WEEK 3: Rope

In the movie, Rope, the character of Brandon and Philip plot and execute what they believe to be the “perfect” murder of their friend, David. This murder turns out to be far from perfect as Rupert a guest to the dinner party thrown by Brandon begins to suspect and uncovers the truth about David’s murder. Rupert is the former headmaster of Brandon, Philip and David and whose idea’s inspired the murder carried out by Brandon. Rupert’s name is first met with concern by Philip who is upset at Brandon for inviting him to the dinner(15:45).  He believes that of all people Rupert would most likely be the one to suspect the two of them. Brandon tries to calm Philip down by making him believe that Rupert would be the person most likely to appreciate the art of what they had done. Brandon even tells Philip that he once thought of inviting Rupert to carry out this crime with them but decided against it as Rupert in his own words “could have invented and could have admired but never could have acted.” (16:20) The first time we meet Rupert, Philip has just begun playing the piano after Mrs. Atwater has just predicted that Philips hands would make him famous. Rupert’s arrival in itself brings about a rise in the suspense of the plot as he begins to suspect Brandon’s motive’s for the party right away. In his conversation with Mrs. Atwater to Rupert talks about Murder as an art which should be a right to people who are considered superior individuals. This scene according to me is really important in this movie as it shows us where Brandon and Philip have gotten the idea to murder David. They too have murdered David as they believe him to be an inferior being to them. This I feel adds to the suspense of the movie when we begin to see Rupert put the dots together about David’s murder but until the very end when he fires the gunshots in the air to signal the crowd to call the policeman we are unsure about whether Rupert would actually applaud the artistic touch to the murder or blame himself and not turn Brandon and Philip in.