HITCHCOCK'S ROPE
September 1948, a representation in LOOK magazine September
14th) in diagrammatic form of the shot sequences in the 80 minutes of
Alfred Hitchcock's ROPE where the director attempted "unique continuous
action" - forswearing the sense of cinematic editing for an unfolding
in real time of the theatrical action (it was originally a stage play
mounted in London in 1929. This diagram shows the action unfolding within
the flat over the time of the drama. The technicians were intensively
trained for movement and for removing fly away scenery. There was a little
matter of the limitations of the film stock in the camera - hence the
camera passing behind the backs of chairs to allow an edit into the next
reel.
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