While it might look like Tess McGill's allure comes from her determination, it's worth remembering how much she gets away with just on the grounds of her demure (if rough edged) social skills. Tess finds routes to forgiveness, and in a way, proves that life skills and business skills reside in the same wheelhouse. And I know it was hot back then, but she also gets away with some pretty bad hair: Any girl who can do that deserves clemency.

With a girlfriend like Lisa Fremont, how could any man complain? Well, Jimmy Stewart finds a way. As field photographer L.B., he grows impotent in Lisa's glamour glow and for reasons hard to grasp, he requires her to be more adaptable to the world outside her couture clique. Lisa complies by doing her own fieldwork and sneaking into the apartment of alleged murderer Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr). Ms. Kelly climbs fences and performs her B&E stunt in a dress with a rather extraordinary crinoline, and escapes more or less unscathed after getting a little "caught." Even without the cast and wheelchair, L.B. couldn't have done better.