A Hitchcock movie is much like a ball of multicolored yarn. Even once you have unraveled the yarn and then rewound it, the second time through each new color amazes you as much as the first time, for now the subtle irregularities in the coloring and thread quality seem even more wondrous, lines of dialogue seem wittier, acting is more sublime, and surprisingly the suspense is just as grand.
So was the case of my second viewing of the sadly overlooked movie "Rope." As a quick piece of background history the movie is based on the Loeb-Leopold case (which happened about an hour and a half from my town) and concerns to wealthy boys who decided to try and commit the perfect murder... long story short they failed.
The movie changes the setting (No longer the Loeb farm near Charlevoix) and changes the characters, but the "thrill kill" element is there.
The movie opens with the murder of David Kently, and that is the last we see of him, for the movie does not revolve around his murder, but the events following it, and primarily the interactions between the two conspirators (John Dall and Farley Granger, but more on them later) and their former Professor (James Stewart). From there the movie proceeds like a Columbo episode, a celebratory party is hosted by Dall, in which Stewart slowly unravels the crime and pins the two boys.
The plot is full of all the twists and turns one would expect from Hitch, shots, not score, build suspense. The Camera spends much of the time focused not on the action, but of the subject of conversation, most often the chest, which serves as Mr. Kently's temporary grave. Other than the chest, though, the apartment is very simple, for this movie is not about scenery, it's about the characters that fill it.
Let me start with Farley Granger. His role is much that of Freud's superego, not wanting to murder he is forced into it by Dall, the id. Granger performs admirably, but no enough to hold his own with the other two of this movie's three dominating actors.
Which leads me to James Stewart. Honestly, what needs to be said about the man AFI ranked the third greatest actor in film history? The man knows how to act. It doesn't matter the role, he can make you feel proud to be human, he can make you question what it takes to be a man, he can captivate and audience, even in a supporting role. I don't think I am worthy to appraise Stewart, beyond saying we may never have another actor quite like him.
And lastly of the big three is John Dall. With all due respect to Stewart, this is Dall's movie. He was in 8 movies total, and is solely remembered for this role, for great reason. Dall brings a cold sadistic air to him worthy of Adrian Veidt. Deciding that he is fit to play God he plans and commits the murder of his former classmate and friend. But it is in the aftermath, the way Dall presents the murder like a sexual act that brings him the praise he so deserves. Acting like murder was not only okay, but a RIGHT, and being so arrogant you want to kick him off a roof, Dall steals the show and dare I say even upstages Stewart.
The rest of the cast serves as little more than props. they are there to enhance the plot slightly, but this movie would have worked just as well with only the three men I mentioned, and an extra to play a corpse.
If you have not seen this movie... what the hell is wrong with you? Go rent it, now and be amazed at the genius of Hitch, the mastery of the craft of Stewart, and the sublime acting of John Dall.
Dr. Brooklyn says: LIKE this movie (9/10)
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