Imagine that youhave been asked to contribute an article to a book about cinema aimed at young film goers who want to broaden their knowledge and understanding of movies.

Authors Avatar

Imagine that you have been asked to contribute an article to a book about cinema aimed at young film goers who want to broaden their knowledge and understanding of movies.  

Your article, entitled ‘In Focus’ should analyse two extracts from different films, comparing and contrasting the techniques used by the directors in order to achieve their desired effects.

Iain MacCormick

10D

31.10.04

Word Count

………………………………………………………………………………………………

‘In Focus’

By Iain MacCormick, Chief correspondent, The Independent

When we enjoy a film we rarely stop to consider what it is about that film that made it special.  What is it that distinguishes a really great film from a more mundane one?  If we are to really appreciate movies we need to look more closely at the way directors use a variety of techniques to bring the plot to life and to make their movie distinctive.  To demonstrate this I have selected two of my favourite films and have analysed a scene from each, comparing and contrasting how the two directors use sound effects, music, setting, facial expressions, costume and camera angles in different ways to create the film they have in their minds.

The Fugitive, directed by the American Andrew Davis, was released in 1993 and stars Harrison Ford as Doctor Richard Kimble.  The story was based on a television series. The scene I have chosen starts slowly but is developed by the Director into a fast moving action sequence, full of danger and with a tremendous violent climax.

The 1949 British film, The Third Man, was based on a story by Graham Greene and directed by Carol Reed.  It is an example of Film Noir and stars Orson Wells as Harry Lime and Joseph Cotton as Holly Martins.  Here the scene I have chosen is very different as the Director uses the range of techniques to create mystery and suspense and a climax in the middle of the scene which changes the direction of the film.

As there is a continuous flow of sound effects in ‘The Fugitive’ they make the scene ever more chaotic and dramatic.  In ‘The Third Man’ the sound effects are not used in abundance. They are used to break the silence and build a scene of apprehension.  The sounds are very specific.  The meowing of the cat indicating to Holly the man in the doorway, the car holding Holly up so Harry can get away and the footsteps and the echoing voices making the set seem deserted.

In the scene from ‘The Fugitive’ sound effects add hugely to the overall suspense, claustrophobia and tension.  The clinking of the chains evokes feelings of restriction.  As the bus swerves out of control the unbearable noise of it squeaking as it scrapes along the barrier, the glass breaking and the tyres burning on the road are all an indication to the audience of the severity of the impending accident.  Gun shots within the coach further jeopardise the characters still alive in the bus.  When the bus does roll down the hill and crash you know that the accident could be fatal as there is a tremendous roar of metal on earth.

Join now!

Tension is introduced to ‘The Third Man’ scene by the important sound of the cat meowing.  This is because it alerts Holly to the man in the doorway.  Suspense is increased because the audience knows that the cat is only fond of the supposedly dead Harry.  The echoing of Holly’s voice and the exaggerated footsteps breaking the silence makes the scene eerie.

In both scenes the music gets louder and faster as they move to a climax.

In ‘The Third Man’ the music is linked specifically to the characters and their mood whereas in ‘The Fugitive’ the music ...

This is a preview of the whole essay