Analysis of The Use of Camera and Music in Alfred Hitchcock’s Films

Introduction

Alfred Hitchcock is a household name in the film industry known for his use of cinematic techniques to create suspense. Particularly, the use of visual techniques has set him apart from the rest of the film makers. North by Northwest and Rear Window are two movies with different plots but which show case Hitchcock’s work. The use of point-of –view shots, high angle shots, and close up shots allows the viewers to connect with the characters in the movie thus encouraging viewership. The use of music in both of the movies has also been used to create suspense. The intriguing nature of both of these films is how the filmmaker has merges cinematic techniques and music to create suspense.

Alfred Hitchcock is a British Film maker who is known for using unique style in the images in movies. The visual technique used in the movie those illicit different feelings to the audience. Hitchcock works stands out among the works of other filmmakers. For example, the use of low-key and edge lighting are used to create different moods in the movie through the movies, Hitchcock has employed suspense to keep the audience wanting for more using various cinematographic techniques. Whilst North by Northwest and Rear Window have different plots, the use of cinematographic techniques and music has been used to create suspense in the films.

Hitchcock uses different camera techniques in Rear Window and North by Northwest. In Rear Window, the filmmaker uses lighting in a literal manner. The lighting used is used to show that the characters are conversant of something that is happening. In the movie Jefferies is seen taking note of the lighting in the neighboring apartments and they are on thus he can see what the audience is doing. Further, when the lights are turned off, sees silhouette such that they audience and Jeffries cannot see who was in the next room. This contrast is used to show the difference between knowing something and not knowing. When the lights are off, it creates suspense such that the audience wants to know what is happening in the dark. In additionally, the filmmaker uses different shot to create perspective in the movie. The whole film is structured in such a way that the viewers see it in the window of the protagonist. As the movies proceeds different stories unfold of those living the apartment and pictures takes are such that they are framed in windows. This gives the audience the feeling of exclusion from the happenings of the rest of the world. The audience is brought to the brought to the world of the through one shot. This happens when Thorwald discovers Lisa when searching through in his apartment.

In North by Northwest, Hitchcock utilizes high angle shots to show that the character is at a crisis to create suspense. They are also used to show power differences between characters making the character smaller and look less powerful. An example of the use of high angle shot is when Cary Grand runs way from the UN building after she learns that she has been framed for murder. Another example is when the shot is used such that Thornhill looks smaller than he actually is. These scenes allow the viewer to see the powerlessness and desperation in his eyes as two men force him to take whisky. The high angle shot makes the audience see how these men have belittled him to the extent of forcing him to get drunk. To some viewers, this may make them feel sympathetic because he is helpless and there is nothing he can do to get himself out of the situation. Hithcock also uses low angle shots to make the character look more powerful as they are zoomed in. Through the movie, this technique is used to show Phillip Vandamm’ power over the other characters in the movie. In one of the scene, Vandamm’ is pictured sitting comfortably with his co-worker next to him (Hitchcock, 1959). The facial expression in the scene make Vandamm’ looks cocky and arrogant hence showing that he was a powerful person. This scene is one that reinforces the spite that viewers have for him since he has an attitude that is not likeable. In comparison to high angle scene that Thornhill is in, the director shows just how much Vandamm is powerful than him.

In both of the movies, the Director uses similar cinematographic styles hence bringing out the characters thoughts. This is seen when the director takes close-up shots of the characters to generate dramatic response and to show an object that is dangerous to the protagonist in both of the movies. For Rear Window, close-up shots are used to illuminate and show the beauty of the female characters in the movie. This technique at a scene where Lisa, Strewart’s girlfriend is being introduced. This is a build up from the Point-of-view shots allowing the viewer’ to see Lisa’s beauty. Proximity shots are one that illicit more emotions compared to wide shots. This is a technique that is also applied in North by Northwest. This is present in the scene where Eve Kendall is seen hugging Thornill. The close up view is one that shows Eve’s disappointment as she was ashamed of what she had done. The shot also show that Eve is worries especially because she has broken Thornhill’s trust. It is worth noting that these close up shot gives the audience a mixed feeling of both sympathy and hatred. A close up view allows the view to see the emotions that Eve has giving a closer look into her face to see whether she is remorseful or not. The shots assert that indeed Eve had an ulterior motive when she was falling for Thornill. In another scene, Thornill and Eve are in danger as Valerian and Leonard pursue them as they escape. They run to the woods and the come to an edge of the cliff which they later learn is the top of Mount Rushmore. Both of them trip and they have to hang on the cliff so that they do not fall off. At this point of desperation, Hithcock shows a close up shot of Eve as she tries to save her life hanging on the cliff. This enables the viewers to see how scared and desperate she was thus triggering sadness and sympathy from the audience. Her desperation is further seen as she calls for help thus making the scene intense as the audience does not know what will happen next.

The director uses Point-of-view shots in Rear Window and North by Northwest. Usually, point of view shots puts in the audience in the protagonist perspective hence allowing the viewer to experience the protagonist’ feelings at the time. In this case, the director may want the viewer to experience desire, shock fear or confusion depending on the setting of the scene. In Rear Window, the whole movies is seen through the lens of James Stewart who is stuck on a while chair and secretly spying in his neighbor. Spying of his neighbors is in such a way that he reduces them to objects invading their privacy. The viewer is taken through Stewart’s long lens as he stalks his neighbors such as Miss Tors and Miss Lonely-hearts. Through the lens, the director creates suspense and allows allowing them to solve the mystery as Steward is. In addition, it allows the audience to see also learn more about the audience as Stewart learns in the process. In one of the scenes Stewart is watching Lisa, his girlfriend as Lars Thorward, a murder suspect confronts her. The Point-of-View allows the audience to feel the anxiety and fear as Stewart has as he does not know what will happen to his girlfriend. This technique gives the viewer chance to see the finer details of a scene. In North by Northwest, the Point-of-view shots are in such a way that they allow the viewer to feel involved in a dangerous situation hence creating tension. This is seen when attackers chase Thornhill down a dark road. The road is so dark that he can barely see a few paces ahead of him. Through the point-of-view shot, it create a feeling of fear and suspense to the audience as they do not know what will happen if he continues driving through the dark road. This also shows that Thornhill is in danger because of the uncertainty of the situation.

Hitchcock uses music as integral part of his movies to show suspense as seen in both Rear Window and North by Northwest. The music is use in such way as it makes the viewer have different emotions and which assist the director in building suspense (Council for Curriculum Examination and Assessment). In Rear Window the director uses popular music to build upon the suspense that the camera techniques have created. One of the soundtracks in the movie is “To see you (Is to Love You)” a song produced in 1952 by Bob Hope. The song in the background as Stewart observes Lonely Hearts through his lens in the neighboring apartment (Rothstein, 2007). The songs sings through as she prepares herself and applies make up hence making the audience wonder where the Stewart is in love with her. The use of music to create suspense is also seen in North by Northwest. This is seen through the use of fast paced music in the whole movie. The use of this kind of music keeps the audience thrilled and wanting more for the next scene to reveal. The music is such a way that the music speed is cued hence keeping the audience on their toes.

Conclusion

The different techniques employed in a film determine how the audience will be engaged in the course of the film. Alfred Hitchcock has mastered the art of using images and music in the film to create suspense and trigger mixed emotions from the audience. The use of point-of-view shots in both of the movies bring the audience closer to the action as seen through the eyes of the protagonist. Following through these scenes keeps the audience eager to know what is happening. This is similar with the use of close-up shots which show also show suspense and the intricate feelings that the characters are feeling at the time. For example, the up close shot of Eve as the cliff in North by Northwest keeps the audience waiting to see what will happen to her after viewing her desperation. Music has also been used to create suspense this has been through the use of fast music.

Bibliography

• Belton, J. (2008). American Cinema/American Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill Humanities.
• Council for Curriculum Examination and Assessment. Fact File: Alfred Hitchcock’s Cinematic Style. 2016, https://www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/common/includes/microsite_doc_link.aspx?docid=18286-1. Accessed 28 June 2019
• Driscoll, P. (2014). “The Hitchcock Touch”: Visual Techniques in the Work of Alfred Hitchcock. International ResearchScape Journal, 1 (1). Retrieved from https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=irj
• Hitchcock, A. (Producer and Director). (1954). Rear Window [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures.
• Hitchcock, A. (Producer and Director). (1959). North by northwest [Motion picture]. United States: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
• Rothstein, Edward. Hitchcock’s Film and the Character of Music Culture International Herald Tribune. The New York Times, 9 Jan. 2007, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/arts/09iht-hitch.4147919.html. Accessed 28 June 2019