The following shots rush through the booking process, of which the handcuffs are the centerpiece. Set in an obviously working class neighborhood, the presence of the law barges in, bringing their handcuffs with them. This is clearly evident in the opening scene, where Frank and his partner make their on-screen arrest. Handcuffs are the ultimate symbol of police authority especially, given that only the police are allowed to make arrests. Hitchcock’s near obsession with authority is written all over this work, and there is little more that sums it up better than handcuffs. In Blackmail (1929), the use of handcuffs is much more subtle and rare than his other films. But what exactly is he trying to say? The sexual and authoritative overtones are obvious, but since handcuffs are something that spans several films, it’s worth delving into a little bit. And why not? Handcuffs are versatile and very open to interpretation. Whether it’s a quick flash, or a major plot device, it goes without saying that Hitchcock loved handcuffs. Handcuffs are one of the most common motifs throughout Hitchcock’s films. This entry was posted in Hitchcock Motifs on Maby lmeyer3. Overall, in Hitchcock’s films, stairs are a tool to build suspense and dramatic effect, and to symbolize a journey for the characters. In both scenes, the first when Scottie is unable to make it up the stairs to ‘save’ Madeleine, and again when roles are reversed and he drags her up the stairs, the stairs add dramatic effect. The stairs represent danger Charlie inevitably has to climb the stairs, even though her uncle is at the top.Īnother movie in which stairs play an important role is Vertigo. The main character suffers from fear of heights, so staircases are an excellent way to dramatize this. It has a very ominous cast Uncle Charlie is looking down the staircase at young Charlie, and she already strongly suspects him of murder. She does this frequently, mainly in an effort to avoid her Uncle Charlie, when she begins to suspect him of being a murderer. In the image below, Charlie is using the back staircase of her house as an alternate way to leave. In the movie Shadow of a Doubt, stairs are used for many reasons, including to symbolize escape. Throughout Hitchcock’s films, a frequently recurring motif is staircases.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |