Review of Rope (1948) by Brook Y — 11 Nov 2012

THis is not one of Hitchcock's best films. Interesting premise, but no suspense and some really bad acting especially by the actor playing Phillip. This is more like a play and basically a gimmick so that Hitchcock could prove he could make a talky movie even at the expense of choreographing the actors like cattle so that he can get his 10 minute takes.

It was an interesting premise, but other than the gimmick, it doesn't work. Jimmy Stewart is typically detective. I think he phoned in this performance. For once no real female ingenue, but there is an interesting subtext of homoeroticism that surprisingly does not get manipulated.

Instead, it's never even mentioned and everyone is okay with it. It's almost as if this film could be set in our world 10 years from now when there can be gay characters/people without that defining them as their only quality and purpose.

There are interesting ideas in this film, but they don't make the film better.