Rope | James Stewart | A Must Have!

Rope | James Stewart | An unheard of Hitchcock classic

DVDs:

Rope

	Rope James Stewart Warner Bros. Pictures, 2006 average customer review:based on 129 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Must Have!

This is one of Hitchcock's more creative films. Aside from the famous long takes, the camera moves are even more subjective than usual, making "Rope" creepy and, of coarse, suspenseful. The dialog is probably the best piece of writing in any of Hitchcock's films. "The Lady Vanishes" still the best writing overall, "Rope" is not far behind. A gimmick film? Who cares. The premise is twisted and diabolically disturbing, just what you'd expect from the master. The over-the-top acting is shamelessly entertaining, you suspect Hitchcock was having a lot of fun making this technically complicated film. If you love cinema, you'll love "Rope." The DVD has a really good documentary detailing the insane production of "Rope" and the controversy surrounding the homosexual theme of the film. Truly a must have.

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An unheard of Hitchcock classic

When you think Hitchcock, normally you'd think about Psycho, Rear Window, Vertigo and North by Northwest. But, Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense also has many more masterpieces. This movie made in a neat and dim color in 1948, is the story of 2 men that kill a friend (named David) of theirs by strangling him and then place him in a chest. They kill him for the trills, excitement, and for superiority. But, that's not where these two psychopaths end, and afterwards throw a party. They invite friends including David's family.
The party is supposed to be a going away party for one of the murderers and for David's father. And they eat and place food on top of the chest with David's dead body in it. Sounds crazy.
Jimmy Stewart plays Rupert, a professor at the party who suspects something. And when David doesn't show up to the party, everyone gets suspicious and one of the murderers gets nervous and starts acting strangely. But, Rupert is the most suspicious.
The movie is so fascinating and original because it takes place the whole time in an apartement room. You never leave it.
The acting is wonderful with everyone convincing for their parts.
The movie also has suspense because of these psychopaths. But, of course, everyone probably now wouldn't be frightened but probably bored. But, in my opinion, Hitchcock movies should give you thrills because what happens in them could happen in reality. But, what happens in movies like The Ring couldn't happen. This is a Hitchcock must see.

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More than just a technical achievement

This 1948 Hitchcock film is mostly noted for its technical achievements. Hitchcock filmed this story, about two well-to-do rich kids who decide to commit a murder for the fun of it, as a play. Which, it in fact, originally was, though based in London and not New York. Technical limitations did not enable his original vision of making the entire picture one continuous long shot. Instead it is made up of several 8 minute continious shots. This was the length of film that fit into one reel. Using some very inventive cutting techniques the film appears as if it was filmed all in one take. This is more impressive when you see the actual size that color film cameras were during this time period. They were absolutely enormous, bigger than a man standing. To move the camera in and around the small stage space, many of the set pieces were set on castors and rolled about to keep out of the way of the camera. Some of the actors were noted in saying that they worried everytime they sat down, that there might not be a chair for them to fall into. Another achievement of the film is in terms of lighting. The apartment that the entire film is set in has several large windows overlooking the city. As the movie is more or less uninterupted from start to finnish we see the lighting change as the sun begins to set and night falls. It is a testament to this achievment that upon first viewing you don't really notice the effect. Yet, the filmakers took great pains to get it to look realistic, staging numerous reshoots for the final few scenes.

Though the technical achievements are quite wonderful, it is a shame that they have overshadowed what it really a very good bit of suspense. It seems the two high society murderers have planned a dinner party just after the murder. They store the corpse in a wood box that is featured prominently in the midst of the dinner. This creates an excellent mix of suspense and the macabre. Throughout the party the murderers become more unraveled even as they are enjoying their little game.

All of the acting is quite good. The two murderer (John Dall and Farley Granger) do a fine job of playing intelectual, society playboys, with a desire for excitement. It is slighly annoying watching their excited, nervous mannerisms (especially some stuttering by Jon Dall) but it is fitting with the characters. Their former instructor, Rupert Cadell, is played magnificently by the impecible James Stewart. This is a bit of departure from Stewarts typical roles. Here he is a tough, cynical intellectual. This was his first of four collaborations between Stewart and Hitchock and it is hard to imagine his role as Scottie in Vertigo without having first played in this movie.

The story unravels in typical Hitchock fashion. The suspense is built, then lessoned by some well timed comedy, and then built again to a final crescendo. Hitchcock was excellent as a technical director and allowed his actors the breathing room they needed for fine performances. In the end I left the picture feeling more excited about the superb storytelling than any particular technical achievement. It is a testament to his craft, that Hitchock allows you to leave a picture being enamored with his story over his technical achievements. Some of the greatest effects are those you don't notice because they seem so natural and real.

The documentary that accompanies the DVD version had some discussion of the homosexual nature of the two murderers as well and James Stewart's character. The production codes of the time would only allow the slightest hints of homosexuality in a motion picture. In fact I had no idea any character might be homosexual while watching the movie, and it was until I watched the documentary that I thought anything about it at all. Upon review I can see where the two murderers mannerisms may have pointed in that direction. Although James Stewarts presence is so wholesome and devoid of sex that any notion of the characters sexuality is more a point of trivia at this point.

Alfred Hitchock manages a triumph of technical brilliance and suspense in Rope. It's influence in the technical realm of cinema far outshines any effect the story has on future movies. This is a shame, for the story being told is one of suspense, macabre and excitement.

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Experimental thriller from the Master of Suspense

Rope was an experimental movie, filmed on a single set in as few takes as possible. The idea worked. The sun sets over the New York skyline, and day turns into night as the net gradually closes in on the two killers. Camerawork and lighting, a major challenge in view of Hitchcock's unprecedented requirements, create a haunting, tense, almost broody atmosphere.

Writers Hume Cronyn and Arthur Laurents work well with Patrick Hamilton's incredibly old-fashioned stage play, producing a sharp screenplay. The cast are generally excellent, even if Jimmy Stewart looks a tad uncomfortable in an atypical role.

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The 10-Minute Take

I don't know enough about film history to say who developed the technique of cutting and splicing film.

Experience this yourself. Take a home movie of anything with a video camera, let it sit for a week or more, and then watch it. But one more thing: force yourself NOT to use the fast forward button while viewing.

If you're not squirming uncontrollably after about five minutes (let alone ten), you have the patience of the Dalai Lama.

So here's what happened. Hitchcock bought the rights to a very successful Broadway play called "Rope." It was the story of two men, probably gay, who decide to kill a friend of theirs just for the sense of superiority it would confer on them.

When plays are brought to movies, they are usually "opened up." But Hitchcock decided to preserve the classical dramatic unities, not open it up but confine it to the stage set and, if that were not enough, use a single camera which would wheel around the set for the full duration of the film magazine - ten minutes.

Some critics have described the result as excruciating. Actually, it's not all that bad, but this is far from being his greatest film. In fact, the thing that marks him as a great director is his obsession with visual imagery and montage; this is totally opposite almost anything else he did, before or since.

So, if it's good, it's because it's a good play. Thanks goodness it is...

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