31 Years Later, This Iconic Simpsons Episode Is Still a Must-Watch for Alfred Hitchcock Fans

by

The Simpsons is widely considered one of the greatest animated comedies ever made, and it’s also the longest-running American sitcom currently on television. A hallmark of the show is its use of parodies and references to other films and TV shows – sometimes just quick jokes, and other times entire episodes dedicated to spoofing popular media. A great example of this is a thirty-one-year-old Simpsons episode called “Bart of Darkness,” which is a clever parody of the classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller, Rear Window.

Alfred Hitchcock was a famous director known for classic, influential films like Dial M for Murder, Vertigo, The Birds, and especially Psycho. The TV show The Simpsons brilliantly parodied his 1954 film Rear Window in an episode called “Bart of Darkness.” Considered one of Hitchcock’s and cinema’s greatest works, Rear Window was perfectly captured in the episode, creating a hilarious and enjoyable parody that’s still a favorite among Hitchcock fans.

“Bart of Darkness” Starts With a Simple Storyline About a Pool

Before launching into its Rear Window parody, the Simpsons episode “Bart of Darkness” begins with the family dealing with a scorching summer. When a mobile swimming pool arrives, Bart and Lisa love it so much they convince Homer to get one for their own backyard.

Once the Simpsons get a pool, suddenly every kid in Springfield wants to come over and enjoy it. Bart loves the attention and, true to form, tries to show off. He plans to jump into the pool from his treehouse, but Nelson’s teasing throws him off, and Bart ends up falling to the ground instead.

The tree house isn’t tall enough to cause serious harm, but Bart falls and breaks his leg. This means he needs a cast and will miss the rest of the summer – he won’t be able to swim with a cast on, and he’s really upset about it.

The episode begins a playful nod to the movie Rear Window. Bart is bummed about being stuck inside all summer while his friends are having fun, and he mostly stays cooped up in his room. Lisa tries to lift his spirits by giving him a telescope, which kicks off a plotline heavily inspired by the classic Hitchcock film.

What Is Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window About?

Many people are familiar with Alfred Hitchcock’s most famous films like The Birds and Psycho, but Rear Window is sometimes overlooked. This classic film stars James Stewart and Grace Kelly, and tells the story of Jeff, a photographer with a broken leg who finds himself confined to his apartment and becomes convinced he’s witnessed a crime.

Jeff fills his days by looking out the window, enjoying a view of the buildings behind his. He observes his neighbors – a ballet dancer, a newlywed couple, a woman who seems lonely, and a musician. He also notices another couple who appear to be having problems with each other.

The story really revolves around this couple, the Thorwalds. One night, I, as the viewer, hear a scream, and then spend the rest of the night watching Mr. Thorwald leaving and returning with a suitcase. It’s super creepy, and the next day, Mrs. Thorwald is just…gone. It immediately makes you think something terrible has happened, and I, along with the main character, start to suspect Mr. Thorwald is involved.

Jeff begins closely observing his neighbor, Mr. Thorwald, using only binoculars and his camera. He quickly becomes convinced that Mr. Thorwald murdered his wife and disposed of the body by dismembering it and carrying the remains in a suitcase. Initially, though, no one believes his accusations because he has no proof.

Lisa, Jeff’s girlfriend, is the first person to trust his suspicions after she sees Mr. Thorwald behaving oddly herself. Jeff also reaches out to a detective friend, but the detective dismisses his concerns, explaining he needs proof before he can help. Frustrated, Jeff and Lisa decide to take matters into their own hands and investigate the situation themselves.

Jeff broke his leg and is now in a wheelchair, so Lisa and his nurse, Stella, are helping him with the case. They suspect Mr. Thorwald might have buried something – or someone – in the flower bed outside his apartment building. However, when Lisa and Stella investigate, they don’t find anything there.

Lisa decides to sneak into Mr. Thorwald’s apartment herself, and Jeff is stunned, fearing Thorwald will come back. He’s right – Thorwald returns and finds Lisa inside, but Jeff immediately calls the police, rescuing her. This act, however, alerts Mr. Thorwald to the fact that Jeff has been observing him.

Just as Lisa is apprehended by the police, Mr. Thorwald barges into Jeff’s apartment, leading to a struggle. Thorwald attempts to throw Jeff out the window, but Jeff’s detective friend arrives and intervenes. Thorwald then admits to murdering his wife while the detective saves Jeff, though Jeff still falls and breaks another leg.

The Second Half of “Bart of Darkness” Follows Almost the Same Story

The first part of the “Bart of Darkness” episode is a straightforward story about the Simpsons getting a swimming pool. However, the episode takes a turn when Bart starts spying on his neighbors with Lisa’s telescope. He overhears a scream coming from Ned Flanders’ house and then sees Ned burying something in the yard, which sparks a mystery.

Bart becomes convinced that Ned Flanders is responsible for his wife’s death and has buried her in his yard. Unable to investigate himself because of his broken arm, Bart asks Lisa to sneak onto Ned’s property while he’s out. Bart watches Lisa through his telescope as she searches the backyard, but she has to find a hiding spot quickly when Ned returns home.

However, the police’s automated message system is confusing and difficult to use. Determined to rescue Lisa himself, Bart sets off, despite some complications along the way. He arrives just as Ned Flanders is about to find Lisa’s hiding spot, and a bewildered Ned is stunned when Bart accuses him of being a murderer.

It turns out Ned didn’t harm his wife at all – she was simply away at Bible camp and returned home while the police questioned Bart and Ned. The misunderstanding came about because Ned had accidentally killed and buried one of Maude’s favorite plants, and he used the word “killed” when explaining what happened. The scream Bart heard wasn’t a person at all, but Ned himself reacting to the plant’s demise.

​​​​​​​This Simpsons Episode Even Features Rear Window’s Jeff

“Bart of Darkness” is a brilliant parody that cleverly includes a version of the main character from Rear Window, L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies. For a few brief moments, you can see a cartoonish Jeff peering at Bart through a camera, and his apartment is recreated with incredible detail, mirroring the look of the original movie.

There’s a funny nod to the movie Rear Window in The Simpsons. In one episode, Bart calls out to his sister Lisa while she’s spying, mirroring a scene from the film where the character Jeff calls to his girlfriend, Lisa (played by Grace Kelly). It’s a playful reference, as The Simpsons’ version of Jeff even uses the same line – asking Lisa to come see the “sinister kid.”

Originally intended as the final episode of The Simpsons’ fifth season, “Bart of Darkness” ended up kicking off Season 6 with a strong and humorous start. It’s considered one of the show’s best episodes over the years and continues to be a favorite among fans of Alfred Hitchcock.

Read More

2025-11-24 19:09