Celebrity Justice
Spielberg Accused of Back-Dooring Hitchcock

Posted Sep 8th 2008 7:15PM by TMZ Staff

That whole "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" isn't sitting well with the inspiration behind the classic film "Rear Window."
Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock
Seems the people who own the short story that ultimately became "Rear Window" are deeply disturbed over "Disturbia" ... so disturbed they've filed suit in NYC, claiming the Shia LaBeouf flick is a blatant ripoff.

When Alfred Hitchcock and James Stewart did "Rear Window" in 1954, they first commissioned the short story, "Murder from a Fixed Viewpoint." The people who own that story say "Disturbia" is a carbon copy of "Window" and therefore Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks should have also obtained permission from the owners of "Murder from a Fixed Viewpoint."

The lawsuit claims "Disturbia" and "Rear Window" stories are "essentially the same" -- a Peeping Tom watches creepy neighbor type flick -- and attacks Spielberg's "back-door use of the 'Rear Window' story without paying compensation."

Calls to Spielberg's rep were not returned.

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Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Movies


Tags: alfred hitchcock, AlfredHitchcock, steven spielberg, StevenSpielberg

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1. so i guess theft then is the most sincerest form of adoration and love??

Posted at 7:25PM on Sep 8th 2008 by hello neighbor

2. I never saw Disturbia primarily because even though it was obvious it was going to be a remake, everyone associated with it denied it was so. If they had just said "this is Rear Window with a modern twist" I would have been happy to go see it, but I'm not going to give my money to liars. I hope the people connected to Rear Window and Murder from a Fixed Viewpoint make the Disturbia people pay bigtime!

Posted at 7:59PM on Sep 8th 2008 by Medley

3. In my opinion, Steven Spielberg jumped the shark with "Indiana Jones". He's way past his prime.

Posted at 8:04PM on Sep 8th 2008 by Christy

4. Thank you! Ive been saying this from the beginning! Rear window never needed to be remade especially not with louis stevens in it

Posted at 8:25PM on Sep 8th 2008 by Lindsey

5. Did Spielberg think that everybody who saw "Rear Window" was dead and he could get away with theft? When I saw Disturbia, i thought Rear Window, -- only a horrible remake. Spielberg better stick with what he knows, aliens and fish.

Posted at 8:44PM on Sep 8th 2008 by RIP OFF

6. STEVE...YOU'RE BUSTED YOU EGO FREAK!
Don't worry Holloywood loves you....FREAK!

Posted at 8:53PM on Sep 8th 2008 by what next?

7. Then maybe one should also view.... "Bedroom Window", "Body Double" and "Perfect Stranger" , same premise.....

Posted at 8:56PM on Sep 8th 2008 by J

8. Like the stank hebe couldn't afford it legally?

Posted at 9:33PM on Sep 8th 2008 by rachel

9. Well Stevie, time to pay back some royalties and some fines for copyright infringement. I dkd enjoy the movie however.

Posted at 10:16PM on Sep 8th 2008 by smart bloke

10. I just assumed it was a remake. It just always seemed blatant to me. Instead of a broken leg it's a ankle bracelet keeping the main character home. How sad that that's how it is modernized though hahaha.

Posted at 10:37PM on Sep 8th 2008 by Pop Culture Junkie

11. don't mess with the h-c0ck

Posted at 11:49PM on Sep 8th 2008 by M

12. why u keep deleting my comment? i can't help it if alfred's last name contains a phallic word. jeez "harvey"-- that's just one letter off from hardey, which contains the word 'hard', combine with alfred's name, you have a hard cack.

Posted at 12:24AM on Sep 9th 2008 by M

13. Maybe Ol' alfreds upset because Disturbia sucked, but it's probably just his last cry for attention...ouch

Posted at 3:21AM on Sep 9th 2008 by 312munyshotz

14. Wow, jealousy is taking over the world... Obviously hes just mad because Speilsbergs "disturbia" was a HIT and the rear window blah bull sh*t movie SUCKED...HAHA :)
Just get over it and move on! People need to stop seriously with the suing and everything! Its all about freaking money and get rich quick scams...You people can never get enough...sigh, whats the world coming to.

Posted at 8:43AM on Sep 9th 2008 by Deanna22

15.

And who owns the rights to "Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again and lives happily ever after"?

Posted at 9:48AM on Sep 9th 2008 by OCD

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