Rope (1948)

Featured Audience Ratings

• familiar s

  
  It's way too loosely based on the Leopold-Loeb case. But that doesn't make the movie any less interesting. I felt it a bit slow at the beginning, but soon I found myself enjoying the party. Hitchcock's touch of Psycho is apparent here. Or is it only me? One way or… More
  It's way too loosely based on the Leopold-Loeb case. But that doesn't make the movie any less interesting. I felt it a bit slow at the beginning, but soon I found myself enjoying the party. Hitchcock's touch of Psycho is apparent here. Or is it only me? One way or another, John Dall is incredibly superb as Brandon. The dialogues are so well-written that they succeed to linger in your memory. The thrills and chills, accompanied with humor, were excellent, and it'd have made for a perfect murder had Hitchcock not stepped back on Rupert's character. That was the only disappointing factor in this otherwise perfect entertainer. ADD-IT: On watching again, I feel that I was wrong about Rupert. Taking some details into account, I feel that Rupert didn't really mean what he said. But then his response, "The humor was unintentional" to David father's interruption to their discussion about murder (saying that he did not appreciate the morbid humor) confuses me. His response towards the ending after finding out the reality wasn't convincing enough. Wish they'd a better climax in mind.

• Graham J

  
  A fascinating excersize in film making, Hitchcock's "no-cuts" camerawork is the true star of this one.

• E.J. B

  
  I think I would have enjoyed being involved in the making of Rope more than I did watching it. Stories like having to gag and drag off a cameraman who's foot is broken from being run over while the shot is still going on, or running to grab a a falling glass without making a… More
  I think I would have enjoyed being involved in the making of Rope more than I did watching it. Stories like having to gag and drag off a cameraman who's foot is broken from being run over while the shot is still going on, or running to grab a a falling glass without making a sound are stories that would be great to tell at a party or while having drinks with friends in the backyard. Rope creates a real time environment by limiting the amount of cuts made. There are only two obvious cuts in the movie, and the rest are masked to make it look like all the action is being filmed in one continuous shot. Where Hitchcock tries to mask these cuts is painfully obvious and flimsy, but that's because I live in an age of 1080p and digital manipulation; in other words, I'm spoiled. The auteur's choice reflects the fact that two young men have just murdered a man and stuck his body in a book chest, right before the guests arrive. Every minute passed is a minute that body is there, waiting to be discovered. How these two men maneuver their guests to have fun and get out builds a lot of suspense and tension, as one of their guests, Rupert (played by James Stewart) begins to suspect the murder. The film is based on a stage play, and the style reflects a theatre setting. What doesn't translate too well is how Rupert suspects the murder and one of the men's overbearing guilt for committing the deed. Maybe on stage it works, but as a film, it feels very contrived, and in the space of a room, far too convenient that the film plays out in the way it does. A major problem, but Rope is still good entertainment. For Hitchcock fans, the artistry on display is worth a look.

• Bruce B

  
  A pretty good Alfred Hitchcock film. You can tell this was at one time a play on stage. About 2 men who living together kill a third man and put his body in a chest, right before giving a party. Will the guess find out. A awesome part played by Jimmy Stewart who figures out why these… More
  A pretty good Alfred Hitchcock film. You can tell this was at one time a play on stage. About 2 men who living together kill a third man and put his body in a chest, right before giving a party. Will the guess find out. A awesome part played by Jimmy Stewart who figures out why these guys are so nervous. Jimmy's eyes in this roll see right through you. Never did see the Cameo by Hitchcock in this movie. A great dram film. 3 1/2 stars.

• Alexander D

  
  Filmed in one shot?! Wow.

• Tim S

  
  Two words: utterly brilliant. Hitchcock's first real foray into experimental filmmaking is a masterstroke.

• Spencer S

  
  One of Hitchcock's more inventive and personal dramas, the story of murder and psychological superiority is tantamount to the serial killer novels written by James Patterson with a swirl of theatricality. Taking place in a singular room and amounting to the time of one evening,… More
  One of Hitchcock's more inventive and personal dramas, the story of murder and psychological superiority is tantamount to the serial killer novels written by James Patterson with a swirl of theatricality. Taking place in a singular room and amounting to the time of one evening, the obvious adaptation from a play held interest in the mere trivial conversations of the killer's party guests, and the madness with which Dall undergoes to insure his past teacher sees he is in fact a priveleged being. Great performances by Stewart, Granger, and Dall who came through with all the trials and tribulations of a seriously deranged pair and their sleuth adversary.

• Anthony L

  
  For me Rope was the beginning of the 'Hitchcockian' genres. Admired for its single take by those who don't know and celebrated by its clever editing by those that do, it was certainly the film that raised the most debates at film school. Personally I felt this was… More
  For me Rope was the beginning of the 'Hitchcockian' genres. Admired for its single take by those who don't know and celebrated by its clever editing by those that do, it was certainly the film that raised the most debates at film school. Personally I felt this was Hitchcock's two finger salute to stale Hollywood and the cliche riddled thrillers of the time. John Dall's brilliant performance and brilliantly written character are a complete contrast to the old school (and far more limited) performance of Farley Granger (as much as I love his films). This is a new way of thinking vs. the old, a perfect thriller and one where the darker side of you wants them to get away with it, alas they don't, thanks to the weaker characters actions, therefore a reflection that film making needed a radical transformation, a fresh idea, a logical progression. You don't get a genres named after you for nothing!

• AJ V

  
  One of my absolute favourite Hitchcock movies! It's brilliantly made in terms of direction, editing, and acting. The story is extremely suspenseful too. I love it.

• Lewis C

  
  "This is what you wanted: somebody else to know. Someone else to see how brilliant you are, just like at school." Hitchcock tackled the idea of "the perfect murder" quite often in his films, both directly and indirectly. Rope is the fourth movie of his that… More
  "This is what you wanted: somebody else to know. Someone else to see how brilliant you are, just like at school." Hitchcock tackled the idea of "the perfect murder" quite often in his films, both directly and indirectly. Rope is the fourth movie of his that I've seen where the murder IS the story, or in this case, the murder's immediate aftermath and repercussions. The movie opens with two young men murdering an acquaintance in an apartment, and hiding him inside a chest. They did it for no other reason than that they could, and they follow the philosophy that their innate superiority over inferior men such as the victim gives them the right to do what they did. As the icing on the cake for their murder, they have a dinner party planned immediately afterward, where the hiding place of the deceased will serve as a macabre dinner table for his father, aunt, girlfriend, and others. Rope is at its best when the uncovering of the misdeed of the duo seems imminent. James Stewart plays an authority figure from the pair's younger days, who is partially responsible for their warped ways of thinking. He slowly begins to become more and more suspicious, as the two killers each make revealing mistakes in their own ways, and the usually punctual victim remains nowhere to be found. This isn't among my favorite Hitchcock movies, but it's likable enough. It's set in one location like Rear Wondow and Dial M for Murder, and it's always interesting to see Hitchcock work within the confines and challenges of that scenario. The movie is also quite tense at times, as it becomes clear that it's only a matter of time before the secret is outed. See it for the interesting premise, if nothing else.

• Conner R

  
  My favorite Hitchcock and James Stewart pairing, itâ??s just an amazingly dark film about the art of killing. Itâ??s a deep seeded dream that most people can relate to in some way, would you kill someone if you thought you could get away with it? Most people would and rightfully… More
  My favorite Hitchcock and James Stewart pairing, itâ??s just an amazingly dark film about the art of killing. Itâ??s a deep seeded dream that most people can relate to in some way, would you kill someone if you thought you could get away with it? Most people would and rightfully should say no, but to some it is a very real question. Two trust fund youths make it a nice little obstacle for their dinner party. Itâ??s just a great movie in every way. The acting is perfect, which was necessary in getting these very odd characters to come off as believable and scary. I also love the idea of having the entire film take place in one room, it works so well and does wonders for the suspense element.

• Reid V

  
  No bells and whistles. Just all around bad ass acting and building suspense with little more than words. Jimmy Stewart is top notch and I believe it is one of Hitchcock's best.

• Arash X

  
  Fun & interesting to watch but that's it, Not to mention the film's awful ending with Stewart's ridiculous speech

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"The power to kill can be just as satisfying as the power to create"</i> Two young men strangle their "inferior" classmate, hide his body in their apartment, and invite his friends and family to a dinner party as a means to challenge the… More
  <i>"The power to kill can be just as satisfying as the power to create"</i> Two young men strangle their "inferior" classmate, hide his body in their apartment, and invite his friends and family to a dinner party as a means to challenge the "perfection" of their crime. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> As far as Hitchcock films go Rope is one of his more mellow ones but is still very interesting. Based upon the case Leopold and Loeb, it is about two young friends who strangle a man for just a curious thrill-kill. Afterwards, they put his body in a chest. Expecting guests over to the apartment for a party, one of them thinks it would be a hoot to serve food off the chest with the corpse inside. They proceed with the party while one of the guests (James Stewart) begins to grow suspicious due to the behavior of the two boys. This film is 81 minutes long, and consisting of ten to fifteen minute long takes at a time with out cutting. The camera follows the actors around the apartment throughout the film as they keep up interesting conversations. The ending is quite suspenseful. Definitely a memorable classic and just another reason why Hitchcock is the master!

• Lady D

  
  Another great Hitchcock film! Shot mainly in one location, with what appeared to be seemless filming, the characters are well developed and the plot provides great suspense. The storyline also demonstrates a thin line between theory and practice. A comical role for Jimmy Stewart… More
  Another great Hitchcock film! Shot mainly in one location, with what appeared to be seemless filming, the characters are well developed and the plot provides great suspense. The storyline also demonstrates a thin line between theory and practice. A comical role for Jimmy Stewart and without a doubt one of Hitchcock?s best.

• Ross C

  
  This single scene movie is really just a play filmed carefully through the narrow window of a camera. The story borrows heavily from the infamous Leopold and Loeb case where the murders believed they were superior Nietzschean supermen.

• xGary X

  
  Two upper class intellectuals plan the "perfect" murder of an old school friend for the sheer thrill of it and hold a dinner party for his friends and family with the corpse hidden within the room. Rope is most famous for its "one shot" conceit as the story takes… More
  Two upper class intellectuals plan the "perfect" murder of an old school friend for the sheer thrill of it and hold a dinner party for his friends and family with the corpse hidden within the room. Rope is most famous for its "one shot" conceit as the story takes place entirely within the same room, Hitchcock concealing (albeit somewhat clumsily) the cuts between reels. I feel however that is the least interesting aspect of the film, as the ideas expressed within, the sharp dialogue and Hitch's usual ability to crank up the tension are the real reason why it works. Hitchcock plays with the audience, placing us in the room with characters, they and their conversations even being demoted to off-screen from time to time as he constantly reminds us of the foul deed that could be discovered at any moment. When recreating the murder, he uses nothing as crude as flashbacks; he entices the audience to relive it through vicarious imagination. The story is told entirely through the verbal sparring of the party guests, Jimmy Stewart being the perfect casting choice as their old schoolmaster who begins to suspect something is afoot, his image as Capra's morally upstanding man of the people is given a different spin within this macabre situation. Here, he is the cynical misanthropist shown the logical conclusion of his contempt for "inferior" humanity and the concluding speech when faced with his grim discovery is electrifying. Hitchcock made a few anti-Nazi propaganda pieces for the war effort, and this contempt for intellectual arrogance and self-superiority and its inferred fascistic overtones echoes the sentiment of those films. This strong moral message and taut story telling make for a gripping thriller that although a little stagy, still packs a thought provoking punch.

• Chris G

  
  Rope is another of Alfred Hitchcock's experiments and he actually pulls off three in this one. The first is that this film is shot like a stage play with the only cuts being when the film ran out in the camera. The second is that it's his first Technicolor film. And third,… More
  Rope is another of Alfred Hitchcock's experiments and he actually pulls off three in this one. The first is that this film is shot like a stage play with the only cuts being when the film ran out in the camera. The second is that it's his first Technicolor film. And third, this is one of the first big films that dealt with an extremely veiled and hidden topic like homosexuality. Rope is about Brandon Shaw (John Dall) and Philip Morgan (Farley Granger) who kill their friend David (Dick Hogan) in the opening minutes of the picture (Ironically Hogan gets more screen time in the trailer than in the actual film). Rope is one of those rare early films where the killers don't kill for any real particular reason. It's mainly a social experiment to them. The pair are sick, mainly Brandon who sees the murder as an aristocratic right. The superior should be able to murder the inferior. Add into this sick foray that they decide to have a dinner party right after the murder. If you didn't think it could get any worse they invite the victims father and aunt (Cedric Hardwicke and Constance Collier), the victims fiance Janet (Joan Chandler), the victims former best friend Kenneth (Douglas Dick), and their former headmaster who appears to be the inspiration for this sick game Rupert Cadell (James Stewart). The party moves on with a few hiccups and the constant puns about death, murder, dying, and strangulation that continual make our two sick boys very nervous, causing Rupert to suspect that something is going on, he just can't figure out what. Rope isn't Hitchcock's greatest films by no means. The gimmick of a film shot in real time was great and real lets suspense build as Brandon and Philip continue to test fate for 90 minutes. The problem is Hitchcock's other gimmick- the long shots. It's not the long shots themselves that kill the film, it's the way that each new can of film segues into another. Close ups on back with dark suits and such continually interrupts the film, not allowing it to flow like a stage play as Hitchcock intended. Hitchcock still gives us great shots as usual, especially the shot of a kitchen door flapping after Brandon walks throughout it to reveal him dropping the rope into a kitchen drawer, then hiding him again. A great shot. The cast is first rate even though Stewart feels out of place as the dark school teacher Rupert. The interesting thing is that the two killers are supposed to be homosexual, though 1948 Hollywood would never allow a film that would come right out and say that in those days and with a script sanitized by the powers that be the sense of the characters still exists. It's been said that even Stewart's character of Rupert could have also been more of an inspiration to them in that regard as well. Is it a veiled shot at homosexual's as murderers? Possibly, but knowing Hitchcock it was probably more of a controversial subject to throw in- something new to play with and give the audience something to toss around in their heads. Even though Rope is a flawed film it still stands as a testament to Hitchcock and his experiments through the years. This was his first color film and the first film that his production company produced. His first film he totally controlled was a grand experiment. Does it work? Partially. But it does stand as the doorway to the great films he made throughout the 1950's.

• Luke B

  
  Hitchcock's experiment in creating a seemingly one take film in real time is a major success. It's this approach that both compliments and enhances the stage play origins of the film. Dall plays a charismatic and and well educated "villain". It's a fantastic… More
  Hitchcock's experiment in creating a seemingly one take film in real time is a major success. It's this approach that both compliments and enhances the stage play origins of the film. Dall plays a charismatic and and well educated "villain". It's a fantastic performance where you soon forget about the acting and concentrate on the story. Hitchcock also uses other well placed techniques, such as the pan around the room during Stewart's assessment of how he would have carried out the crime and neon lights from outside creating a chaotic and tense environment. The final few moments of film, as the camera pans out, wonderfully shows the characters as they await their fate. It's talky, but also an excellent evaluation of morals and superiority. An engaging thriller with both style and intellectual substance.

• Chris W

  
  In a word: stunning. There's essentially nothing wrong with this film, and basically everything right, especially: the innovative and great as usual direction, the riveting performances, the experimental 'play-like' nature of the film, the camerawork, and the… More
  In a word: stunning. There's essentially nothing wrong with this film, and basically everything right, especially: the innovative and great as usual direction, the riveting performances, the experimental 'play-like' nature of the film, the camerawork, and the multi-layered dialogue wth tons of double-meanings. Check this one out. It's not too long, shot in real-time, and gripping the entire way through.

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