(Rope Poster, 1948)
Rope is a 1948 American psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It was based on the 1929 play of the same name by Patrick Hamilton, which in turn was loosely based on the Leopold and Loeb murder case in 1924.
"Actual lensing time was 10 days, plus five days of retakes, but complete schedule was 36 days, including intense rehearsals." Connolly, M. (1948)
Rope is considered to be a very contemporary film for its time, the reason being that the film looks like it has been done in one full take when in reality it was 10 cuts spliced together. Hitchcock never disguised these cuts either, making them obvious to spot to the trained eye, but not to average film viewers in that day. The end of each of these cuts often pan into a blackout on someones back or on the chest, but most are unmasked cuts from just people talking. As the quote above says, it took 15 days in total to finish shooting the film, since Hitchcock was determined to get his shots right.
Stepping away from the way it was made, the film in a way explores the homosexual relationship of the two main characters, which is very interesting for the time it was set in. It's heavily implied through the use of script and props that Philip and Brandon are in a gay relationship. It's never said directly in the film, but you can imply a lot simply from looking and listening.
These two characters are shown in extremely close situations from beginning to end, from Brandon taking off Philips gloves in the first few shots of the film, to their use of cigarette use after especially intense moments in the film.
"Hitch, never one to shy away from explicit content or gay subtext, wanted to play up the plot’s homosexual undertones — even the piece Phillip routinely plays on the piano is by an openly gay composer." (IndieWire, 2014)
It's also worth noting, that Philip and Brandon both refer to their murder in an explicit way.
"How did you feel... during it?" "I don't remember feeling much of anything... until his body went limp. Then I felt tremendously exhilarated. How did you feel?" (Rope, 1948)
Even after the murder, they both agree to stay in a state of "bliss" as Brandon takes out a cigarette, which as said earlier is a symbol of sex. They then hide the body, hiding something in plain sight of their dinner guests, hoping they won't be found out. This again is much like their relationship.
Rope is a very complex, contemporary and in a way controversial piece of art, which stuns its audience and leaves it wanting more again and again.
"Actual lensing time was 10 days, plus five days of retakes, but complete schedule was 36 days, including intense rehearsals." Connolly, M. (1948)
Rope is considered to be a very contemporary film for its time, the reason being that the film looks like it has been done in one full take when in reality it was 10 cuts spliced together. Hitchcock never disguised these cuts either, making them obvious to spot to the trained eye, but not to average film viewers in that day. The end of each of these cuts often pan into a blackout on someones back or on the chest, but most are unmasked cuts from just people talking. As the quote above says, it took 15 days in total to finish shooting the film, since Hitchcock was determined to get his shots right.
(Rope, 1948)
Stepping away from the way it was made, the film in a way explores the homosexual relationship of the two main characters, which is very interesting for the time it was set in. It's heavily implied through the use of script and props that Philip and Brandon are in a gay relationship. It's never said directly in the film, but you can imply a lot simply from looking and listening.
These two characters are shown in extremely close situations from beginning to end, from Brandon taking off Philips gloves in the first few shots of the film, to their use of cigarette use after especially intense moments in the film.
"Hitch, never one to shy away from explicit content or gay subtext, wanted to play up the plot’s homosexual undertones — even the piece Phillip routinely plays on the piano is by an openly gay composer." (IndieWire, 2014)
It's also worth noting, that Philip and Brandon both refer to their murder in an explicit way.
"How did you feel... during it?" "I don't remember feeling much of anything... until his body went limp. Then I felt tremendously exhilarated. How did you feel?" (Rope, 1948)
(Rope, 1948)
Even after the murder, they both agree to stay in a state of "bliss" as Brandon takes out a cigarette, which as said earlier is a symbol of sex. They then hide the body, hiding something in plain sight of their dinner guests, hoping they won't be found out. This again is much like their relationship.
Rope is a very complex, contemporary and in a way controversial piece of art, which stuns its audience and leaves it wanting more again and again.
Bibliography:
Images:
Rope Poster. (1948). [image] Available at: https://cdn.traileraddict.com/content/universal-pictures/rope_1948.jpg [Accessed 17 Jan. 2018].
Rope. (1948). [DVD] Directed by A. Hitchcock. United States: Warner Bros.
Rope. (1948). [DVD] Directed by A. Hitchcock. United States: Warner Bros.
Quotes:
Connolly, M. (1948). Revolutionary No-Pause Filming on 'Rope' Stresses New Pic Technique. Variety, p.18.
IndieWire. (2014). Hays’d: Decoding the Classics — 'Rope'. [online] Available at: http://www.indiewire.com/2014/03/haysd-decoding-the-classics-rope-214547/ [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
Rope. (1948). [DVD] Directed by A. Hitchcock. United States: Warner Bros.
Connolly, M. (1948). Revolutionary No-Pause Filming on 'Rope' Stresses New Pic Technique. Variety, p.18.
IndieWire. (2014). Hays’d: Decoding the Classics — 'Rope'. [online] Available at: http://www.indiewire.com/2014/03/haysd-decoding-the-classics-rope-214547/ [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
Rope. (1948). [DVD] Directed by A. Hitchcock. United States: Warner Bros.
"They then hide the body, hiding something in plain sight of their dinner guests, hoping they won't be found out. This again is much like their relationship." - This is a great observation, Annie :)
ReplyDeleteHi Annie, interesting observations :)
ReplyDeleteIt might have been good to also discuss the cinematography a little...for example, how the audience are given the impression of watching the events unfold in what appears to be real time, through the use of the 'continuous shot' and the changing sky colour outside the apartment.