5. Rope (1948)
Not to be confused with another hugely popular technique: that of the extended tracking shot (of which more later) Alfred Hitchcocks whydunnit has gone down in history as one of cinemas most audacious technological experiments: a film comprised entirely of multiple long takes. Originally Hitchcock planned to shoot the whole movie in one continuous take with absolutely no cuts whatsoever: but the limitations of the camera put paid to that, since they could only hold 1000ft of film (roughly ten minutes worth). So instead Hitchcock divided his film up into 11 long takes, of ten minutes each, hiding the edits with ingenious quick pans and blackouts. The effect was completely successful, allowing the film to run in real-time, and making it theatrical, without being stagy. Rope was, and still is, a defining moment in the history of the long shot.