Rope

As I watched the beginning of the film I noticed the camera angle started off in a long shot of the buildings and sidewalk of the town, then you notice the camera moves to the left a close-up of a window with the blinds covering a room. This scene was added to give the audience the idea of a quiet, peaceful neighborhood and all quiet, until the camera moves to the window and you hear the scream which makes you panic and wonder until we see what happen. The camera also focuses on the two characters which is the two-shot camera angle and always keeps them in the shot and focuses on them without losing one or the other. The two-shot was added to keep our main focus between the two characters who we think the main players of the film.

            The set of this film looks like it is shot on a soundstage because all the walls and props seem man made. Also, if you look at the window very closely you can tell that it’s a painting and depending on where the camera is angled or zoomed you can see a little space between the window and the background.

            Lighting in this film also seems bright but it looks like when the two main characters Brandon and Phillip. Purposely that is made because Hitchcock wants to make us aware of who the villains are compared to other characters which the light seems to be very bright on them. Furthermore, the colors seem very dull and dark because all the gentlemen seem to be wearing dark blue, navy blue or darkish brown, also the women are wearing dark red or purple. Likewise, the colors of the furniture and outside the window are very dull too. Along with that the director added this to give a cold shadowy almost dark look, which makes us the audience know about the murder while other characters don’t know about it.  

            Additionally, the characters Phillip and Brandon are talking nervously and also stuttering when Rupert (James Stewart) gives them specific questions, especially Phillip who always is stuttering and questioning. Brandon though seems very calm a little more than Phillip and thinks nothing will happen but worries Phillip will talk and give away the murder.

            Along with this a good camera view was used when Rupert was describing what a good murderer would do to pull off a perfect murder. This camera technique was an eye-line match because as soon as Rupert started to speak the camera started to be in eye level with Jimmy Stewarts character aiming in each direction where he is looking at.