Marty and Cindy lament over the Hitchcock 80 minute  apartment thriller, Rope. 

Rope (1948)

Production & Filming

• Hitchcock shot the film in 10 takes, each 4½ to 10 minutes long.
• At the end of each reel, the camera pushes into a dark object to disguise the cut.
• Props and even walls were mounted on casters so crew could silently move them.
• Hitchcock usually completed only one segment per day.
• The final segments were re-shot due to dissatisfaction with sunset lighting.
• During one take, a camera dolly reportedly ran over a cameraman’s foot. He was removed quietly to avoid stopping the shot.
• A stagehand once rushed into frame to catch a glass that an actress nearly dropped — the take was kept.
• Because of cables and moving lights, actors had to navigate the set carefully.

Historical Firsts

• Hitchcock’s first color film
• Average shot length: 435.7 seconds
• One of the earliest experiments in “continuous take” filmmaking
• Theatrically paired in the U.S. with the cartoon Hare Splitter (1948)

Literary & Stage Origins

• Based loosely on the real Leopold and Loeb murder case
• Adapted from Patrick Hamilton’s play, retitled Rope’s End on Broadway
• Major changes from stage to screen:
• Added characters (Janet, Mrs. Wilson, Kenneth)
• Changed Cadell’s age and role
• Relocated from England to New York

Casting & Performers

• Cary Grant was first considered for Rupert
• Montgomery Clift was originally considered for Brandon
• Stewart was paid $300,000 of the $1.5 million budget
• Final theatrical film for Dick Hogan (David)
• Final film of Joan Chandler
• Douglas Dick was the last surviving cast member (d. 2015)

Cultural Notes

• Banned in several cities due to implied homosexuality
• David’s name is spoken 73 times
• Each of the five men wears a different colored suit
• In Brazil, titled Festim Diabólico (“Devilish Feast”)
• Included in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

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