Alfred Hitchcock films deal mainly with murder and other crimes. Rope, a stage play adapted to the screen, by Hume Cronyn, is different. It is loosely based on the murder committed by Leopold and Loeb. It is a disturbing tale of two college students, Brandon, (John Dall) and Philip, (Farley Granger), who murder a former student and friend, David Kentley, (Dick Hogan), by strangling him. Their reasoning is that they are superior, and their victim is not. They decide to temporarily put the body in a trunk.They are having a dinner party, and place food and drinks on it. There are conversations about murder, in which Brandon and Philip participate. Another topic of conversation is David Kentley, who is supposed to be a guest at the party. One of the guests, is Rupert Cadell, Their former professor and mentor. The killers were inspired to commit their crime, because of Cadel’s views on class and society. They don’t take into account their mentor’s inquisitive nature. He can’t dismiss the absence of someone who always attends any social event.
This film is above all else, gives insight into sociopathic behavior. The killers delight in their crime, even using the rope to tie books together. James Stewart’s character, puts them on edge. His questioning puts holes in their story. His interrogation gets to their conscience. They think that Rupert will understand their crime, but their outlook on the value of life, is in stark contrast to his.
Alfred Hitchcock did something with Rope that was unique. He filmed the movie in real time. It works and makes it look like the play. Hitchcock also had the luxury of filming in color. It was the first of his many films to use it. The use of color in Rope works well. It is particularly effective at the end, when neon lights flash on Brandon and Philip. It shows the genius of Hitchcock, to film a play, about murder, and keep it interesting for the audience.
A particular talent of Hitchcock, was to bring out the full talent of his actors. James Stewart is one example. Stewart was, before working for The Master of Suspense, an actor mainly known as a romantic lead. He steps away from that typecasting in Rope, as Rupert Cadel. Once James Stewart started his professional relationship with Hitchcock, he was on the way, to becoming one of the best actors, in movie history.
Rope isn’t considered one of Alfred Hitchcock’s better films. It is worth viewing for his experimental film technique, known as one shot. He used film canisters, with ten minutes of film, and used dark backgrounds or the backs of people, so the film running out, wouldn’t be noticed. This film is overlooked, when talking about Hitchcock’s genius, but it shouldn’t.