How Does Alfred Hitchcock Use Of Film Techniques

Rope

Ever since the creation of filmmaking, filmmakers from all over the world have been experimenting and utilizing different filming techniques to alter or enhance the quality of their films. By utilizing techniques involving shots, cuts, and sounds, filmmakers have gained the ability to provide more meaning to their films as well as influence the way in which their audience interprets them. In Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller Rope from 1948, Hitchcock and his production team use many of these techniques. In the scene being analyzed Hitchcock employs these techniques, including close-up shots and mise-en-scene, to provide the scene with more meaning and affect the audience’s interpretation. By utilizing the filming techniques of close-up shots, a tracking shot,
mise-en-scene, loudness, an eye-line match, and continuity editing, Hitchcock masterfully creates an atmosphere that adds to the suspense and intensity of the scene at hand. The first filming technique used by Hitchcock to add a suspenseful element to the scene is close-up shots. According to class notes a close-up shot is a shot in which a certain feature or part of a subject, generally the face, takes up most of the frame. (Striphas) Filmmakers often use close-up shots to show detail or emphasize the emotional state of a character. (Striphas) In the scene being analyzed Hitchcock uses close-up shots in some very specific instances to capture the emotions of a certain character as well as the intensity of the situation. For example, Hitchcock uses a close-up shot to zoom in on Brandon’s pocket while he reaches for his gun, which occurs twice during the scene. By using this type of shot, Hitchcock adds an intense and suspenseful element to the scene by showing the viewers Brandon’s clear intention to grab the gun. Hitchcock also uses a close-up shot during the conversation between Brandon and Rupert in which Brandon asks Rupert what his theory regarding David’s disappearance is. By zooming in on these two characters, Hitchcock effectively displays the intensity of their conversation, Rupert’s skeptic feelings, and Brandon’s attempt to remain confident under pressure. Overall, Hitchcock smartly uses the concept of close-up shots to provide an extra element of suspense. The second filming technique used by Hitchcock to create an intense ambience is a tracking shot. A tracking shot, as defined by lecture notes, is a shot in which the camera moves freely throughout a scene on a mobile base. (Striphas) Directors oftentimes use tracking shots for a variety of reasons, among which are to explore a room or to give a detailed view of a situation. (Striphas) In the scene being analyzed Hitchcock uses a tracking shot while Rupert is giving his description of how he would have murdered David. Hitchcock’s purpose of using this type of shot during Rupert’s description is to give the viewers the ability to follow the description visually. Not only does this shot help the viewers to process his description visually, but it also helps the description become more real to them. By being able to follow the events as Rupert describes them, the situation becomes more intensified for the viewers when they realize that the camera is following every step Brandon and Philip took in the actual murder of David. As a whole, Hitchcock very effectively uses the technique of a tracking shot to create suspense and intensify Rupert’s description of David’s murder. The third technique utilized by Hitchcock to add an extra element of suspense to the scene is his manipulation of the mise-en-scene. According to class notes mise-en-scene means “what’s in a scene.” (Striphas) Mise-en-scene refers to all of the elements that appear in front of the camera, such as props, costumes, and the positioning of actors, as well as the elements’ arrangement. (Striphas) Throughout the scene Hitchcock uses the technique of mise-en-scene for a few reasons. For example, Hitchcock purposely places Brandon and Rupert within very close proximity of one another during their conversation. The closeness of the two characters clearly signals the tense atmosphere in the room as Rupert tries to unfold the mystery of what happened to David. Hitchcock also uses the concept of mise-en-scene when Rupert gives his description of how he would have murdered David. By placing certain props around the room, such as the chair in which Brandon and Philip choked David, Hitchcock provides a helpful visual tool to the audience as Rupert describes the events. Altogether, Hitchcock ingeniously uses mise-en-scene to intensify the scene as well as provide the viewers with an easy-to-follow visual representation. The fourth technique utilized by Hitchcock to add a suspenseful component to the scene is the eye-line match. An eye-line match, as defined by class notes, is a technique in which the angle and trajectory of two characters’ gazes are consistent across two shots. (Striphas) The eye-line match is often used to establish and preserve the continuity of cinematic space. (Striphas) Hitchcock uses the technique of eye-line match in one very specific instance during the scene. Consequently, this instance is also the only instance in the scene with a cut. The eye-line match occurs when the camera cuts from a close-up shot of Brandon’s pocket while he is reaching for his gun to a close-up shot of Rupert’s face, with Rupert’s gaze directed toward Brandon’s pocket. The reasoning for Hitchcock’s use of the eye-line match in this particular instance is to make the viewers aware of Rupert’s knowledge that Brandon has a gun in his pocket. The eye-line match helps to show Rupert’s nervousness as well as heighten the suspense of the scene. Overall, Hitchcock very effectively uses the eye-line match heighten the already-tense scene. The fifth technique used by Hitchcock to help create an intensified atmosphere is loudness. As defined by lecture notes loudness, which is one of the main principles of sound, refers to the physical strength of a sound. (Striphas) Oftentimes, loudness communicates distance in a subtle or unconscious way. (Striphas) Hitchcock’s main application of loudness in the scene is to the character’s voices. He manipulates the loudness of their voices in order to help the audience understand the emotions they are experiencing at the current time. For example, when Rupert returns to the room and mentions that it was a strange evening, Philip’s voice instantly heightens to higher loudness than usual as he asks Rupert what he means by strange. By increasing the loudness of Philip’s voice in response to Rupert’s comment about the night being strange, the audience clearly senses the nervousness and fear of being caught that Philip feels. Altogether, through his control of loudness throughout the scene, Hitchcock once again sharpens the very suspenseful situation at hand. The sixth technique used by Hitchcock to create a more intense and suspenseful aura is continuity editing.
According to class notes continuity editing is a trademark of the Classical Hollywood Style. (Striphas) The goal of continuity editing is to give an illusion of coherence and unity by causing a movie seem to flow together as a seamless whole. (Striphas) Many other filming techniques, such as the eyeline match and shot-reverse shot, fall under the subset of continuity editing. (Striphas) Hitchcock used the techniques of continuity editing during the scene for a number of reasons. For example, as previously mentioned, he used the eye-line match in the cut from Brandon’s pocket to Rupert’s eyes. While this technique helps to create suspense and intention, it also serves the purpose of maintaining the continuous flow of the scene. By using the eye-line match instead of a different kind of cut, Hitchcock helps make it clear to the audience that Rupert is looking at Brandon’s pocket and not something else, therefore helping preserve the continuity of the cinematic space. As a whole, through the techniques of continuity editing, Hitchcock successfully establishes a very dramatic and intense
scene. Since the beginning of filmmaking, filmmakers have tried to implement various techniques to enhance the overall quality of their films. One filmmaker who especially does a tremendous job of incorporating these techniques into his films is Alfred Hitchcock. In the scene analyzed in his film Rope he uses many of these techniques, including close-up shots, mise-en-scene, and eyeline match, to add extra meaning and provide the audience with an enhanced film-watching experience. Overall, with the various techniques he uses in the scene in Rope, Hitchcock skillfully constructs an intense and suspenseful atmosphere that truly draws the audience into the world of the film.

Works Cited
Striphas, Ted. Classical Hollywood Style. C190: Introduction to Media. Indiana University. 8 Sep. 2014.
Striphas, Ted. Classical Hollywood Style Part Two. C190: Introduction to Media. Indiana University. 10 Sep. 2014.
Striphas, Ted. Classical Hollywood Style and Beyond: Montage and Mise en Scene. C190: Introduction to Media. Indiana University. 15 Sep. 2014.
Striphas, Ted. Auturism and Sound in Cinema. C190: Introduction to Media. Indiana University. 17 Sep. 2014.