History in the ‘Rear Window’

For Jennifer O’Callaghan, Hollywood history can teach new generations an invaluable part of American history.

That’s why she chose a classic 1954 thriller for her new book, “Rear Window: The Making of a Hitchcock Masterpiece in the Hollywood Golden Age” (Citadel Press).

Today, Britain’s Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) is revered as a cinematic giant, a rotund creator with a dark sense of humor and a raft of forever-young classics: “The Lady Vanishes,” “Rebecca,” “Notorious,” “Shadow of a Doubt,” “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” “North by Northwest,” “Vertigo” and “Psycho.”

“Rear Window” was a stunt and challenge for Hitchcock who has his heroic professional photographer Jeff (James Stewart), confined to his one-room apartment with a broken leg for the entire film.

Attended by his glamorous, m