I've always liked "Rope" - not for the creepy plot (killing someone just for the sport of getting away with it) or the lead roles (snotty quasi-sophisticates) but for the way the Hitch shot the film. He did it in one continuous, non-spliced effort - an actual "rope" of a story. Very cool.

I watched "Rope" today. It reminded me of the point where I began to think Pete (and his languid brother) were really creepy. Remembering how he and his brother sniggled over their cocktails about killing their father (or was it their mother)? Gave me chills.

Watching the film, I was further surprised by the way the dinner party was planned and held with the corpse in the room. Yech.....

This film was released in 1948, yet the version I watched was in color. Does anyone know if it was colorized later? Did the Man Men characters see it in black and white?

Yes, grey...loved that wicked laugh (creepy is definitely the word!) of Pete's after he and his bro. talked of killing their mother (I think)...someone on this forum posted once about Pete making a great serial killer...I agree with that!

That MM scene was as chilling as watching "Rope" to me.

I usually love Alfred H. movies...I'm not nuts about either "Rope" or "The Trouble With Harry" (just a little too macabre for me) but love all the others mostly. Love "Rear Window" and "North by Northwest" the best...but there are so many great ones he directed, it's hard to choose.

I love "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and usually watch it whenever it's on. John Wayne is not a huge favorite, but he is excellent in this and also in "The Quiet Man" (his best movie) IMO.

What can one say about Robert Mitchum in "Cape Fear" ?.... what a model of creepy, psychotic, sociopathic behavior...he should have won an Oscar for that (did he?) if not, he was robbed. Gregory Peck is always wonderful and this performance is no exception. Polly Bergen is also excellent in this...makes your heart jump into your throat watching her in panic mode when RM taunts/rapes(?) her on the boat...(I'm never sure if it is attempted rape or he succeeds)...I guess that's what we're supposed to think... it's kind of ambiguous on that....

When he stalks the daughter is creepsville for sure...excellent movie!

Greytone, the Mad Men characters would have seen it in black and white. It was colorized.

When I watched it this time, I thought that Jimmy Stewart was miscast. He just didn't come across genuine in his emoting as did Stewart Granger and John Dall. I love Jimmy, but I didn't buy him in this role.

"Cape Fear" was a huge success when it came out. I was in high school and we talked about that movie for weeks. Very scary. Also, all us girls wanted to look the actress who played the daughter. Robert Mitchum, probably one of the best actors of his generation and underrated because he makes it look like he isn't acting. What was the name of that movie where he dresses as a preacher, marries the mother of 2 little kids, then stalks them after he kills the mother to get some money they have? The Night of the Hunter, or something. Gives me creeps every time I watch it.

I didn't get a chance to watch Liberty Valance again - sorry. I remember the scene in Mad Men when Pete is going on to Peggy about that movie and gives away the ending. Boy! As I remember it, that was a real no-no in those times. Movies were the prime source of socializing, friends, dates, and families, and giving away the ending of a movie was a real faux pas.

Rope, though I love Hitchcock movies, is not in my list of favorites. I think mostly because I do not like the actor, John Dall. Very off putting, even though I realize his character is a murderer, and I am not supposed to like him. I generally find Farley Granger's character to be annoying, and really, were I planning a murder, he would be the last person I would choose to assist me.

One reason I always watch Rope, however, is because I love the plot, the set and the camera work. When you watch the scenery outside the wall of windows, the clouds change shape and move across the sky, the daylight fades and the neon lights come on. All of this was done by unseen technicians moving right along with the actors and camera crew during those long takes of Hitchcock's. Truly amazing work by the set technicians.

As for "Cape Fear", I can't watch this movie as it terrified me the first time I ever saw it. I am fairly tough when it comes to watching scary movies, but this one really got to me. I did try to watch the remake with Robert Deniro and Jessica Lange, thinking it would not affect me so much, but it was even worse. Could not even stay for the ending. Robert Mitchum is a particular favorite of mine ("Heaven Knows Mr. Allison" with Deborah Kerr is a wonderful film), but I won't watch "Cape Fear".

Thanks for reading my post and answering my query, chopin47....

This weekend there was a Hitchcock retrospective on TCM. The showed an interview with Hitch and Dick Cavett that was really enlightening where they talked about many of his film productions.

Hitchcock made a few comments about how he shot the movie, "Rope," and some tidbits about the art direction. He told Dick (and the live studio audience) that the skyline you mentioned, zerelda, wasn't a photograph, but were actually scale miniatures of the buildings! During one 20 minute take (which was how he shot the movie's scenes), when they were panning right (after 19 minutes of perfection) there was an electrician standing in the middle of the skyline! A collective groan went up as they stopped and reset to try the take again. He mentioned that he shot the movie this way because it would translate well because the story was originally a stage play.

This interview revealed quite a bit about Hitchcock's personality. He seemed very, very smart, quick-witted, with a really droll sense of humor. He told many stories about his social life, and I remembered how private cocktail parties and dinner parties were a big part of social life at that time. He told many stories that occurred in this setting. In this interview I saw him smile and express himself beyond the sound bites that are the basis for the conclusions I have held til now.

I wouldn't have appreciated his movies back then. They fascinate me now because of the details of the era I recognize on the screen. Hitch and Matt both work at their projects with the same attention to detail. Do you think we'll hold Mad Men (the series) the same way as we watch it again 10-20 years from now? I think Matt is hoping so, too. That's why he's putting all the work in now. I sure hope he (and all those putting work into creating Season 3) know we appreciate it more than my meager words can express.

Thanx for joining our discussion, Sixties Survivor... your comment on the camera work was spot on....SCfan...I'm glad I'm not the only one unsure of what happened in the 'rape' scene....back then, wasn't that what made movies scary?...what we didn't see scared us more than the blood and guts of today's horror films. ...Each of us have our own terrors, and I'm sure we all conclude mine is worse than yours....lol chopin47...sharing how you felt watching the movies as an adolescent are very interesting and I hope you continue to post your insight. I wasn't 'movie age' at the time and wouldn't have been able to see them. I'm just now catching up.....zerelda...I don't begrudge your revulsion of "Cape Fear"....the plot was deliciously scary....I stare at roller coasters with the same awe....I also agree with your conclusions about Dall, Stewart and Granger (they made me laugh and want to watch the movie again)....I do like Jimmy Stewart, so I must watch it one more time to see if my opinion changes.

I've learned a lot about movies over this Mad Men hiatus...thanx to you all for your comments...Did anyone watch "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance?" I guess I'm avoiding it because it is a western (not my favorite genre)...

Greytone,
I just want to thank you for doing the moderation on these monthly movie threads. You've been so reliable about it and your comments spot on. They have brightened my day several times over the past few months. I have enjoyed the walk down memory lane in viewing the movies again, but also have enjoyed the comments from people seeing these classics for the first time.

"Attendance" has petered out lately, but it's been fun!

I second that, chopin...Well Done, grey!

I've enjoyed reading all these threads through these months.

It's been my commitment and enthusiasm for our original idea that keeps me posting the headings that lead our conversations. Thanx to you for returning month to month and commenting when you felt inclined. I've gotten much more out of this effort than anyone else. Only one more month....I can't wait for the real action to begin again...!

July
Movies:
"How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying"
"Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"

Actor/Actress:
Irene Dunn

OT PS: I don't know anything about Irene Dunn....anyone have suggestions on what movies I should watch (or avoid) in preparation for next month's discussion? Was she suggested because someone said Pete's wife looks like her?

Well, grey, I would suggest "Penny Serenade" with Irene Dunne and Cary Grant....excellent example of both their talents...plus a great movie.

Also, "A Guy Named Joe" is another good one...with Irene and Spencer Tracy...about pilots.

And yes, I seem to remember that was the reason Irene Dunne was mentioned (could be wrong....would only be the thousandth time for that! ha!) but that's the way I recall it, too.

I don't agree with whoever said that, however...I think Trudy looks a LOT like Elizabeth Taylor, JMHO....

Indeed, TCM did have a Hitchcock night, repeating for the countless time that Dick Cavett interview. In that interview Hich was having some fun.

As the Trivia section of Rope on IMDb correctly points out, in 1948 the longest rolls of 35mm motion picture film manufactured were only 1,000' long, which at 90 feet per minute sound speed (24 frames per second) is just over 11 minutes. It was only with the universal adoption of safety film that 35mm film became available in 2,000' and longer rolls. Film was then (and up to the mid 1950s) was shipped to theaters in 1,000' reels. The carbons for theater arc lights only lasted a maximum of 11 minutes.

Okay, so as he often did, Hitch exaggerated slightly. Still the use of such long scenes was unusual. How effective that was is still up for debate.

Cape Fear and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance are both interesting films.

Grey, I would love to help introduce you to Irene Dunne.

She was a wonderful actress. My favorite movie of hers is "My Favorite Wife," with Cary Grant. Also, "The Awful Truth," and "I Remember Mama" are wonderful films, I think. If you have Netflix, you can find her in a lot of TV classic series - General Electric Theater, and several others.

P.S. Grey,

I think Irene Dunne was suggested because of a comment Don made. I seem to remember at the beginning of a meeting in Don's office, The Boys were saying someone reminded them of a certain actress and Peggy asked who she would be, prompting Don to say Irene Dunne.

chopin47... I think you're right! Thanx for piping in...plus your movie suggestions should give me some direction for next month's discussion.

Dr. Adams.... So the film explanation you gave was to show that Hitchcock's 20 minute take probably didn't happen? Interesting....all good storytellers seem to embellish, don't they? I was just amazed at how well he held up his half of the conversation. Prior to this, I had only heard him speak through the caricatured phrases of mimics or comics. Thanx for the heads-up, though....I do tend to get swept away by intelligent conversation....lol If the interview is shown often (as you intimated), I hope to see it again from the very beginning.

SCfan...Thanx for the movie suggestions!....I'll queue them up on Netflix right away...