MovieChat Forums > Rope (1948) Discussion > An easy way out for the murderers

An easy way out for the murderers

posted 11 years ago by nage-3
4 replies | jump to latest

-spoilers alert-
I wonder how they did not think of it. When Rupert calls - as if to come up and search for his 'forgotten' cigarette case and Philip becomes panic stricken - they should have thought right away that he is coming back to actually open the chest. They know he was asking questions. And Brandon should have remembered how Rupert wanted to help the maid with the books - not because he is polite and everything of course - but because he was sniffing something.

An easy way out of this would be to attach a bit of 'magic trick' the way magicians do the most obvious. Simply move the corpse in the closet or in the other room or wherever before Rupert came up the stairs.
That way they could continue to play guilty and strengthen Rupert's suspicion. And then reluctantly open the chest and show him it is empty. Then Rupert would think to himself "I am going mad, what was I thinking, there's nothing here" and all suspicions would be cleared. It is an ideal way to seal Philip and Brandon's alibi even more firmly. But panic on one hand and undermining on the other are never a good adviser.

On second thought being stupid enough to leave David's hat in the closet for everyone to see I think it would have been quite improbable for them to manage to think of this way out. So, again a clever concept by Mr. Hitchcock and well deserved finish.

[–] Ten-Inch-Toni 11 years ago

I actually think this was one of the most subtle concepts of Hitch's film: That David and Phillip set themselves up and superior beings. Above everyone, but they weren't they were just spoilt little boys of very normal intellect.

It's entirely possible that I am missing the point of your message.

[–] WyldeGoose 10 years ago

I actually think this was one of the most subtle concepts of Hitch's film: That David and Phillip set themselves up and superior beings. Above everyone, but they weren't they were just spoilt little boys of very normal intellect.

Supposing they did relocate the body, Rupert would've pried it out of one of them eventually. But, the point of this was to have this intellectual fencing, to show Rupert how great they are, and how they merely lived what they've always talked about.

One thing about murderers of Brandon's caliber is that they want to be found out if only they can show how brilliant they are. Brandon believed they were going to get away with it, and that by reasoning with Rupert they would still get away with it scot free because for Rupert to not go along would undermine what he had said earlier at the party. The transformation by Rupert befuddled Brandon, a creature of no moral compass whatsoever, to the point that it leveled him out. It must've shocked him to the core when Rupert mentions God in his presence, probably the first time he had ever heard that word come out of his mouth before.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 10 years ago

They just didn't think that far ahead. They panicked and they got caught.

These weren't professional killers. It was their first (and hopefully last) crime, and they didn't realize just how much of an effect it would have on them.

~~
JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen

[–] mdonln 8 years ago

nage-3 says > I wonder how they did not think of it. When Rupert calls - as if to come up and search for his 'forgotten' cigarette case and Philip becomes panic stricken - they should have thought right away that he is coming back to actually open the chest. They know he was asking questions. And Brandon should have remembered how Rupert wanted to help the maid with the books - not because he is polite and everything of course - but because he was sniffing something.

Someone who would kill an innocent person; a supposed 'friend', puts his body in a trunk then invites the victim's own parents and close friends to come feast over his dead decaying body is hardly worried about getting caught. Such a person is arrogant and feels entitled enough to believe he's too smart to get caught.

Brandon is a true psycho-sociopath. He's not just a killer, he takes pleasure and delights in his evil ways. He enjoys menacing people. He didn't care if Rupert found out what he'd done. In fact, he had considered inviting him to join in the deed so he thought Rupert would be impressed. He never could have imagined things turning out the way they did.

Philip is a complete dimwit who's easily manipulated and controlled by the Rupert types. He's a nervous wreck and would never have killed anyone but for Rupert's prodding. Whether they moved the body at that point or disposed of it later he would have eventually come unglued and spilled the beans to someone; anyone. To avoid capture Brandon probably knew he would have to silence him at some point.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate].