Colman Domingo explains his 'wild' theory about Hitchcock classic “Rear Window”

Ryan ColemanFri, June 19, 2026 at 4:15 PM UTC

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Colman Domingo in 'Disclosure Day'; Jimmy Stewart in 'Rear Window'Credit: Niko Tavernise/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment; Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via GettyKey Points -

Colman Domingo is venturing a novel theory about the 1954 suspense classic from director Alfred Hitchcock, Rear Window.

"I have my own theories about the film, that maybe we'll get into, which are pretty wild," the Disclosure Day star told TCM host Ben Mankiewicz on an upcoming "Two for One" segment.

"I have a theory that all those people are in his mind," Domingo said of L. B. "Jeff" Jefferies, the character played by Jimmy Stewart, whom Domingo calls his "North Star as an actor."

Colman Domingo may have at last cracked the code to one of the most enigmatic films from the annals of classic Hollywood.

The actor, playwright, and former photographer goes deep on one of his all-time favorite films — Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece of suspense, Rear Window— on a forthcoming installment of the Turner Classic Movies' pre- and post-screening chat show "Two for One."

"I love how contained it is. There's something about it," Domingo tells longtime TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, ahead of the film's slated runtime on Saturday. "I have my own theories about the film, that maybe we'll get into, which are pretty wild, I think. But as I've talked about these theories to people, what the film actually is, people are — 'Wow, I see it now!'"

The suspense proves too much for Mankiewicz to bear. He prompts the actor to proffer his theory at once, and Domingo obliges.

Colman Domingo at the U.K. premiere of 'Disclosure Day' in London in 2026Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage

Released in 1954, Rear Window holds up as one the great shocker's most elusive mysteries — if not the most elusive. The film stars Jimmy Stewart as photojournalist L. B. "Jeff" Jefferies, who is recuperating in a wheelchair from a work-related injury.

His boredom leads to a consuming interest in the lives of his neighbors in the towering apartment complex in which he resides. The protestations of neither his nurse, Stella (Thelma Ritter), or his girlfriend, Lisa (Grace Kelly) do any good. And an evening of suspicious activity ultimately leads him to suspect his across-the-way neighbor, Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr), of murder.

"Now, I have a theory that all those people are in his mind," Domingo ventures, causing Mankiewicz to drop his head in mock exasperation. But the actor continued undaunted. "My theory is, because of the first shot of Grace Kelly — that fuzzy shot where she comes into his view, and she's coming over and kisses him, it's such an interesting shot. Why would Hitchcock frame her this way? She feels like something of his mind, almost like he needed something else to help him get out there to solve this mystery."

"Even Thelma Ritter. That's a figment of his imagination," Domingo continues. "It's a creation of his mind, it's entertaining himself."

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The shot in question, which arrives near the outset of Rear Window, features a sleeping Jeff, whose face is suddenly pooled over in shadow. It's Lisa, hovering close to him in a close-up so extreme it verges on the surreal. The couple kiss and begin talking about Jeff's leg. "Anything else bothering you?" Lisa asks. "Mhm. Who are you?" Jeff slyly shoots back.

"I've watched this movie so many times and I think, it's all psychological. I think he's having an out-of-body experience. And he's really making these characters live, to discover this thing," Domingo tells Mankiewicz, who begins to see the light when considering the sleeping motif.

"He's sleeping in the end, it's all a dream," the host reasons, prompting Domingo to exclaim, "And he's sleeping at the beginning!" Laughing, Domingo gloats, "See, I'm getting you on board with this."

Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly in 'Rear Window'Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Per Mankiewicz's suggestion, the actor speculated that he may share a "deeper connection" than he ever suspected with Jeff, having aspired to photojournalism when he was in school.

But the connection sustained once he found his calling as an actor. "Jimmy Stewart is my North Star as an actor. If I would ever want to hopefully compare myself to an actor, it would be to Jimmy Stewart," Domingo says. "I think he's someone who, in every single character he plays, finds their humanity. He finds their complexity. He finds their sense of humor. You can't take your eyes off of him... I think he's really one of the greatest actors that has ever been in cinema."

Domingo's "Two for One" begins with Rear Window on June 20 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by a discussion of Paper Moon at 10 p.m. ET.

on Entertainment Weekly

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