Week Three- Rope

In Rope, we are exposed to the joys of killing. Through the eyes of Brandon, Hitchcock shows us the ecstasy one can get from murder. Immersed in this idea from the very beginning, Hitchcock gives us numerous bits of evidence in the very first seven minutes of the film. Brandon’s euphoric and joyous demeanor only seconds after committing the murder is almost contagious and only grows throughout the film. The first time we get a glimpse of this idea, comes just after Philip and Brandon have killed David and put his body in the chest (3:10). Here Hitchcock uses lighting to illuminate this idea into our heads, Brandon turns on the light after murdering David while Philip quickly says, “Don’t”. Brandon wants to see what they just have done; he has this yearning to see David dead while Philip is clearly remorseful, traumatized by what they have just done. This juxtaposition between Philip and Brandon will help to clearly show the unusual joy Brandon gets from committing this murder. The use of almost low-key lighting in this opening part of the scene helps with creating this distinguishing feature between the two murderers. Philip seems to always be in the dark, while Brandon likes to be in the light; we associate light with joy, which adds to the fact that Brandon has just enjoyed killing David. We get a sense of an eerie calm about Brandon when he lights his cigarette and smokes it (3:40). This cigarette smoking is kind of like a post-coital release to Brandon. This contrast between Brandon and Philip is clear by fitting both of them in the screen. With both of them in focus we can see this juxtaposition between how differently these two murderers have reacted to the murder of David Kentley. Hitchock also uses comedy throughout this scene and the movie to express this idea of killing for fun to the audience.