Review of Rope (1948) by Alexander P — 09 Oct 2011

I think I would have enjoyed being involved in the making of Rope more than I did watching it. Stories like having to gag and drag off a cameraman who's foot is broken from being run over while the shot is still going on, or running to grab a a falling glass without making a sound are stories that would be great to tell at a party or while having drinks with friends in the backyard.

Rope creates a real time environment by limiting the amount of cuts made. There are only two obvious cuts in the movie, and the rest are masked to make it look like all the action is being filmed in one continuous shot. Where Hitchcock tries to mask these cuts is painfully obvious and flimsy, but that's because I live in an age of 1080p and digital manipulation; in other words, I'm spoiled. The auteur's choice reflects the fact that two young men have just murdered a man and stuck his body in a book chest, right before the guests arrive. Every minute passed is a minute that body is there, waiting to be discovered. How these two men maneuver their guests to have fun and get out builds a lot of suspense and tension, as one of their guests, Rupert (played by James Stewart) begins to suspect the murder.

The film is based on a stage play, and the style reflects a theatre setting. What doesn't translate too well is how Rupert suspects the murder and one of the men's overbearing guilt for committing the deed. Maybe on stage it works, but as a film, it feels very contrived, and in the space of a room, far too convenient that the film plays out in the way it does. A major problem, but Rope is still good entertainment. For Hitchcock fans, the artistry on display is worth a look.