Is Philip truly remorseful? - Rope (1948) Discussion

[–] PKLarkins 15 years ago

I don't think he's particularly sorry for the victim, but I think the murder creeped him out.

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[–] jpowell180 14 years ago

Philip was a coward in the truest sense - he was too cowardly to stand up to Brandon (and thus prevent David's murder), and he was then terrified of both his own concience (which he was too afraid to heed earlier) and also of the Electric Chair.
In some ways, Philip was more despicable and guilty than Brandon!

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[–] ricky_says_hi 14 years ago

i think he did feel remorse. Brandon most likely had to persuade him into it and he began to imagine it the way Brandon did. however as the party went on, the reality of the situation came to him and he wished it hadn't happened. remember the line after the guests leave and he says he hopes he'll wake up and it won't have happened

There's something about flying a kite at night that's so unwholesome

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[–] macgirl66 13 years ago

I would say 75% fear of discovery, 25% regret that he allowed himself to get into this situation. I don't really see it as true remorse, as I don't think any of his distress is caused by concern over the fact that David lost his life at their hands.

To each their own...opinion

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[–] jgroub 8 years ago

Yup, I think that's right, although I'd put it more like 85% / 15%. But yeah, he doesn't really give two sh!ts about the fact that they murdered their friend - no remorse whatsoever there. He's deathly afraid of getting caught, and I think a little regretful at having been talked into the situation in the first place.

So, that makes them both cold, calculating psychopaths, with no empathy, no remorse.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

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[–] TheSolarSailor 13 years ago

Phillip was weak and fell in with the wrong person in the form of Brandon. Many people are of this type and like to have a dominant personality to lead them, but in this case, the dominant personality was something that would end up ruining Phillip's life. I am sure that some part of Phillip was overrun by true guilt and remorse for having committed an atrocity, but I think most of what we witness in the film is panic and fear over being caught. At this point it is too late and the feelings of guilt are all he has to run on. It feeds the fear, almost as if you are doomed to reveal your own guilt to everyone around you as some sort of divine irony for having made the wrong choice to begin with. This is what separates Brandon and Phillip, I think...the fact that Phillip does indeed have a conscience while Brandon does not.

- - - - - - -
Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

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[–] mcilroga 12 years ago

Yes. It's obvious he also fears getting caught but he shows remorse immediately after the murder.

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[–] Zanza8 12 years ago

Philip is just not a killer-he got caught up in a situation he was not prepared for. And I'd say he is VERY sorry, but not for the victim. I don't believe he had a shred of feeling for the victim-it was all about him and his fear of punishment. And you know, I think he was also upset about the idea that everybody was going to know what he did-he was upset about the coming public humiliation of being arrested and tried for murder.

http://thinkingoutloud-descartes.blogspot.com/

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[–] bennyshambles78 12 years ago

I think Philip, being the "bottom" of their homosexual relationship, was easily swayed and dominated by Brandon, the "top." Although he was weak-willed and equally guilty for the crime, I do believe he felt remorse and extreme regret. Brandon, on the other hand, is a complete sociopath--he's obviously the mastermind and instigator of the planned, premediatated murder.

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[–] MsELLERYqueen2 12 years ago

Philip? Maybe. Brandon? Nope.

~~
Jim Hutton: talented gorgeous hot hunk; adorable as ElleryQueen; SEXIEST ACTOR EVER

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[–] TuesdayGirl 11 years ago

I didn't see any regret or remorse in Philip. Only fear for his own selfish ass getting caught.

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[–] Maddyclassicfilms 11 years ago

I think he was a weak person and Brandon was stronger than him, the dominant half of their relationship. I think Philip was led along with Brandon's plan but didn't have his heart in it. His behaviour when Rupert starts to suspect them says to me that he feels guilty about the murder and there is some fear in there for his own life.

It is my business to protect your majesty.... against all things.

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[–] armannja 10 years ago

You may notice at the very beginning that it is actually he who is the strangler.

Notice also the emphasis throughout on his hands.

He certainly goes to pieces for some reason; I would see fear rather than remorse but possibly a mixture of the two.

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[–] Jshscout-671-416363 10 years ago

I noticed that too. I think Brandon talked Phillip into doing the actual killing. I think Brandon played out all the possible outcomes and realized that if he wasn't the one who actually committed the murder, at a trial, he had some semblance of an out to a likely death penalty in that he was merely an accomplice. And since Phillip was the weaker-willed of the two, Brandon was able to convince Phillip to do the dastardly deed.

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