Rope

The Hitchcock classic, based on a Patrick Hamilton (Hangover Square etc) script. This is basically the filming of a play, and is famous for the (4?) tiny amount of shots that are used, the camera swooping around the front ended rooms. This is an exercise in brilliance rather than annoying trickery, indeed the few cuts there are (though obviously necessary in the production process) are actually the most obtrusive element of the direction. It is, quite obviously, a play set up; the front ended rooms, the real-time setting, even a bit of a speechifying and so on. The most dramatic cinematic effects are the changing lights that occur at the end. These are obviously a method that would work just as well in the theatre, and the film should be judged as what it is, a fine filming of a play (plus kudos to the moves around the room, the one departure from theatrical conventions, when Rupert delivers the monologue on what the murderers ‘could’ have done).
As far as the plot it concerned, we can roll out all the Hitchcock clichés/superlatives. Tightly-paced, suspenseful, thrilling, the slow build up of action and endless use of ironies creating the kind of perfectly packaged emotionally charged screen experience that few others have been able to get near. The acting is theatrical, but still fine. Brandon in particular shows just the right level of slightly over-the-top cunning. The dialogue is for a play, with rather flowery speeches, but steers just about clear of pretentious. And Jimmy Stewart is wonderful as ever, playing the older man with a beautiful uncertainty that belies possible charicatures.
So, this is a ‘standard’ Hitchcock film, in other words it’s a master-work, tight, short, exciting, and well done. It shouldn’t perhaps be seen as a great cinematic experience; as mentioned, it’s a filmed play, but this doesn’t take away from its achievement as a fine piece of theatrical art.