Rope

 Year:  1948

Director:  Alfred Hitchcock

Screenplay:  Hume Cronyn, based on the stage play Rope by Patrick Hamilton

Starring:  James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger, Joan Chandler, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Constance Collier, Douglas Dick, Edith Evanson

Running Time:  80 minutes

Genre:  Thriller

New York City:  Two students, Brandon (Dall) and Philip (Granger), murder their friend David (Dick Hogan) for no other reason than the thrill of it.  After hiding the body in a large antique chest, they throw a party to which they invite David's family and friends, as well as their former teacher (Stewart).

Based on a 1928 stage play by Patrick Hamilton, which was itself loosely based on the notorious 1924 Leopold and Loeb murder case, this is one of Alfred Hitchcock's most experimental films.  Aside from the opening credit sequence, the entire film is set within the confines of Brandon and Philip's palatial New York apartment, and it is filmed to appear as if it is almost one continuous take.  The camera moves are impressive, although due to the fact that the cameras of the time could only hold a maximum of ten minutes worth of film, the camera frequently has to move close into the backs of people's jackets or furniture in order to hide the edit when the film had to be replaced.  This was the first of three films that James Stewart made for Hitchcock and he was critical of the film, commenting that the "really important thing being rehearsed here is the camera, not the actors," and stating much later that "it was worth trying... But it really didn't work."  Hitchcock himself dismissed the continuous take technique as "a stunt."  The film's main set of the apartment's living room is impressive, with a large window looking out over a steadily darkening New York City skyline, all of which was achieved in the studio.  While the film isn't entirely successful, it is an entertaining thriller.  The suspense comes not from David's fate, or the identity of the murderers, the film opens with the murder and the hiding of the body, but on when and how the "perfect murder" will unravel.  The film was very controversial on it's original release, possibly because of the strong homosexual subtext, the fact that Brandon and Philip are in a relationship is made pretty much as blatant as it could be in a mainstream movie in 1948.  For the most part the film manages to be more than just an innovative experiment, with sharp dialogue, strong performances, and the steadily building tension.  However, there are points where the technique overrides the content and your left admiring the camera work, rather than being involved in the story.

What a swell party: Farley Granger, James Stewart and John Dall in Rope

Gaslight

Year of Release:  1940

Director:  Thorold Dickinson

Screenplay:  A. R. Rawlinson and Bridget Boland, based on the stage play Gas Light by Patrick Hamilton

Starring:  Anton Walbrook, Diana Wynyard, Frank Pettingell

Running Time:  85 minutes

Genre:  Drama, thriller

In Victorian London a newly married couple, Paul (Walbrook) and Bella Mallon (Wynyard), move into a house where twenty years earlier an elderly woman was brutally murdered by an unknown robber.  Before long, Bella begins to notice small objects going missing, strange sounds in an empty upstairs room, and the light in the gas lamps flickering strangely.  Her husband also begins to act increasingly cold and harsh towards her.  Bella begins to worry that she is losing her mind.  The truth however is even more sinister.

You've probably read or heard the term "gaslighting" which refers to someone manipulating another person to make them doubt their perception of reality, and the term comes from the title of the 1938 play Gas Light and the two film versions, the 1940 British film which we are concerned with here, and the 1944 American film directed by George Cukor and starring Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer and Joseph Cotton.   The central story concerns an evil husband manipulating his wife into making her think that she is going mad.  This isn't a spoiler, it's revealed pretty much from the outset that that is what he is doing.  While the 1940 version isn't as well known as the 1944 film, it is a pretty good little thriller.  Anton Walbrook gives a great villainous performance as the cruel husband, either silkily persuasive or hissing venom at his long-suffering wife, even if there are times when you half expect him to start twirling his moustache, he's so gleefully wicked.  The wide-eyed Diana Wynyard is impressive as the tormented Bella, even if there are times you wish she was less quietly passive, however the scene where she turns the tables on him is wonderfully suspenseful.  Frank Pettingell plays the happily pleased with himself former policeman turned stable owner who decides to conduct a private investigation into Mallon.  The film is creaky by today's standards, but it is suspenseful and exciting and, despite being very obviously studio bound, the lighting and camera work is effective.  The story moves at a quick pace, the dialogue is well-written.  Anton Walbrook makes a memorable villain and Diana Wynyard is affecting as the manipulated Bella.