What the film Rope is about:
This is a film about two men that believe that they are better and are worth more then everybody else, they also believe that middle class people are worth nothing and do not deserve to live as they are not as important as higher class people like themselves. Therefore, they murder a man 'David' to see what it feels like to have power over someone else life and to see what thrill they would get out of it. Once they have done this they them throw a party to celebrate their achievement of murdering another person, but it all ends horribly wrong and they end up getting caught and punished for what they have done. The directer of this film was Alfred Hitchcock, the writer was adapted by Patrick Hamilton's play from 1929, which was based on a real event that took place. The stars where James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger. This film was film in short 10 minute clips where every 10 minutes they would do a close up shot onto something and the start filming again in the same close up shot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NLsbzhOEHg
About the trailer for Rope:
At the start of this trailer for the film rope it shows you a part of the film which you do not see in the film, this is the bit where David and the lady are talking on the bench, and it tells you that it is the last time she will ever see him, this tells you that something bad is going to happen to David such as he is going to die. Not only this but it also shows you who is affected by this and who is responsible. This trailer gives away a lot about the film for example, it tells you who is responsible for the murders and what is going on in David's life before he get murdered. This trailer show clips of the film but tells you in a voice over what happens within the different clips and gives us a rough idea of what could of happened within the film. In this trailer it shows us who is involved in the film and all of the main characters that take part. However, it shows us a short clip of a important scene in this film of when David gets murdered and you here his scream, and where the two mean get caught of the crime that they have commented and James Stewart catching them out. This trailer gives us a lot of information about that life and what happens.
About the open scene of Rope:
The open scene of the film Rope goes straight into the murder of David and who murdered him. Not only this it also shows us how they did it and why they did it. Therefore, where they put the body once it had been done and how they felt about it for example John Dall and Farley Granger were the ones that committed this crime and it shows us that John Dall felt good about the murder he had just committed and he was proud with himself for what he had done, whereas, Farley Granger was upset and he regretted what he had done to the man and realised that he did not deserve it. However, the opening scene also showed up that John and Farley were in a gay relationship and John Dall was the dominant partner and was more like the man in the relationship, whereas, Farley Granger was the more shy, emotional, timid person in the relationship more like a women.
Mystery and suspense in Rope:
There was a lot of mystery and suspense in the film Rope, the reason for this was because throughout the film they put the audience on edge making the wonder if someone at the party would film the dead body in the chest that they was having their food off of. The main scene in the film that cause suspense was when the lady was cleaning up and putting all the books back where they was meant to be, which was in the chest. The reason this cause suspense for the audience was because they wondered if she is going to open the chest and see the body body and find out what John Dall and Farley Granger had done. There is suspense throughout the movie making you wonder if they are going to get caught and when James Stewart asks to come back upstairs because he has forgotten something it causes suspense as we wonder if they have got caught and if he knows something as to why he is coming back up.
Narratives used in this film:
The Narratives that where used within this film are that they use the traditional Hollywood narrative structure for example they have the three act structure, set up (25%), the confrontation (50%), climax (25%). there is also Linear which is closure at the end of the film the reason for this is because the two men end up getting caught and punished for the crime that they have committed. Not only this, but they also use the Levi Strauss theory, this is where there is a hero and a villain and that the villains are more equip, the reason for this is because they have a gun, the way that they use this is because it is the two bad guys that committed the murder versing the man that is trying to find out if they did kill David, and then when he catches them at the end and gets the police to come and get them. However, it was also two sides against each other because it was the upper class men against the lower class men thinking that they are worth more then the lower class people. Barthes enigma code was used the reason for this is because it was a closed ending as they then got caught not only this but a problem was introduced as the problem was introduce when he wanted to come back upstairs to confront them.
Devices:
The devises that are used within this film is suspense the reason for this is because when James Stewart wanted to come back up stairs because he said that he has left something, and then when the audience see that he dose not leave something and he puts it their himself, builds up suspense because the audience are wondering whether he is going to find the body that is hiding in the chest. This is more then a extended suspense rather then a fast pasting and quick one, for example, suspense was the whole way through the film wondering if they are ever going to find the body or whether they are going to get away with the crime that they have committed.
Camera shots:
Crane shot: The crane shot is used at the begging of the film, when they are introducing the film. This is when the lady is walking down the street with her pram. This is a good shot the reason for this is because it is high up so we are able to see what is going on wiles they introduce the film and then they move into the window of the bed room making it a very effective shot.
Medium shot: This is used through out the film. The places that this is used is mainly when the characters are speaking to eat other. for example at the begging of the film when the two mean are speaking, they use a medium shot.
Rolling shot: They use this shot when they characters are moving but also talking at the same time, not only this but they use it to follow people to see what they are up to.
Close up: This shot is used for when there is a serious moment in the film, for example when they man is trying to figure out what has happened to David.
Extreme close up: This is used when they find the rope at the side of the chest where they have hidden the dead body where they murdered the man. This is an effective shot, the reason for this is because it shows us that it is serious and lets us focus on that one main things.
Well done Stephanie, it's good to see you starting to analyse rather than merely describe.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget you can go back to Blog Posts and analyse small sections of the film you find on detail - using Media Language to tease how how/why certain effects are used.