When it comes to classic suspense movies, it doesn’t get better than Alfred Hitchcock.

Unless, of course, it’s free Alfred Hitchcock. On the big screen. In an air-conditioned movie theater.

Durango Independent Film Festival and Animas City Theatre are hosting a free Summer of Hitchcock film series as part of a larger Classic Film Series, which will run through the end of the year. The series kicked off in June with “Psycho” and will continue Sunday with “Rear Window” and into August with “North By Northwest.”

“Rear Window,” Hitchcock’s 1954 film starring Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly, is the story of photojournalist L.B. Jeffries, who is stuck in his hot little city apartment after breaking his leg and finding himself in a wheelchair. Ever the inquisitive journalist, Jeffries spends his time keeping up (uh, kind of spying on – the binoculars seal the creep deal) with his neighbors in the other apartments around his courtyard, giving them each a name and backstory. His interest turns to one of his character/neighbors, played by Raymond Burr, whom he becomes convinced has killed his nagging wife and disposed of her body.

“I’ve always wanted to do Hitchcock, always wanted to do a summer Hitchcock series,” said Joanie Leonard, executive director of DIFF.

The films will be shown the second Sunday of the month, unless a concert bumps the movies, Leonard said, adding that the series will not be held in November when a film celebrating Native American Heritage Month will be screened. December’s showing will also be replaced with a holiday-themed film, she said.

Seats for the films are first come, first served.

And to be able to see classic Hitchcock in a movie theater is something you shouldn’t miss.

“Hitchcock was the master; he is known as the master of suspense. So many filmmakers have followed his vision and the way he made movies,” Leonard said. “You could evoke so much emotion and terror and fear not by seeing what’s happening but knowing what’s going to happen. Like the shower scene in ‘Psycho’ – so many women didn’t want to take showers after seeing that film even though you really didn’t see the actual stabbing. He was just so unique. He is known as the master of suspense and there’s a reason for that.”

katie@durangoherald.com