Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenplay: Arthur Laurents (based on the 1929 play of the same name, by Patrick Hamilton)
Cast: James Stewart, Farley Granger, John Dall
Music: David Buttolph
Time: 80 minutes
Bottom-line: One of the most successful experimental films ever made
The first of Hitchcock’s Technicolour films, and undoubtedly his most famous "experimental" film, Rope is a psychological thriller taking place in real time, entirely within the living room of a house. The film stars James Stewart (in the first of his four collaborations with Hitchcock), Farley Granger and John Dall in the lead roles.
Two brilliant aesthetes, Brandon (Dall) and Philip (Granger) strangle their friend, David, to death in their living room, as an intellectual experiment to prove their superiority. They put his body in a large chest, and later plan to have a dinner party in the same house. Their guests include David’s father, his aunt, his lover, Janet, his old friend and Janet’s former lover, Kenneth and their prep school headmaster, Rupert Cadell (Stewart), and their housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson. None of them is aware of what happened earlier, and slowly start to worry about David’s absence. As the evening progresses, the guests have intriguing conversations about murder being “an art”. Bit by bit, everyone realises something is wrong, and Philip gradually loses his calm. Will anyone guess the true motive behind the “party”, or have Philip and Brandon committed the perfect murder?
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| Stewart as Rupert |
Released nearly 70 years before Inarritu’s Birdman, Rope also appears to be taken as a single continuous shot, thanks to several long takes, dynamic set pieces and clever editing. The limited setting is also used most effectively, with the camera capturing several subtleties on screen and off focus. The thrill lies in the masterful way in which the ghastly crime is slowly brought to light, with seemingly ordinary conversations. This is the second time I am watching the film, and I appreciate it much more now that I have seen several scripted sitcoms, where the situation is clearly suited for comedy, yet appears natural.
The dialogues, activities of everyone, and the demeanour of the guests in the story also, seem perfectly ordinary. The psychological games played by Brandon slowly become more and more dangerous, and the prick Philip’s conscience constantly. Brandon’s idea of using the same rope to tie a set of books that David’s father takes, and the fortune teller claiming that Philip’s hands will “bring him great fame”, and Mrs. Wilson handing Rupert David’s hat by mistake are the events I found interesting: such trivialities for any of the guests, but crucial for the viewers and the murderers.
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| Granger as Philip (left) and Dall as Brandon (right) |
John Dall’s acting seems a tad too artificial. His character is supposed to “act” cheerful to pull off the perfect murder, but his acting seems a bit off; it wasn’t that free-flowing. Farley Granger’s performance was terrific. His mood swings, constant fear, and finally his breakdown are near perfect bits of acting. James Stewart plays the silent “detective”, analysing and calculating the hosts’ every move, inch by inch realising that something sinister is up. His monologue to Brandon and Philip when he does discover the body is his best part.
So, while Rope might not have hair-raising chases, or violent murders, there is no shortage of thrill. The tense psychological drama, the calm yet unnerving atmosphere of a grave is brilliantly set up, and this is yet another Hitchcock classic.
My Rating: 4/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 97%
