitations of this framing work as a visual device to increase the suspense of the film while also providing insight into character dynamics. The relationship of the Thorwald couple, around which the murder mystery turns, is emphasized by the framing of their apartment. Mr. and Mrs. Thorwald have separate rooms, which are painted distinctly different colors. Their rooms’ windows are separated not only by a brick wall, but also by a drainpipe that runs down it, creating a clear visual indication of separation and contrast that reflects their strained relationship.
As the murder mystery’s stakes become higher, the limitations of these frames decrease to highlight Jeffries’ increasing personal involvement. During the climax of the film, Mr. Thorwald breaks into Jeffries’ apartment to confront him. When Thorwald attacks him, Jeffries falls out of his apartment window, breaking the restrictive framing of the film and his limited perspective. In this moment, Jeffries becomes an active participant in the world he had only previously been observing.