Rope - 8 stars out of 10

Rope - 8 stars out of 10

"Rope" may not be the best story of all time, but it is darn impressive.  Hitchcock manipulates the screen into a stage with this film that creates the illusion of a single take.  Special effects and camera tricks have no place in this film as the story is told from a single camera angle taking place in an apartment.  "Rope" is unlike any other film that you will ever see.  It is amazing how much suspense develops without ever leaving the room.  This film is all about good acting.  Like "Twelve Angry Men," the film's energy relies on the delivery of lines and subtle acting gestures.  John Dall's stutter is nothing short of genius, while Phillip Morgan's shifting eyes continually remind us of his guilt and paranoia at hosting this dinner party with a dead body in the room.  The subtlety of Jimmy Stewart picking up the wrong hat to solve the mystery is perfection, as no action is out of place in this film.  It is such a typical party, but so much more is going on.  Joan Chandler is lovely as Janet, the sweet but spunky fiancee, but my favorite character is definitely the flighty Mrs. Atwater.  Constance Collier brings the perfect amount of charm and confusion to the role.  The film is slow at times, often times using one-on-one dialogue to give the other actors a moment to rest before the long and uncut scene continues, but it still manages to tell this philosophical murder story in a room filled with people.  It must have been a sight to see, actors navigating over wires, walls moving in and out, and a crew constantly manipulating the set in a madly choreographed dance, all while the camera continued to roll.  Even though the film uses a single set, the skyline in the background is incredible with a sky that progresses from afternoon to night, clouds that move and change shape eight times throughout the film, and chimneys with smoke rising from them.  It also provides some symbolism as their master plan progresses from pure excitement to being caught, with the blinking light from the sign outside eventually illuminating them in red.  The film only allows for a few of Hitchcock's cool visuals, like when the door swings open and we see Dall dropping the rope into the drawer, but you can feel his hand on every inch of the film as his signature dark tone looms over the entire film.  Some might refer to this single take illusion as a gimmick, but it is just another testament to Hitchcock being one of the most innovative directors in the history of cinema.