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| Rope
Year: 1948
Classification: Mystery / Suspense
Directed:
- Alfred Hitchcock
Actors/Actresses:
- James Stewart
- John Dall
- Farley Granger
3 1/2 stars for film inspired by Leopold and Loeb case
The first film that Hitchcock released through his Transatlantic Pictures company, Rope is an underappreciate minor classic. It's flawed to be sure but this unusual experiment was shot in long takes an unusual approach for Hitchcock. The story was inspired by the Leopold and Loeb murder case and their obsession with the superman theories of Nietzsche.
Philip (Farley Granger)and Brandon (John Dall)have committed the murder of an old classmate for the thrill of it. They invite over mutual friends, the father and mother of the victim and their old prep school master Rupert (Jimmy Stewart)who first introduced them to Nietzche's theories. They drape a table cloth over the trunk where the dead body rests.
Written by Arthur Laurents and Hume Cronyn from the play Rope's End by Patrick Hamilton, Rope allows Hitchcock to indulge in a number of unusual cinematic experiments. It was Hitchcock's first movie to be shot in color and the entire 80 minute film is shot on one set with the skyline gradually changing. If Hitchcock had gotten his ideal cast the film might have been quite different; originally Hitchcock wanted Carey Grant for the role Stewart player and Montgomery Clift as Brandon.
The transfer is good although there is some edge enhancement and some analog and compression artifacts (although they aren't a huge problem). The vivid 3 strip Technicolor process comes to life on this DVD. The colors are pretty close to the version I saw screened. I should note, though, that I originally saw Rope at the UCLA Theater Arts Archive in black and white (a color copy wasn't available) on a Movieola and it was a nitrate print so I'm comparing it to versions that were released much later than the original.
While Rope isn't a perfect Hitchcock excursion, it's an enjoyable and admirable one that features a number of interesting visuals, strong performances and an interesting thought provoking story. The extras on this edition are quite nice as well including a feaurette entitled Rope Unleased, production photos and notes. Sadly, no extensive outtakes exist for Rope and everything that was written was, for the most part, shot.
Unconventional, Innovative, Strange -- True Hitchcock!
Dinner for eight (the guest of honor won't be joining the party). A gathering of former Ivy League chums, a girl they rivaled over, a highly admired former Professor all were acquainted with, a chatty maid, the father and aunt of a strangly absent guest of honor all gather for clever conversation and intriguing food and drink.
The setting is typical Hitchcock, as is the twisted murder plot. The scene opens with the evil deed, then resumes with the emminent dinner. Hitchcocks first ever color production, "Rope" was shot in very long scenes (some lasting more than 10 minutes in a single frame), the film appears like a theatre play. Similarities to the infamous 1920s high profile Leopold-Loeb murder case are obvious but denied by a disclaimer at the end of the film.
This is an undeniably "different" and very interesting Hitchcock Classic. James Stewart (pretty much playing himself, as usual), is effective as the "master detective", determined to get to the bottom of what's going on. A very young Farley Granger is great as the "frightened kid" under the thumb of his dominearing older brother. For fans of the Master, this is an enjoyable trip into the exploration of some very disturbed minds.****
Measure your words carefully. They may be taken seriously
<BR>Director: Alfred Hitchcock<BR>Format: Color<BR>Studio: Universal Studios <BR>Video Release Date: May 23, 1995
Cast:
James Stewart ... Rupert Cadell <BR>John Dall ... Brandon Shaw <BR>Farley Granger ... Phillip Morgan <BR>Cedric Hardwicke ... Mr. Kentley <BR>Constance Collier ... Mrs. Atwater <BR>Douglas Dick ... Kenneth Lawrence <BR>Edith Evanson ... Mrs. Wilson <BR>Dick Hogan ... David Kentley <BR>Joan Chandler ... Janet Walker <BR>Alfred Hitchcock ... Man walking in street after opening credits <BR>The Three Suns ... Group cast appearance (radio sequence)
Two young men decide to kill a friend for kicks. ala Leopold and Loeb, because one of them, Brandon Shaw (John Dall) thinks he is a superior human being, and above the rules, and the victim is inferior and therefore fair game. He quotes a former professor, Rupert Cadell (James Stewart) who has verbalized such a proposition in class.
They do, indeed, strangle the other young man, David Kentley (Dick Hogan), place his body in a trunk, and then throw a party to which they invite Bentley's parents, his girl friend, Prof. Cadell and others, and serve food and drinks from the trunk in which the body lies. Cadell, a bright man, realizes that something funny is going on and investigates.
This is an entertaining movie. Hitchcock. the director, admitted that he made the film on a lark, and that it was not a serious endeavor, but given his genius it came out very well anyway. It rates 4 stars with me, at least.
Joseph (Joe) Pierre<BR><BR>author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance<BR>and other books
Measure your words carefully. They may be taken seriously
BR>Director: Alfred HitchcockBR>Format: ColorBR>Studio: Universal Studios BR>Video Release Date: May 23, 1995
Cast:
James Stewart ... Rupert Cadell BR>John Dall ... Brandon Shaw BR>Farley Granger ... Phillip Morgan BR>Cedric Hardwicke ... Mr. Kentley BR>Constance Collier ... Mrs. Atwater BR>Douglas Dick ... Kenneth Lawrence BR>Edith Evanson ... Mrs. Wilson BR>Dick Hogan ... David Kentley BR>Joan Chandler ... Janet Walker BR>Alfred Hitchcock ... Man walking in street after opening credits BR>The Three Suns ... Group cast appearance (radio sequence)
Two young men decide to kill a friend for kicks. ala Leopold and Loeb, because one of them, Brandon Shaw (John Dall) thinks he is a superior human being, and above the rules, and the victim is inferior and therefore fair game. He quotes a former professor, Rupert Cadell (James Stewart) who has verbalized such a proposition in class.
They do, indeed, strangle the other young man, David Kentley (Dick Hogan), place his body in a trunk, and then throw a party to which they invite Bentley's parents, his girl friend, Prof. Cadell and others, and serve food and drinks from the trunk in which the body lies. Cadell, a bright man, realizes that something funny is going on and investigates.
This is an entertaining movie. Hitchcock. the director, admitted that he made the film on a lark, and that it was not a serious endeavor, but given his genius it came out very well anyway. It rates 4 stars with me, at least.
Joseph (Joe) PierreBR>BR>author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenanceBR>and other books
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