Master's Lens

Grady 2022-03-24 09:01:35

A closed scene, few shots, few characters, and 80 minutes in length make people feel like they are watching a play. Although the script of this film is indeed adapted from a play, the director Hitchcock would never simply move the stage play to the big screen.
He knows best to only let the viewer see what he wants the viewer to see, we don't have to choose, we will enjoy everything he presents to us.
Through his ingenious lens scheduling and several key editing, even if we knew the truth from the beginning, he still kept our eyes away from the screen. For example, when the female housekeeper was cleaning the table, only the female housekeeper went back and forth in the camera. The figure and half of the calm observer Rubert, the existence of others is only through the sound of dialogue, but our hearts have been raised unconsciously.
Similarly, when Rupert restored the crime scene, the camera followed Rupert's guidance and swept through the empty scenes, allowing the viewer to fill in the unrepresented part of the truth with his own imagination.
Some movies will still be watched decades later, probably because some of these movies will never go out of style and will always be worthy of our tribute waiting for us to experience for ourselves.

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Extended Reading

Rope quotes

  • Brandon: What are you doing?

    Rupert Cadell: It's not what I'm going to do, Brandon. It's what society is going to do. I don't know what that will be, but I can guess, and I can help. You're going to die, Brandon. Both of you. You are going to die.

    [opens a window and fires three shots]

  • Brandon: But why should I want to come back?

    Phillip: Yes, why?

    Brandon: For the pleasure of our company, or another drink?

    Rupert Cadell: That's a very good idea. May I have one for the road?