Review: Rope (1948)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Written by: Arthur Laurents
Starring: James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger, Douglas Dick and Joan Chandler

In a film career spanning just over five decades Alfred Hitchcock made a name for himself that few directors will ever get a glimpse of in their lives. He was one of the first filmmakers to be the real 'star' of his movies, he had a flair for self-promotion and he made that many great films that he was referred to as 'The Master of Suspense.' What films confirm this stature more than the rest? I can name a few. Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, Shadow of a Doubt, North by Northwest and the movie I'm about to review, Rope. Why does this one stand out? Because it's as much of an experiment for Hitchcock as it is a carefully crafted crime and psychological thriller.

Brandon and Philip are two men sharing a New York apartment. Under the belief that they're intellectually superior they arrange the murder of their classmate David, place his body in a chest and then host a party in the same room to celebrate committing the 'perfect crime.' One of their guests, Rupert becomes suspicious of something in light of Philip's manifesting anxiety and Brandon's overconfidence and seeks out answers.

Beginning with a murder and establishing the grim intentions almost immediately the audience is fixed with an insatiable morbid curiosity, but this element is only part of what makes the film so worthwhile. Rope takes place in real time, relying on editing to create the illusion of a single continuous take for much of the film's runtime. Apart from suspending a result seemingly indefinitely this technique allows for a fascinating insight into the films two antagonists and how they act according to developments in the situation. It's incredibly unsettling to witness Philip falling apart from fear whilst his accomplice Brandon boasts about a Nietzschean supremacy. However great John Dall and Farley Granger are at giving us what's basically a cinematic version of murderers Leopold and Loeb they're both put to rest by the legendary James Stewart. Admittedly I'm biased by his being one of my favorite actors, but his portrayal of Rupert perfectly brings out the character's calm way of manipulating the situation to finding an answer.

Rope utilizes a style of storytelling that's hard to do well, but Alfred Hitchcock pulls through, proving that one can rely on only the most essential resources and deliver a great film if their writing and techniques are carefully thought out. Seeing the way some characters act is certainly creepy, but where it truly excels is the same as where Hitchcock always has succeeded - suspense that never ends!

My Rating: 8.5/10