Alfred Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a train'

1st film ever made that dealt with stalking - made in the 1950's.

Use mise-en-scene to identify the characters Bruno and Guy.

Costume.

• Two main characters are both wearing suits which shows they're wealthy.
• Guy's wife wears a traditional dress, shows she's not well off.
• Bruno has his name embroided on his tie.

Figure / facial expression.

• Bruno gives direct eye contact when talking, creates a sincere message.
• Guy feels uncomfortable talking to his wife, he stands quite far away from her.
• Guy's response to being told about his wife's murder - he put on a shocked expression even though he already knew.

Lighting

• Frontal lighting is used - it's quite flat, low key soft lighting which gives the scene an everyday life feel.
  
  Setting
• Sat on a busy train got their own private seating area which shows wealth.

Props.

• Alcohol and food, condiments etc well furnished objects, again shows wealth.
• Cigarette lighter - used to implement Guy in the murder.

- The film is about two guys who meet in a train 'Guy and Bruno' who plot to murder each-others 'inconveniences' - After Guy's wife was murdered by Bruno, Bruno expects Guy to kill his father in return for his 'favour' but Guy refuses.

Bruno. 

• Costume - Smart, formal, personalised . tie, hat-  conceal identity. 
• His tie outlines his connection with his mum. 
• Facial expression: happy, over the top, angry, conceals his emotions.
• Lighting - Dark and mysterious.
• Props - Lighter, hat, glasses.
• Balcony shows that he has no boundaries.
• Hammer - Shows his strength.

Guy.

• Music - fast paced - tennis.
• Costume - formal, smart, blends in, plain, suit - expresses his individualism.  
• Simplistic, plain shoes.
• Facial expression - quite serious, worried, always alert.
• Lighting - Natural, symbolises normal life.
• Props = Lighter - his job. 
• Gun - pulls in and out of pocket , contrast between good and evil.

Lighting.

High key lighting - Very brightly lit, everything is clear.
Low key lighting - Small amount of light, not everything is clear.
Hard lighting - Focused on a certain thing that casts a define shadow.
Soft lighting - Shadow casts but not so well defined.

Lighting effects.
Frontal lighting - flat, not very well defined.
Side lighting - casts shadow over half a person / object = sculpts the object.
Back lighting - Can't see features but have clearly defined outline.
Under lighting - Features appear bigger - things appear more sinister.
Top lighting -  Sculpting the object, casts shadows, creates a good effect.


The letter - starring Bette Davis.

• After the shooting under lighting was used on the shooter to make her seem more sinister and when it zoomed in on her face the lighting changed to top lighting which cast a shadow over half of her face suggesting that she's unpredictable with her motives.
• When alerting the police about the shooting the police officers face is well defined because under lighting was being used - this is effective because it shows his response much clearer.
• Low key, hard lighting was used during the murder scene  - the moon goes behind the cloud and them comes back out which brings focus on the characters.

Figure Expression.

Movement of the body and facial expression.

The shining. 

• Woman (Wendy) is very emotional and on edge, heavy breathing and running away, wide watery eyes, shows she's scared.
• Man (Mr Torrents) is wary about entering rooms, moves slowly and cautiously looks around the corner - two personalities, emotionless, empty, lethargic, heavy looks mentally and physically exhausted. He becomes more animated, his body language and figure expression show his mental state.

Casino. - Robert De Niro's Character.

• Stands as if he has authority. 
• Maintains an emotionless expression on his face so others can't read him. 
• Runs a casino. 
• He's persuasive.
• Has a trustworthy tone of voice.
• Smokes in every scene, shows he has money.
• Maintains eye contact - intimidating.
• Thinks about his response to situations - constantly has a 'thinking' face contemplating his next move.
  

Use of props and lighting.

The avengers.

•  The use of lighting when 'mother' is talking is dimmed - makes him seem more sinister.
• Props used by John Steed, pocket watch, umbrella, hat and car.
• Has high morals.
• Upper class.
• Traditional.
• Professional.
• Very English (personality)
• Showing the stereotype of an English man and how a spy acts - umbrella shows that he's prepared.
• Associated with British weather, well made , traditional. 
• Classic Bentley car - traditional, expensive, classy.

Dr Emma Peel.

• Sophisticated.
• Independent.  
• Modern.
• Cultured.
• Prop = Sunglasses - gives mystery, reinforces her being sophisticated.
• Piano and flowers  shows she's sophisticated.

Costume, make up and hairstyle.

Annie Wilks - Misery.

• Very practical, does everything for herself.
• Follows a simple life - shown through make up and costume.
• She's a moral, religious person.
• Traditional.
• Her hair is away from her face, suggests she's organised.
• Boring hairstyle.
• Wears dull coloured clothing.
• Obsessive.
• Possessive, controlling.
• Hardly any make up suggests she doesn't care for her appearance or wants to be noticed.
• She dresses quite old fashioned and concealed which suggests she's not an open person / conservative.
• She's a nurse.
• Believes in God (wears a cross necklace)
• She's reassuring.
• The way she's dressed reflects her lifestyle.
• Not very confident, has low self esteem.
• Little social interaction.
• She's not sophisticated.
• Urban and rural clash between her and Paul Sheldon (the writer.)
• Isn't vain.

SWEET CHARITY. 

• bright coloured hair and make up - wearing red necklace and earrings to match her lipstick.
• Wears a black dress to contrast the red.
• Has a tattoo on her arm -  this shows that she's adventurous.
• Wears dull coloured clothes in public do she doesn't get noticed but when at work she wears bright colours to get noticed and attract attention of 'clients'.
• Confident on the outside but vulnerable on the inside.
• Wears revealing clothes.
• Quite feminine.
• Her clothes reflect that she isn't very wealthy.
• Has a bubbly personality / is optimistic.
• Where the film was set, people with tattoos were seen as criminals.
• Loose morals / easy going.
• Represents the new generation.

Film Language.

Mise-en-scene.
--> Setting, costume, make up, props, lighting, figure / facial expression.

What does the setting in '9 to 5' tell us about the characters.
- It looks quite run down and compact that suggests that the characters are middle class.
-Set in a big city, in the 1980's.
-The setting where the women and the men are have contrasting colours - the women have to work in a pale white / grey which isn't very inviting compared to the men who work in a dark, wooden, decorated area which is inviting and warmer.
-In this film it is about the conflict between men and women and their roles in society.

Fight Plan.

Character played by Jodie Foster.
-Protective of her small daughter.
-Smartly dressed - successful.
-Moving to New York with her daughter.
-Works as an engineer.
-Her husband died and she's been taking anxiety pills ever since.
-A troubled person - shown through figure / facial expression.
-Her world was her family and her job - shown through figure/facial expression and dialogue.
-Isolated person - shown through setting, lighting, cinematography, figure / facial expression.
-Very protective - seen through figure / facial expression.
-Serious shown through facial expression, costume and make up.
-A professional woman shown through costume make up and figure expression.
-Anxious and on edge - figure / facial expression.