To what extent does Hitchcock's particular style of 'suspense'
classify him as an auteur?
Films:
1. Psycho (1960) - I chose Psycho as my focus film because out of all of Hitchcock's works, its themes, characters and use of sound are the most consistent with his atmosphere of suspense so this is an incredibly useful item. For example, I plan to discuss how the lead character of the film dies within the first quarter of the film, and how this leads to the creation of suspense.
2. Vertigo (1958) - I have chosen this film as "Scottie" is recruited to investigate the bizarre behavior and obsessions of his friend's wife. Ultimately when she meets her fate he becomes obsessed with her, throughout the film Hitchcock
explores the theme of obsession. I plan to discuss how the use of a unique narrative creates suspense. This item is very useful
as it is an example of Hitchcock’s suspense.
3. Rear Window (1954) - I have chosen this as suspense is used to show the wheelchair bound main character's obsession that his neighbor has committed a murder, which is discovered through spying on them and stalking them through a window. I plan to discuss how the use of a vulnerable protagonist creates suspense.
Interviews:
4. Interview - Alfred Hitchcock: The difference between mystery and suspense (1970) - this is an extract from a longer interview from the AFI Archive regarding Hitchock's own opinion of how he creates suspense in his films. He goes into depth about how the audience has just as much as a crucial role of the characters within his films. I plan to discuss how Hitchcock gave information about crucial plot points to the audience rather than the characters, and how this creates suspense.
5. Interview with Alfred Hitchcock on his Specialty: Suspense - this source is an extract from an interview in 1973 regarding Hitchcock's unique style of film making. During the course of the interview, a point regarding Hitchcock’s signature style of suspense is raised. He responds through explaining how he uses structural narrative to manipulate the minds of the audience through various techniques such as: symbolism, abstract camera techniques and a focus on characterization. I plan to discuss how the long takes in psycho create an atmosphere of suspense.
6. Alfred Hitchcock On Mastering Cinematic Tension - this is also an extract from a longer interview, the scene features the infamous quotation from Hitchcock, where he explains about the bomb under the dinner table. he goes in depth about how the time from the reveal of the bomb, all the way up until its detonation, is crucial in creating suspense. In my presentation, I plan to discuss how the slow build-up of suspense is a reoccurring motif throughout his films
Documentaries:
7. Psycho - How Alfred Hitchcock Manipulates An Audience - this documentary explains auteur theory and the themes of suspense which Hitchcock used within Psycho through showing events through different characters perspectives to create tension. I plan to discuss how he dramatically experimented with the style he had already created in this film.
8. Vertigo - Renegade Cut - I have chosen this documentary as again, it discusses the themes of the film and how they are used to create suspense, but also the documentary outlines how Hitchcock inspired the narrative structure of films to the present day through his revolutionary filmmaking style. I plan to discuss how Hitchcock has influenced the conventions of horror/thrillers through his creation of suspense.
9. Vertigo - Renegade Cut - I have chosen this documentary as it compares Hitchcock's 'Vertigo' to a modern thriller. Similarly, it talks about how Hitchcock's themes create suspense but interestingly it also focuses on how the audience's role contributes to the suspense of Hitchcock's films. I plan to discuss how Hitchcock's revolutionary style is still recreated today by modern filmmakers.
Websites
10.
https://www.britannica.com/art/auteur-theory - this item is incredibly useful as
it gives a definition for the auteur theory. I will use this in my presentation
to answer my question in able for me to determine whether Hitchcock should be
classified as an auteur.
11.
http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue02/features/psycho.htm - I have chosen this website as it
explores the mise-en-scene in my focus film ‘Psycho’ and explores how the
mise-en-scene adds suspense to the film. For example we are made to feel that
Norman Bates is an isolated character as he lives alone with his mother as we
learn that he stuffs dead birds, this is reinforced through the mention or
birds and the placement of birds throughout the film.
12.
http://borgus.com/hitch/hitch2011.htm - I have chosen this item as it
shows a step-by-step of how to create a Hitchcock movie. It explains the
conventions of how Hitchcock used suspense and shows how you can use it in a
modern film to recreate Hitchcock’s revolutionary style of suspense. I plan to
use this item to discuss how he uses the camera to create a view from the
characters perspective, and explore how this creates suspense.
Magazines
14.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8593508.stm - this article highlights key themes
which Hitchcock used to create suspense throughout the film Psycho. This is a
useful item as it focuses around the use of graphic violence (the iconic shower
scene), sexual explicitness how the music in my focus film creates tension. I
will discuss how his unique use of graphic violence creates a sense of
suspense.
15.
http://www.empireonline.com/movies/empire-essay-psycho/review/ - I have chosen this article as it
explains why certain shots were used and the effect it has on the audience and
how it creates suspense. I plan to use this article to discuss the shots used
in Psycho and the reasoning for them to discuss whether Hitchcock can be
classified as an auteur.
Books
16.
Hitchcock’s
Motifs – I have chosen this book as it explores the uses of all of Hitchcock’s
motifs. I will use the section of “Enclosed Spaces” to discuss why Hitchcock
uses “bathrooms and washrooms” throughout his works. This item will be useful
as the world-famous shower scene from my focus film Psycho was shot in a
bathroom and specifically a bathroom in a hotel which is also a recurring
motif. (page 113)
17.
This
book explores Hitchcock’s auteur theory and explores the idea that he always
uses something called the MacGuffin to drive the narrative forward, however the
MacGuffin may not always be relevant to the continuation of the narrative. This
item includes the McGuffin which is included in all three of my chosen films so
this is a useful item.
Rejected Items
·
Hitchcock’s
America – I have chosen to reject this book as I feel it does not explore how
Hitchcock created suspense, so it would not offer much help in answering my
question.
·
The
Pleasure Garden (1925) – I have chosen to reject this film as it was the first
film that he directed so I don’t believe that he was able to experiment enough
with his visual style of suspense to be classified as an auteur this early on.
·
Always
Tell Your Wife (1923) - this was a short
film that Hitchcock co-directed, it is a comedy film so I have rejected this as
it does not contain suspense.