There are movies with food moments and then there are movies where the moments revolve around food. Let's give thanks Rope is in the latter category.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and released in 1948, Rope's action centers on a dinner party thrown by two men who have just committed a murder. The guests include the murdered man's father(!), and the dinner table is a chest containing his corpse(!!).

Killer party, man.

Here now, in the spirit of our annual Oscar Menus, is everything you need to plan your own Rope dinner and a movie party. Sip on the blood of the innocent, strangle a bird, and enjoy a sweet dessert while you still can.

Cheers, and happy cooking!

See all CineMeals.

Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail

No need to cut yourself with your crystal goblet; the "blood" here comes from blood oranges and mischief.

Recipe adapted from The Inspired Home
Makes 2 servings

Ingredients

¼ cup blood orange juice (1-2 oranges)
1 cup Champagne or other sparkling wine (e.g. cava or prosecco)

Method

Strain blood orange juice into two glasses. Top slowly with sparkling wine, tipping glass to avoid excessive foam. Garnish with an orange slice.

Cheese Course: Despearado

Photo by Culture Magazine — Photo by *Culture* Magazine

Rope's antiheroes Brandon and Phillip have plans to head to a farm in Connecticut after their dinner party. Despearado, a stinky cow's milk cheese made in the washed rind style, comes from Cato Corner Farm in Colchester, just over two hours by car from New York City.

Washed with fermented pear mash and Pear William eau de vie from Connecticut's Westford Hill Distillers, Despearado is diabolical and delicious.

High-Calorie Pate

Yes, as Mrs. Atwater is sure to let you know, pate is high in calories.

And?

Don't be a Mrs. Atwater. Eat the pate.

Get the recipe at Let the Baking Begin.

Whole Chicken, Strangled and Trussed

Philip may claim he never strangled a chicken, but he's not much of a role model now is he?

When it comes to whole chicken, there's only one recipe that matters. At the Haus of Cinemunch we make Zuni Café Chicken at least once a month. The key is drying the bird obsessively after rinsing, then letting it air out in the fridge for at least 24 hours. Buy your chicken farm fresh (or strangle it yourself!) for best results. Just don't let Mrs. Wilson open the fridge lest she discover the corpse.

Pro Tip: take the batteries out of your smoke alarm for this one if you happen to live in a poorly ventilated apartment.

Get the recipe at nytimes.com.

Farmed or Foraged Greens

The best greens grow from soil rich with organic matter, even if that organic matter is a corpse buried in the woods.

Add a bit of green to your CineMeal with miner's lettuce (if you can forage it) or a mix of spinach and watercress.

Crunch.

Get the recipe at Forest and Fauna.

Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

This recipe is involved, but so is planning a murder. And at the end of it you can call yourself a real Dairy Queen for making an ice cream cake from scratch. (Don't worry, there's a shortcut option if you lack time or fortitude.)

Get the recipe at Smitten Kitchen.