Rope is a 1948 crime thriller, directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock. It follows two young men, Brandon (John Dall) and Philip (Farley Granger), who set out to commit the perfect murder, as an intellectual exercise. The following 90 minutes are a tense game of cat and mouse, as Rupert Cadell (James Stewart) is quickly on their case. Rope is notable for taking place in real time and being edited in a series of continuous shots, making it appear as if the entire film is one uninterrupted take.
Suspense
Hitchcock is known for his ability to build suspense throughout a film, and Rope is one of the best examples of this. The trick in Rope is that the suspense comes not from the actual murder. This is established at the start of the movie, with the heinous act being carried out almost straight away. The actual tension then arises during the dinner party that the characters all attend afterwards, with many of them beginning to realise that something is off. Hitchcock allows us to slowly feel the creeping unease, as questions are asked and tensions strained.
Of the murderous duo, we witness Brandon’s calm and giddy demeanour, juxtaposed with Philip’s nervousness. It’s a real journey for the viewer to watch it all unfold. They are very clearly the bad guys, and yes, you want them to get caught. But as you’re drawn into the intimate and voyeuristic experience, everything begins to feel a little claustrophobic, making it hard to watch the actual process take place due to the rising anxiety every minute the film goes on.
Playing God
The films main theme looks at the dangerous temptation to play God. Especially if you consider yourself an intellect. The two young men, Brandon in particular, most definitely think of themselves as above moral constraints and the usual boundaries of society. This leads to them making the shocking decision to murder one of their closest friends. Just to prove that they can do it. And of course, get away with it. If that wasn’t enough, they choose to throw a dinner party straight after, with the corpse stored in the same room.
The conversations between Brandon, Phillip, and the other dinner guests around the art of murder does invite some reflection and thought. Even James Stewart’s Rupert seems to agree to most of the crazy ideas in theory. But in the end, the crime they committed is clearly a display of the drunken power of intellect being wielded recklessly. With a little pinch of psychopath thrown in for good measure.
What Rope Means to Us
I came to Rope late in my Hitchcock viewing, and I wanted to see it mostly because it was the only Jimmy Stewart/Alfred Hitchcock collaboration I hadn’t seen. I had heard it was a gimmick movie, and not really indicative of Hitchcock’s skill (or the actor’s, for that matter). I was entranced. While a bit stagey, and the cuts are fairly obvious now, the impression of one continuous take is still there and builds tension extremely well. I liked the idea of having a murder on screen and then keeping the body (hidden) in view during the whole film. I remember being surprised by the casual cruelty of the killers (those books wrapped in the murder weapon) and the tension between them. It’s not Hitchcock’s best film, nor is it Stewart’s, but it’s still an enjoyable experiment in suspense, and it’s one of his films I like to revisit.
–Bob Cram Jr
When people discuss their favorite Hitchcock films or his best all-time, Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window are brought up regularly. Even North by Northwest, Strangers on a Train, and The Birds come up before his most underrated and overlooked film is ever discussed, and that is 1948’s Rope. Hitchcock showcased his mastery of direction in his first color film while shooting the whole movie in only ten takes. His elaborate set consisted of movable walls on wheels to make the whole movie look like it was one continuous shot. Being able to accomplish that in the ’40s alone deserves praise.
It’s a very simple story of two men killing a former classmate and hiding him in an antique wooden chest, wanting to prove they have committed the “perfect crime. They throw a party where the chest is used as a buffet table. The two men want to show their superiority in this intellectual exercise. Rope is a timeless film that has aged extremely well and relies heavily on its effective tension that is palpable throughout the entire film. The whole will or won’t they get caught has you holding your breath the whole time.
–Vincent Kane
Directorial Experimentation
Rope gives the illusion of being one continuous shot, thanks to some seamless editing and intricate camera work. This is usually done by using objects or having characters stepping in front of the camera to allow a hidden cut. It’s not a gimmick, as Hitchcock’s decision to shoot the movie this way really adds to the tension. The camera almost acts as the viewer, being an unseen observer witnessing the characters’ actions unfold in real time. It’s an extremely immersive technique. We are one of the only people privy to all the information that has been laid out, and as a result, every little glance and facial expression feels loaded with unspoken meaning. The subtle nuances and interactions that might otherwise be lost, are blatantly apparent.
The use of lighting and shadows feels experimental at different points throughout the movie. Hitchcock uses tracking shots, pans, and zooms to build tension, yet at times it almost feels like a stage play. The score is also a work of art. It’s subtle but effective, and knows when to amplify the mounting tension without going too far. The section when Philip is playing the piano is a perfect example of this. Everything feels discombobulated, and it helps to impose the mounting dread.
Legacy
Rope was the first major film to use long takes and create the illusion of a single, continuous shot. It was a completely unique technique that is still being copied to this day. It might not be the best-known or critically acclaimed movie that Hitchcock made, but it’s a personal favourite of mine, and trailed a blaze for a particular type of movie.
Have you seen Rope? What did you think of the film? Do you have a fun fact or piece of trivia about the making of the film? Share it in the comments below!
