Rope

As per Brandon (John Dall), the universe can be divided into 2 kinds of people. Those who are the superior beings and obviously the other being the antonyms. And as per Brandon, the inferior beings do not have a right to exist and should be done away with as fast as possible.

In fact, Brandon takes this vicious thought one step further. He strongly believes that the superior kind should indulge in “ensuring” that the inferiors are done away with. In other simple words, ensure that the inferior beings are killed. And how will this be achieved? His proposal involves a certain quota of killings per superior being, various kinds of “killing days” etc.

Morbid? The only person who could have thought about this, a year after the Brits decided to leave India (I wouldn’t call it independence because I firmly believe that is the biggest farce that has been pulled off ever), would have been the great Alfred Hitchcock. How in the world do you handle a topic like this?

Rope deals with Brandon & his partner in crime – the paranoid Phillip (Farley Granger). They decide to commit the perfect murder. One that involves killing David Kentley (Dick Hogan) who comes in early for a party that Brandon has called for. The two strangle David with – a rope – and then stuff his body into a large wooden trunk. One they intend to dispose after the party.

Who are invited to the party? David’s fiancé Janet (Joan Chandler), his father Mr. Kentley (Sir Cedric Hardwicke), his aunt Mrs. Atwater (Constance Collier), Janet’s ex boyfriend Kenneth (Douglas Dick) and the group’s house master from school, the radical Rupert Cadell (James Stewart).

Hitchcock brews a heady mixture of a concept that can be described as offensive and you would be very kind to it. But the magician does so with such conviction and class that you are riveted to the screen – just because you want to find out what will happen next. Who will figure out that David has been murdered. How will they figure it out? Will they figure out at all?

There are zillions of questions that run through your head over the hour and twenty minutes. Honestly it feels like a one act play with some brilliant use of music and screenplay / dialogues that are mind blowing. 8 on 10 for this one. Hitchcock fever is hitting me harder than I imagined.

Trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3ZZLKF0XR4