Movie Review: Rope (1948)

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Acting, unique directorial approach makes us part of the movie

Cons: Slight overacting at times

The Bottom Line:

Truly a filmed play

That pulls you into action

Gem from a master

Give a Man Enough Rope...

I must have started with some of Hitchcock's weirder efforts. I almost completely wrote him off after seeing three of his "classics" that I thought were pretty bad. But I kept on and began to find some gems. The latest of those is Rope, a study in psychology disguised as a thriller.

Brandon (John Dall) and Phillip (Farley Granger) feel they are superior to their friends in every way. As such, they think they can plan the perfect murder and get away with it. Their victim is David Kentley (Dick Hogan). And to prove just how superior they are, they invite his family and friends over for a dinner party with his still cooling body in a trunk in the room.

Among the guests is their old school adviser Rupert (James Stewart), the only person Brandon thinks can figure out what they've done. Will they get away with murder? If not, which will give them away first, Brandon's arrogance or Phillip's guilty conscience?

This movie is based on a play, and for once its roots are obvious. Maybe it is because I love plays, but I think that is a good thing. The entire movie takes place on one set, and we never once leave it. Think of it as a one act play. In fact, this movie famously doesn't feature any scene breaks. The movie is filmed in several long continuous takes with only the occasional break. Most of those are obvious as we focus in on something only to come back out of it a second later. Even so, we hear dialogue the entire time, making it seem like we never left the room. While some might complain this gives them a claustrophobic feel, I think it helps the film by building the suspense. We are never distracted by a new setting or given any chance to escape the rising tension.

And make no mistake, the tension builds as the movie progresses. While there are moments of tension from the very beginning, it's only as other characters begin to come on stage that we truly wonder if Brandon and Phillip can pull off the perfect crime, or if we even want them to. I was riveted for the second half.

Yet this movie is as much a character study as it is a thriller. As the story plays out, we also get to sit back and watch how Brandon and Phillip react to the situation. Brandon is cocky, convinced that they have nothing to fear. Yet Phillip thinks that every move one of them makes will completely give away the game. Sitting back and analyzing them is very fun.

And the acting is perfect. Okay, some of it falls into the slight overacting I associate with older movies, but it works. I know James Stewart is billed first. And he and everyone in the cast does a great job. But to me, the real stars are John Dall and Farley Granger. They bring Brandon and Phillip to life with such nuance we know exactly what they are thinking even if they can't or won't say it. I often found it hard to watch any of the other actors because I was so focused on them.

There are also some unconventional camera angles here designed to heighten the suspense. And they really work. There's one in particular around the half way point that is complete genius in what it does and doesn't show us.

To be honest, I found how much I enjoyed Rope a little disturbing. It is guaranteed to entertain you and make you think for some time afterward. Don't miss this gem; watch it today.