In the station scene, the two treasury officers, Elliot Ness and George Stone are waiting for Al Capone’s bookkeeper to arrive. He is the only person who can translate the ledger which holds all the information to bring down Capone; without the bookkeeper there would be no stopping Capone. The arrest of the bookkeeper should be fairly easy but Ness finds himself in with for reasons. Being a caring person he is helps a woman struggling to bring her baby up the stairs. While doing this Ness recognizes one of the gang members, taking out his gun he single-handedly defeats all the members of the gang while at the same time protecting the baby. Ness and Stone walk out the station unharmed and with the bookkeeper.
Brian de Palma has used a variety of sound techniques to create a feeling of suspense and tension for the audience. Dialogue, sounds effects, ambient sounds and non-diegetic sounds have all been used to reinforce what the audience see. The content of the station scene is expressed through Ness’s dialogue. He informs the audience of what is happening by what he says to other characters on and off screen. Sound effects have also used successfully to add realism so the audience can believe that what they’re seeing is actually happening. Non-diegetic sounds also played a big part in the station scene. It changes the mood of the audience from feeling excited to feeling tense and uncomfortable. First there were drums which made the audience feel Ness’s tension as he tried to find the bookkeeper. Mobile music is then added, creating more tension showing now that Ness has to deal with both the baby, and the stress of trying to find the bookkeeper. It is made more effective when at times the camera flashes to the clock, going closer every time, showing the audience that the time is running out. Ambient sounds such as footsteps and train announcements also helped the station scene draw in the audience, making them feel that they are not spectators in the audience but spectators in the station.
Realist lighting and expressive lighting have both been used in the station scene. Realist lighting was used mainly to add realism and to contribute to the story which was then reinforced by the lighting style. By using expressive lighting it suggested and pinpointed details to the audience about what is going on and how the characters felt. A realist effect is used at the beginning of the scene where Elliot Ness and George Stone were driving to the station and only the lampposts were giving off light showing that it was night time. Also when Ness and Stone were walking towards the building there is dim light again this could either be that Brian de Palma is reinforcing suspense through expressive lighting showing that Ness and Stone don’t know what is going to happen or reinforcing again that it is night time. Straight after they entered the station expressive lighting was used one again with lighting focussed on Ness more than on Stone showing Ness played a bigger part then Stone in the scene.
Many different types of camera shots played throughout the station scene. There were extreme close ups (ECU), close up shots (CU), mid shots (MS) and long shots (LS). All these different types were used many times to show the characters emotions, allowing the audience to know what was happening and creating tension at the appropriate moments. For example the camera had a CU shot on Ness’s face showing his concern for the baby’s safety when he recognized one of the gangsters. Then the camera crossed to the gangster’s eyes and nose, this time an ECU reminded the audience that this was one of the gangsters from an earlier scene. It also showed the audience that this man was evil and he was not going to go away on his own. This effect built up tension and when Ness finally brought out his gun and shot a gang member, the camera immediately showed a LS of Stone running down a hallway towards the sound of the gunfire, reinforcing the audience’s perception that Ness is on his own and Stone is not going arrive quickly.
Different camera angles are used widely and effectively in the scene. High ones that look down to show a characters strength and domineering personality, eye level ones to give the impression to the audience that they are observing the scene. A high camera angle was used when Ness was looking down at the baby contrasting Ness’s strength and the baby’s vulnerability. This situation is reversed when the gangster is standing above Ness holding a gun showing that he is the more dominant, triggering tension for the audience even after the baby is safe.
Two types of different camera movements have been used to create tension and to guide the audience. The camera used Pan when the pram was falling down the stairs, showing Ness’s concern for the baby. Tilt was used when Ness was looking at the baby and the passengers creating a feeling of anxiety for audience about what he was going to do.
Two different types of editing styles have been used for creating both tension and realism. Tension is created using jump cuts with the clock jumping from Ness to the baby. This showed that time was running out and that he was not going to get the baby up the stairs and to safety in time. Match cuts were used so that continuous motion was preserved. It was made use of in the gun-battle where the camera would show Ness shooting a gang member and then immediately show a gang member dying.
The scene where Ness was waiting for the bookkeeper is a very good example of Da Palma’s using many types of elements to help to create suspense and tension. Lighting, editing, camera angles/movements and sound are used in many different ways. Ness didn’t know what the bookkeeper looked like, this initially raised the tension and it continued to rise when he had to deal with the baby. All the elements together work red in different ways showing different things to the audience and helped to bring them into the scene.
I think the movie was very successful, it had a lot of dramatic scenes which made me feel excited and tense. The actors and script were excellent, I learnt a lot about this period of American history and also the type of fashions that were popular.