Rope (1957 film)

{{short description|1957 television film directed by William Sterling}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox television

| image = SMH_ad_for_rope_from_1957.png

| image_upright =

| image_alt =

| caption = Ad from SMH 21 Aug 1957

| genre = thriller

| creator =

| based_on = {{based on|Rope (play)
1927 play|Patrick Hamilton}}

| writer =

| screenplay =

| story =

| director = William Sterling

| starring = Bruce Beeby
Roger Climpson
June Collis

| narrated =

| music =

| country = Australia

| language = English

| num_episodes =

| producer = William Sterling

| editor =

| cinematography =

| runtime = 70 minutes

| company = ABC

| budget =

| network = ABC

| released = {{Start date|1957|08|21|df=y}} (Sydney, live){{cite magazine|magazine=ABC Weekly|title= All the TV Programmers|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1334183161|date=21 August 1957|page=34}}

| released2 = {{Start date|1957|09|20|df=y}} (Melbourne, tape){{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ClIRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3762%2C2543413|newspaper=The Age|date=19 September 1957|title=TV Guide}}

}}

Rope is a 1957 Australian television film based on the play Rope by Patrick Hamilton. It was presented in real time.{{cite magazine|title=Talk about |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1334183495|date=21 August 1957|page=46|magazine=ABC Weekly}}{{cite news|title=Television news|date=7 August 1957|page=7|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald}}

Broadcast live in Sydney, it was kinescoped/telerecorded for showing in Melbourne (these were the only Australian cities with TV at the time). Based on the play by Patrick Hamilton, it aired in a 70-minute time-slot on non-commercial ABC.

It was one of several Patrick Hamilton adaptations done on Australian television.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-tv-plays-reflections-in-dark-glasses/|magazine=Filmink|title=Forgotten Australian TV Plays: Reflections in Dark Glasses|first= Stephen|last= Vagg|date=March 20, 2021|access-date=August 2, 2024}} It was also arguably one of the first depictions of queer characters on Australian television.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-tv-plays-a-season-in-hell/|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|date=14 June 2021|title=Forgotten Australian TV Plays: A Season in Hell}} Murder mysteries were popular subjects for Australian television plays.{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-tv-plays-the-big-killing/|title=Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Big Killing|first=Stephen|last= Vagg|date=April 27, 2021|access-date=August 12, 2024}}