Apparently, the stage play this film was based on was about a gay couple committing the perfect murder. Maybe somebody more in tuned with the gay life will understand the subtext of the film. I myself never saw this. I do believe Alfred Hitchcock played around with this notion. But it's not very obvious. No matter how much certain people want to claim this.
For me, this was always a crime story about these two friends who have committed this supposedly murder and are trying to get away with it. Well, that is the definition of a perfect murder, isn't it? Then again, Philip, who does the actual strangling, is far from feeling jolly. It's his friend Brandon, who wants to put the act to the ultimate test because of some warped god complex. I wonder why Philip would do this if he wasn't completely on board with it. Out of loyalty, love? Perhaps the gay subtext does answer that question. Why would an innocent do this? It just doesn't make sense. Meanwhile, Brandon is having a blast. He is enjoying every second of it. He is the one who suggested inviting people over, to prove that the both of them are of superior intellect and that they will get away with murder. If, for whatever reason, I did kill / murder a man or woman, I certainly, wouldn't have a party consisting of people attached to the person murdered. That is insanity.
The acting is phenomenal. The camera work is exquisite. Sure, the one take isn't really one take. But a casual viewer won't notice that. Still, the film overall is disappointing. The premise is wild to begin with. Yet, the story or play simply falls short of making it truly exciting. I am aware the film is based on the tension of people finding out about the murder. Only a couple of times this tension actually manifests. I think the biggest mistake was to have this death to be deliberate. If it had been accidental, it would have increased the suspense tenfold.
Overall, Rope, does demonstrate Alfred Hotcock's brilliance in a way. But I have to admit, that you do have to stretch the story and the subtext. That won't work, if that is completely lost on you.
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