Review of Rope (1948) by Kat K — 11 Dec 2009

This is what makes Hitchcock the master.

Rope is the story of two arrogant socialite men who share an apartment in New York and who find their friend inferior. So one evening, they plan the perfect murder. After murdering their friend, they invite all their friends, and his too, to a party, where the boy is to be placed in plain sight, serving dinner on the tabletop of their "friend's" grave, all the while the guests wondering what happened to him. (Like Murder by Numbers (2002), but much more sophisticated and just plain better.).

What's fascinating about this film is that Hitchcock tried to shoot continuously. At the time, the film could go up to about ten minutes before another role was needed so scenes go on and it's interesting to try and catch the transitions.

The scene keeps going and you wonder when they're going to cut. The New York skyline has begun to change - without your noticing - when they walk past it. It's at maybe a deep blue. The next time you see it it's a shade of blue and purple. It's enough to keep you leaning off the couch just trying to figure where the cuts were made and when. And it's not just that-- a full cast, Rupert Cadell (James Stewart) beginning to suspect something, lots of lines flowing continuously, the kid's trying to come up with good lies and getting shaky, all while circulating from room to room with the camera following.

This is truly a spectacle for the cast, for the characters, for the director and for the viewers. Beautiful and understated set design acts as a trick to catch everyone off guard... (as well as other things...) And to watch the boys, the dinner guests, the all-too-clever Rupert and the disturbing topics of conversion - it makes Rope pretty exciting to watch. If not for the camera tricks, for the story and the acting. There's plenty to appreciate here.

Highly recommended - 9.7/10.