Mis En Scene Analysis

1
Mis En Scene Analysis
How all the elements contribute to the symbolism
of a film
2
PROPSMarion

• Delicate/Dainty Birds
• Lack of birds around her
• CrowScavenger (she took the money)

3
PropsNorman

• Birds of Prey/attack birds surround himhunter
• Also has scavenger birdsseeker
• He plays both roles sometimes (psychology aspect)

4
FramingMarion

• Lighter in frame
• Table in front couch, curtains behind her
• Lamp next to her
• How easily could she leave the room?

5
FramingNorman

• Heavier in frame
• Camera closer to him
• Lines behind him
• How easily could he leave the room?

6
Lighting

• Marion
• More on her/exposed as victim
• More visible

• Norman
• Shadows/in the dark morehunter
• Less visible

7
Words/Dialogue

• Marion
• Interviewee/defensive from probing questions
• Genuine and honest throughout the scene
• 1 person/personality

• Norman
• Interviewer/Questions he asks are more probing
• Actually shifts between probing and more polite
  and proper
• Little Boy/Determined Man (2 personalities)

8
Acting/Mannerisms

• Marion
• Carefully eating one bite at a time
• Sitting forward, solid eye contact
• Polite/cordial/well-mannered

• Norman
• Fidgety with hands, sitting forward, stutters,
  pauses, shifty eye contact (little boy)
• Other times hes deliberate with eyes, aggressive
  with language/body when mothers mentioned
  (determined man)

9
Music

• Starts when mother is mentioned like Marion
  shouldnt have done that. Otherwise it isnt used
  too much in the scene.

10
Camera

• Marion
• Eye Level Angle Medium Shots throughout beginning
• Low Angle at the end when she makes the right
  decision to fix/leave her private trap

• Norman
• Medium/Close ups from a low angle
• End of the scene has a high angle (weaker)
  because hes trapped in his private trap

11
SHOWER SCENE

• Took 7 days to film
• Chocolate syrup was used for blood.
• Janet Leigh only took baths from here on because
  of the scenes effect on her (frightened many
  people at time)
• Censors
• Nudity - sent back without change
• Black White
• Less gory and expensive
• Drops around eyes placed by Hitchcock himself

12
Shower SceneSetting/Lighting

• Bathroomprivate/safe place for women Vulnerable
  and well lit/white
• Symbolismcleansing herself and going to do the
  right thing.
• Close up on shower head cleansed herself too
  late/life going down the drain
• Feel bad for her b/c she was going to do right
  thing, but you dont know what events will cause
  what problems.

13
Shower Scene Music/Sound
FOLIO ARTIST/SOUNDS Sound of shower Soap wrapper
tearing Shower Curtain pulling loose Knife Stabs
- Casaba Melon Over 150 melons stabbed Gurgle of
water down drain

• MUSIC
• Starts when attacker pulls curtain
• Loud, high pitch, screeching
• Crescendo's fades as life fades
• Music correlates with breathing/heart beat

14
Shower Scene Camera

• Extreme close-ups of eye, drain, etc
• Indirect- Subjective used at end to look at body,
  money, and pan across to window.
• Close/Medium shots of cleansing, screaming
• Zooms over her shoulder as attacker pulls back
  curtain

15
Camera Continued

• Close up of belly buttonsexualized violence from
  media violence unit
• 90 shots spliced together