Review of Rope (1948) by Alex W — 10 Jan 2010

"The Master of Suspense" is definitely the right name for Hitchcock.

The play is what the movie is based and the play based on real life events. But when you give any script to Hitchcock.... It just means you've already got a good movie. Two friends trying to prove to themselves that they are superior to everyone else kill their old friend and better yet throw a party with his body under the serving table. Hitchcock's first color film didn't disappoint with the great camera work and AMAZING dialog.

The first thing that caught my eye was the camera work as the one camera moved all over throughout the movie. When I say one camera I literally mean one camera. Even though the film did have to be changed in the camera several times, Hitchcock did a great job of still controlling it. And cameras weren't like they are today..... Especially the new color cameras of that time. These things were huge. Moving it all around the 3 rooms of the small set couldn't of been easy.

Then the dialog came in along with James Stewart. If you've ever seen a James Stewart movie then you know that he can do a lot with good dialog.

Not to say that Stewart was the only star in the movie. John Dall and Farley Granger did a phenomenal job as the two murderers. One as the confident one who showed no fear and was happy with what he did, and the other as the nervous one worried they will get caught.

With Hitchcock directing Rope, the movie can't go wrong. Two immoral corrupt murderers and their old professor. Camera work, dialog, story, acting and Hitchcock..... What could possibly go wrong.