Ep. 32 - Rear Window with Emma Badame
Bust out your telephoto lens, because this week we take a hard look at “Bart of Darkness” (S6E1) and Rear Window (1954) on its 70th anniversary. Nate and Adam are joined by That Shelf Managing Editor and Jeopardy champ Emma Badame to reminisce about baby’s first Alfred Hitchcock movie and the episode of The Simpsons that convinced us to do this podcast.
Also in this episode:
The mystery references of this episode’s Hitchcockian climax
The insanely detailed set and sound design that take this movie from a “bottle episode” to a cinematic classic
Nate’s own Rear Window story and the ethics of neighborliness
Your epidermis is showing
After a short break, we’ll be back on September 24, 2024, with Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) and a retrospective on Springfield’s favorite desperate salesman Ol’ Gil, starting with “Realty Bites” (S9E9).
Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network. Follow us @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Letterboxd.
Every Simpsons Reference to Rear Window
By our count, Rear Window has been directly referenced once in the first 13 seasons of The Simpsons. The only reference appears in “Bart of Darkness” (S6E1) from 1994, 40 years after the release of the movie.
Scene & Plot References
Bart of Darkness (S6E1): Much like Jimmy Stewart’s protagonist Jeff, after Bart breaks his leg he begins peeping on his neighbors, including Jimmy himself. Probably because the female lead of this movie is confusingly also named Lisa, Jimmy calls for “Grace” (as in Grace Kelly) to come see this “sinister looking kid.”
Bart also believes he’s witnessed proof that his neighbor has murdered his wife.
Once Lisa (Simpson) sees the fickleness of popularity firsthand, she begins to help Bart with his investigation, much like Jeff’s girlfriend Lisa (Fremont) in the movie.
The Lisas both agree to find evidence in the potential killer’s home, as their wheelchair bound companions watch in horror through their long lenses.
In both cases, the suspicious neighbor returns home, but while in the Hitchcock version, Lisa manages to evade the killer herself, things play out differently on The Simpsons. Bart decides to make his way to the Flanders house himself, leading to a climax nothing like Rear Window, but very much drawing from Hitchcock’s broader playbook.
Extra Credit
Looking for more like this or an interesting double feature? Here are our recommendations.
From Emma: Marty (1955), and Charade (1963)
From Nate: Zodiac (2007)
From Adam: Panic Room (2002)
Further Reading & Viewing
Encyclopedia Entry: Robert D. Blagg, “Bystander Effect,” Britannica, June 14, 2024.
Article: Michael Lewyn, “Eyes on the Street,” Planetizen, December 21, 2017.
Video Clip: “Too Old to Trick or Treat, Too Young to Die,” That ‘70s Show, October 31, 2000.
Encyclopedia Entry: “Cornell Woolrich,” Wikipedia, accessed August 12, 2024.
“Then I guess everything's wrapped up in a neat little package!”
