Rope

Starring: James Stewart
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Genre: Thriller
Year: 1948
Rating: 4 / 5

What greater compliment can someone pay a film than to say that its power still holds sway today, more than fifty years after its release? Suspense guru Alfred Hitchcock's Rope, produced in 1948 and shot in a rather peculiar fashion, is a timeless classic that is as impressive today as it was half a century ago. Shot in eight-minute segments and edited together using some rather unconventional methods, Rope takes place almost entirely on a one-room set. The film's action, which occurs in less than twelve hours, almost seems to have the look of a play, yet it still exudes as much tension as any modern thriller.

Brandon Shaw (John Dall) and Philip Morgan (Farley Granger) are about to throw a party, one seemingly planned to celebrate the latter's forthcoming piano recital. In actuality, the two have just committed a murder, sending their former classmate David Kentley (Dick Hogan) to an early grave. Why David? The victim is not important, but the crime is. Brandon and, to a lesser degree, Philip, want to show that the intellectual and cultural elite have the right to kill "inferior" beings. Murder is not a crime - it is a privilege, one which these two young men intend to take full advantage of.

Of course, murder itself would be insufficient without an audience. As Brandon sees it, the evening would only be complete if their guests enjoyed champagne and a nice dinner, all the while in the presence of a corpse. Even the guests have been chosen carefully: Janet Walker (Joan Chandler), David's fiancee; Mr. Kentley (Cedric Hardwicke), David's father; Kenneth Lawrence (Douglas Dick), former love interest of Janet's; and Rupert Cadell (James Stewart), the boys' former headmaster. The last is invited because he is the inspiration for all of the day's drama. After all, it was Rupert Cadell who first shared his theories about superior and inferior beings with Brandon, so he must bear witness the twisted manifestation of his ideas.

Having previously only seen small excerpts of this film, I was wholeheartedly impressed by a number of Alfred Hitchcock's distinctive filming touches. For a movie that occurs primarily in such a cramped space, the esteemed director manages to keep the tension level high and to use clever gimmicks to add to the moment. At certain instances, the camera will linger on specific objects or people, even as the primary action or dialogue is taking place off-camera. James Stewart is magnificent, especially during a shocking scene of self-awareness at the film's conclusion. Hitchcock's Rope is a classic thriller, the kind of fresh, original perspective which, unfortunately, we rarely see in films today. That, of course, should allow us to appreciate a true gem like this all the more.

Cast:

James Stewart..........	Rupert Cadell
John Dall..........	Brandon Shaw
Farley Granger..........	Philip Morgan

Certification: Rated PG.
Running Time: 81 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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