Film Studies Example Answers to Section A of the Film History Unit.
10 Marker and 35 markers Film History answered. Using examples from Murnau's Sunrise, Hitchcock's Vertigo and Lee's Do The Right Thing!.
OCR Film Studies, Film History Unit, Section A.
10 MARKER – Use of Mise en scene in Su...
Mise en scene is used in Sunrise by Murnau, most notably, for the exposition of the Woman of the
City. The first character we meet is the Woman of the City cloaked in cigarette smoke, with a singular
lamp and dressed in black lingerie. Murnau mixes these elements to create the character and make
her seem mysterious and seductive. The smoke clouds the screen as she breathes out more smoke,
this obfuscation of her physical presence on screen goes to suggest her deceptive nature. The
fogginess mixed with the minimal incident lighting creates a dark allure that can both entice and
warm the audience. Mise en scene in this sequence is, thus, essential in foreshadowing her dark
intention and the damning effect she has on the Man. The black satin costuming also adds to the
darkness, some may say evilness, of the character and role she will eventually play. Murnau
purposely presents the Woman of the City in this way as a clear contrast to the Wife, contrasting her
light with her darkness.
35 MARKER – Use of characters in Vertigo and DTRT
Hitchcock and Lee have different motives in how they use their characters. Lee tends to have
complex, not necessarily likable, characters whereas, Hitchcock has more traditional characters,
straying not so far from certain stereotypes.
Whilst Lee addresses the issue of stereotypes in his racial slur montage, Lee tends to not base
characters off them; introducing much more complex characters, such as, Sal and Mookie. Mookie,
for instance, holds some resemblance to the sporting stereotype of the black man by wearing a
‘Dodgers’ jersey, but his careful interactions with Smiley and cheerful handshake with Radio
Raheem, goes against the aggressive black male stereotype. Lee, therefore, highlights the false
perceptions of the black community through his characters. Whilst Lee wishes to defy certain
stereotypes, Hitchcock keeps to more traditional characters. Take Midge, for example, who stands to
represent a caretaker and maternal character to Scottie. Her apartment is decked with light pastel
tones – akin to a girly nursery – that helps give her a gentle manner. Hitchcock used Midge as a
support or confidant for Scottie. The book the film is based on hasn’t got the character of Midge.
Thereby, it goes to show that Hitchcock thought it important to include a character that gives care to
Scottie and highlights his vulnerability. An example of this is when Scottie attempts to overcome his
Vertigo with a step ladder. Midge is there to help, giving information and guidance for his condition,
and eventually catches Scottie when he falls. This is very similar to the role of caregiver or mother.
That unlike Lee, Hitchcock explores, rather than defies.
Other than representation of stereotypes, characters are important in the narrative. Whilst with Lee,
the audience gets an insight to the entire neighbourhood through Mookie’s character, Hitchcock
aligns the audience solely with Scottie. Lee often begins sequences with a high angle long shot, more
often than not containing many recognisable characters over a road. This positioning of the audience
allows us to locate ourselves in the community and truly understand the place as well as characters.
On multiple occasions this shot follows Mookie delivering a pizza across the neighbourhood and
meeting other characters along the way. Not only does it carry the narrative forward by connecting
the action that goes on around the community, but Lee also takes this as an opportunity to add to
the moral paradox at the end. This is because Lee uses his tracking of the Mookie to demonstrate
relationships to other characters and the community as a whole (of which Sal and his sons are
excluded) making the decision of Mookie’s to throw the trash can through the window all the more
difficult to comprehend – whether he did the right thing. Hitchcock stays with a more conventional
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