I’ve watched Rope a number of times, but this was the first time I had viewed it since Jason informed me that Hitchcock had used a few regular edits within the film, rather than merely hiding his cuts whenever the camera closes in upon someone’s back. I was surprised to find that I noticed a few cuts to reaction shots almost immediately. It’s a rather jarring experience after having not watched the film in a few years and having to realize Hitchcock wasn’t as seemless as I had remembered him to be.
by Chiranjit Goswami | Source: Universal “The Masterpiece Collection” DVD
26 Dec 2005 10:47 PM | Comments (1)
Incidentally, for those in New York, the Zipper Theater on W. 37th Street is currently running a very nice production of the original play of Rope. It’s a very good play and makes for a fascinating comparison with the film. In particular, the Rupert Cadell character makes much more sense as a sour, decadent, and partly crippled WW I veteran than in the person of James Stewart (honored and unscathed combatant of that other, more heroic world war). One never truly believes that Jimmy is that much of a Nietzschean.
leo
28 December 2005
12:14 PM
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