Alfred Hitchcock Blogathon: Rope (1948)

SYNOPSIS: Brandon and Philip are two young men who share a New York apartment. They consider themselves intellectually superior to their friend David Kentley and as a consequence decide to murder him. Together they strangle David with a rope and placing the body in an old chest, they proceed to hold a small party. The guests include David’s father, his fiancée Janet and their old schoolteacher Rupert from whom they mistakenly took their ideas. As Brandon becomes increasingly more daring, Rupert begins to suspect. – via IMDB

The premise is pretty interesting, and I think the movie does incredibly well seeing as it essentially takes place in three rooms, of which the main room is the study, where Brandon (John Dall) and Phillip (Farley Granger) murdered David Kentley (Dick Hogan). Rupert Cadell (James Stewart), their mentor, is definitely more suspicious of the strange dinner party as well as the inside jokes and insinuations made by Brandon to Phillip, as well as Brandon’s excitement over a seemingly dull party.

The views expressed by Brandon (more vocally than Phillip) seem to be ideas that were discussed in depth and detail with Rupert. Their perfect crime, having disposed of an inferior being, shows Brandon play many games, including bringing David’s girlfriend, Janet (Joan Chandler) to dinner to spend time with her ex, Kenneth (Douglas Dick), to attempt to bring them back together again. It would seem it would be for reconciliation, but soon it becomes evident that everything is just an elaborate game for Brandon. Phillip is having a meltdown about what they have done, displaying a conscious, whereas Brandon really is the psychopath.

The movie kept me engaged for the duration of it, no matter the fact that it was in an extremely closed environment. The grisly concept of a dinner served from a coffin was heavy, as well as the views which Brandon expressed, and the fear that seized Philip, and Rupert sniffing around, growing more and more suspicious of David’s absence from the dinner party, a point that is highlighted over and over again throughout the duration of the evening. The movie was shot well, and I enjoyed the colour used for the lighting outside, as well as the pulsing green and red of the neon signs when night officially falls. The conversations that were shared were also interesting, and I enjoyed the humour that arose from time to time, too.

An interesting film to check out no doubt, and very well done for its time. However, if you are not into very talkative movies or anything like that, I would recommend that you skip over this one (yes PSC, that was thinking of you)!