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PAGE 15
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ROPE
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Rope
(1948) is a movie about two college students who kill a fellow student
for the sake of proving that they are capable of murder. The story is isnpired
by a true account (the Leopold and Loeb killing).
In the Truffaut interviews,
Hitchcock dismissed the movie because of the style of its filming. Rope
consists of several continuous shots without interruptions (except at reel
change) to indicate real time, as if in a play. However, while this 'stunt'
may be less persuasive, the film is a fine study in guilt and innocence.
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Two college students
kill their friend just before they hold a party in their apartment, where
the body is still hidden away in a chest. Attending the party are the dead
man's girlfriend, his father and aunt, and another friend.
Also attending is a
former school teacher, Rupert Cadell (played by Jimmy Stewart).
At the party, Rupert touts
his cynical philosophy.
Click
image for video ( ).
Rupert gradually becomes
aware that something's wrong. He particularly notices one of the students'
anxiety over a piece of rope.
When the party's over,
Rupert first leaves with the other guests.
Then he returns... with
the piece of rope.
Rupert uncovers the
horrible crime and confronts the two men.
Inspired by Rupert's
own philosophy, the students question their former teacher's involvement
and his guilt.
In the end, caught between
and among the guilty parties, Rupert dissociates himself from the two and
calls
upon society.
Mathieu
Deflem
DeflemM@yahoo.com
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.This
page is part of Hitchcockonline.org.
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