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Rating: 4 out of 5 Release Date: 1948 Director: Alfred Hitchcock Netflix Link IMDb Link |
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The amazing thing about Rope is that you know who gets killed, how and by whom in the very opening scene. One would think that because you know the exact details of the crime, the movie would deflate like a balloon. On the contrary, the suspense lies in whether or not the murderers will get caught. Based on a Patrick Hamilton play adapted by Hume Cronyn, Rope is filmed very much like a stage play with the entire movie set in an apartment. It is full of intelligent dialog, incredible tension and amazing camera shots. There is a scene when the maid is cleaning up around where the body is stored and the camera never moves for a few minutes. Back and forth to the kitchen she goes, every trip getting closer to the inevitable discovery of the murdered man, as the off-camera dialog continues around her. John Dall is perfect as the remorseless killer and Jimmy Stewart is great as the unwitting inspiration for the crime. Classic Hitchcock.
