Review of Rope (1948) by James R — 24 Dec 2018

A simple but very effective film. Rope is known for some of the technical movie magic that was involved here. Hitchcock shot this film in several long cuts and made it appear as though the entire film was shot in one take.

Not to mention this was also Hitchcocks first film in color as well. The movie opens with two young men Brandon Shaw (John Dall) and Phillip Morgan (Farley Granger) murdering an old classmate of theirs named David Kentley (Dick Hogan).

The two strangle David with some rope and hide his body in a chest. The two of them think they are superior and doing this as sort of research and therefore have done the perfect murder. They end up covering the chest up and along with their maid Mrs Wilson (Edith Evanson) begin preparing for a dinner party where they've invited David's parents, David's fiancee Janet (Joan Chandler), Kenneth (Douglas Dick) Janet's ex boyfriend and David's aunt Mrs.

Atwater (Constance Collier). Lastly, Brandon and Phillip's old prep school housemaster Rupert Cadell (James Stewart).The idea of being superior branch from a conversation the two young men had with Rubert during school and sort of triggered the idea in them.

Brandon even believes that Rupert would approve of what they've done. Throughout the night two two men try and go along with the dinner party, but it all starts to get to Phillip and soon enough Rupert begins suspecting something's going on.

So, this is definitely the best of the Hitchcock film's i've seen so far during this little marathon I'm doing (so far). It's incredibly well acted, I enjoyed the concept of the single shot, and truthfully it's kinda a creepy premise.

Two guys kill someone, stash the body, serve cheese and crackers where his body is and they invite the dead guys family all as a sort of big F**K you? Creepy indeed. This is the first James Stewart film that he collaborated with Hitchcock on and while he famously didn't enjoy this film since he believed he was miscast I think he's perfect here.

The movie flows and is the perfect length (only an hour twenty) and I would recommend giving this one a look!