I just finished watching a Hitchcock-directed film, THE ROPE. Loosely based on the Leopold-Loeb story in which two friends (possibly lovers) commit what they consider the "perfect murder". Stuffing the victim in a large trunk, they proceed to have a dinner party, serving food from the top of the trunk. Unbeknownst to the guests that their son / fiance' is laying dead within inches of everyone.

The film was shot in one continuous sequence, so it gives it a feeling of watching a play. Yet, the scenery moves without the audience knowing and you find yourself becoming mesmerized with the mechanics and detailed planning it took to make this film.

Never having seen this film before, not only did I find the film fascinating -- as most Hitchcockian films do -- but found the directorial aspect even more astounding. Seriously...who does shit like that these days?

The film stars James Stewart, one of my favourite actors. His closing dialogue is truly a fine piece of acting, in my opinion. I highly recommend watching if you've not had the opportunity.

Surely, there are other Hitchcock aficionados. Tell me about some of your favourites.

Albert?

Ha! Ooops!

What? You don't like Albert?

I love Rope. My wife suggested we watch it, back when we were dating. Before this I had thought Hitchcock more of a thriller/horror director (Psycho, The Birds) but this movie revealed to me his great artistic range.

i haven't seen this. gonna add it to my netflix queue.

I believe it's actually about 10 long takes that are edited seemlessly so it has the appearance of one super long take.

edit: not sure what you meant by sequence. It's been too long since I've seen this that I can't remember if the whole thing takes place in their apartment. I'm thinking it does, in which case it could be described as one long sequence.

I'm a big fan of Vertigo (check avatar). Great footage of San Francisco in the 50s, kind of a perverse story too, even if it's a bit of a stretch in the plausiblity department. I just find it highly rewatchable and you always appreciate new things after each viewing.

I probably like Strangers on a Train second. Robert Walker is awesome in this and the script is by Raymond Chandler

Rope is pretty great. Dial M for Murder is very similar, shot mostly in one single room like a play. I prefer that one, mostly for Grace Kelly.

Though my two favorite Hitchcock films are Rear Window and Shadow of a Doubt.

one of the first threads I started on obner was about hitchcock:
http://www.obner.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t ... =hitchcock

Rope is probably my fave Hitchcock. It's as close as they could get to one continuous shot at the time (approx. 10 minutes to a 1,000 ft. 35mm mag - so 10 edits for an hour and a half running time), and the edits coincide with wipes and various other devices, so the film feels like one long shot. It's the film equivalent of live-to-two-track - and that famed opening 2 minutes of A Touch Of Evil is child's play comparatively.

I'm gonna have to buy this film. It needs to be seen again -- I know that I missed certain key moments, eg, Hitchcock's cameo.

REAR WINDOW is also one of my faves. Grace Kelly is incredibly sexy in it and Raymond Burr is perfectly sinister.

[img][344:500]http://filmsinvanvorst.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/rearwindowposter1.jpg[/img]

I love Rear Window too. The crazy goings on make this movie so re-watchable. The couple who sleep on the fire-escape...nice, the guy who plays piano has the coolest parties...and dropping your dog down in a basket to poop--that's ingenuity!

Nice. I'll have to check out Rope.

I went on a Hitchcock kick in college and my favorite is easily Strangers on a Train. The scene where Guy is walking down the stairs as Bruno stands at the top of them is just pure tension and suspense. Hitchcock was the master at that shit.

I've always meant to get around to watching these:

Torn Curtain
Spellbound
To Catch a Thief

I didn't really enjoy Rope that much, at least not compared to other Hitchcock films. I think my favorite so far is Vertigo. I have only seen about 5 Hitchcock films though: Rear Window, Vertigo, Rope, Psycho, and I can't remember the other off the top of my head.

I love Rope.
But North by Northwest is my favorite. I'm surprised that it hasn't been mentioned yet.

Rope is great, and the full fruition of Hitch's method, which was to plan every detail of every shot out in advance and not deviate. I like trying to see the cuts.... there closeup of a leg, fuzzy focus... cut. He was bored with actual filming and with actors and their performance (other than being obssessed with the "cool blonde"... best represented by Grace Kelly...and which obssession is at the core of Vertigo, one of the kinkiest mainstream movies ever). He called them cattle. That being said, I guess Rebecca is still my favorite.

Truffaut's long interview of Hitch is great and the best movie book imho.

And as far "who does this anymore"....


One continuous 96 minute shot that tracks through the Hermitage and three centuries of Russian history and by the end doesn't seem a gimmick. A monumental film.

I have never seen Rope, but now I definitely need to. I have probably 2/3 of the films Hitchcock directed on DVD, and a few of the early ones I haven't even watched. I've been neglecting those movies for too long.

I think North By Northwest is probably my favorite of his, but Dial M for Murder, because of the way it is filmed (mostly in one room, as noted above) is a close second.

I'm a casual Hitchcock fan. Grew up enjoying the TV series and watching his movies with my grandmother who was a huge fan. I've still not seen a ton of his movies though. Vertigo and Rear Window have always been favorites. The Rope is one I really need to see it would seem. Glad this was brought up.