Rope (1948)

Rope is typically referred to as an “experiment,” and now that I’ve seen the film, I’d say it’s quite a successful one. Hitchcock shot the film in a series of 10 minute continuous takes in order to provide the illusion of a seamless flow of movement. So at the end of each take Hitch does a close-up of a dark object, which makes it seem continuous. This technique was something I only noticed a few times in the film, and it’s 80 minutes long, so I’d say he did an excellent job. There are a few conventional cuts in the film, however, such as near the end when Rupert Cadell (James Stewart) makes his speech. I prefer Hitchcock’s continuity because often times I find 180-degree cuts disorienting, and if that is the intent of the filmmaker, so be it, but I think it’s just that the filmmaker has no intent. He’s just trying to make a film, not worrying about its quality; at least that seems to be what’s going on with all that crap Hollywood’s putting out today—I mean the “movie of the week.” Anyway, click here for more information on the truth about long cuts and takes.

 

It’s said the inspiration for long takes came from a BBC Television broadcast of Rope in 1939 in which the producer, Dallas Bower, decided on the technique in order to keep the murder chest constantly in shot. The plot of rope is loosely based on the 1924 Leopold-Loeb murder case in which two young men kill a prep-school pal just for the thrill of it, and challenge themselves by inviting friends and family of the deceased to their apartment on the same day with the body still on the premises.

 

Rope is one of the notorious 5 Lost Hitchcocks, which were unavailable for decades because Hitch bought the rights and gave them to his daughter. They were re-released in 1984 after a 30 absence. The other four were The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Trouble With Harry, Rear Window, and Vertigo.

Related Links:

• Rope (1948)
• Theatre Factory’s “Rope”
• Classic Movies
• Rear Window (1954)
• Alfred Hitchcock

 

Trivia about Rope:

• Alfred Hitchcock does not appear in person in this movie, however, his name is on a neon sign visible from the apartment window.
• This movie was shot in a series of 8 continuous takes. Every 8 minutes it zooms into a dark object (i.e. someone's back) while the camera is reloaded and started again at the same spot as soon as it was done.
• Most all of the props were on castors, and the crew had to move them around a lot to let the camera to maneuver around the set easily.
• Rope lasts 80 minutes, and takes place over 80 minutes of time.
• Hitchcock shot about 1 segment a day.
• He ended up re-shooting the last 4-5 segments because he was dissatisfied with the color of the sunset.
• 4 out of the 5 Lost Hitchcocks star James Stewart. The Trouble With Harry does not.
• Based loosely on the true story of University of Chicago students Loeb and Leopold.
• Hitchcock's inspiration for the long shots came from a BBC television broadcast of a 1939 version of "Rope". That particular technique was chosen by the producer as a way to keep the chest in every shot.
• This was Hitchcock's first color film.
• Based on the play by Patrick Hamilton.
• The real-life murder was also inspiration for the films Compulsion and Swoon.
• The film's budget was $1.5 million.

 

Quotes from Rope:

 

Brandon: Rupert is extremely radical. Do you know that he selects his books on the assumption that people not only can read but actually can think?

 

Brandon: We killed for the sake of danger and for the sake of killing.

 

Brandon: Nobody commits murder just for the experience of committing it. Nobody except us.

 

Rupert Cadell: Did you think you were God, Brandon?

 

 

Cast List

James Stewart ...Rupert Cadell

John Dall ...Brandon Shaw

Farley Granger ...Philip Morgan

Cedric Hardwicke ...Mr. Kentley

Constance Collier ...Mrs. Atwater

Douglas Dick ...Kenneth Lawrence

Edith Evanson ...Mrs. Wilson, the Governess

Dick Hogan ...David Kentley

Joan Chandler ...Janet Walker

Alfred Hitchcock ...In the neon lights