Here's a very brief introduction to Hitchcock from the British Film Institute. At the very least, it will call your attention to certain trademark Hitchcock techniques.
Also, I've located a version of The Lodger with better resolution. Enjoy!
Cheers,
Leo
One of the most intriguing and perplexing scenes of “The Lodger” was the scene in which the fiancé (Joe) jokingly handcuffs Daisy, upsetting both her and the lodger (who is watching from the staircase). Why would a man who supposedly loves and cares for Daisy put her in handcuffs and refuse to take them off when he can see that she is obviously distressed by his actions? I believe that this is a very important scene because it symbolizes the restricted, imprisoned life that Daisy would lead if she were to marry the “wrong man”. In addition, the scene casts even more suspicion on the lodger by portraying him as extremely menacing and threatening.
ReplyDeleteThe cinematography and the acting of this scene support the idea that Joe is the wrong man for Daisy, and Joe’s unusual actions make the audience silently root for the couple’s break-up. The camera takes a close-up shot of Daisy’s handcuffed wrists (time stamp: 23:09), creating a rather menacing and foreboding shot due to the pure-black background that accentuates Daisy’s imprisoned wrists. In this shot, Joe’s hand is also tightly clamped around Daisy’s arm, adding to Daisy’s symbolic captivity. Soon after, the camera takes an “over the shoulder” shot of Daisy pleading with Joe to release her (time stamp: 23:15). The slightly high angle of the camera and Daisy’s pleading expression creates an image that is remarkably similar to the Avenger’s screaming victim in the beginning of the film. By creating this connection, Daisy is likened to the helpless murder victim, therefore exaggerating her imprisoned state with Joe.
This scene also casts even more suspicion on the lodger because he becomes very upset by Joe's actions, and the lodger seems to barely be containing his rage. The medium close-up shot of Jonathan’s face is extremely threatening, mainly because of the low-angle of the camera which makes the lodger appear to be even larger than he actually is (time stamp: 23:23). The lodger then does some deep breathing, as though he is barely containing his anger. In addition, the shadows that fall over only one side of his face and his bulging eyes add to his threatening appearance. The cinematography of this scene definitely seems to incriminate the lodger and to suggest that he is capable of great anger and violence, just like the Avenger.
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ReplyDeleteOne particularly suspenseful scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Lodger" is the one where the lodger makes his first appearance at the Bunting's doorstep (time stamp--14:55). The lodger slowly approaches the door and casts an enormous shadow that overlooks half of the shot. This makes the man appear sinister. The position of the camera is over the shoulder of the man so that the viewers seem to approach the house alongside the mysterious man. When Mrs. Bunting opens the door for him, a cloud of fog enters the house in the background, blurring the body in a shroud of mystery (time stamp--15:26). The lodger's dark entrance gives the audience the impression that he may be the antagonist of the film and is up to no good.
ReplyDeleteThe way the lodger appears in his entrance hints to the viewers that he may be the Avenger that city detectives have been looking for since the beginning of the movie. As described toward the beginning of the film by a female bystander of The Avenger's murder (time stamp--3:05), the lodger highly resembles the description given for the killer--tall, wears a hat, and covers the bottom portion of his face. Mrs. Bunting had an expression of distress when she opened the door and first saw the man, implying to the audience that the lodger’s presence was menacing (time stamp--15:29). The way Hitchcock filmed the lodger’s entrance inexplicitly suggested to the viewers that the murderer supposedly on the loose is now living in the house with the Bunting’s along with Daisy, the daughter of the house that fits the description of the Avenger’s victims: female with blonde hair.
In addition to the lodger’s entrance, the Bunting’s house number is “13”. Based on superstition, the number “13” has a negative implication at which bad events typically take place when the number appears. This detail, with the entrance of the mysterious lodger, adds to the suspense in the scene.
Week 1: The Lodger
ReplyDeleteAlfred Hitchcock’s film, “The Lodger”, was the scene where
A very suspenseful and triggering scene is when Daisy’s detective boyfriend barges into the lodger’s room with a warrant to search his belongings. The audience understands that this scene is the climax of the film since the mystery of the lodger’s identity will be uncovered, or so we think. The high contrast between the lodger’s face and the room depicts how pale and frantic he has turned since the detective’s posse walked in. The focus on the lodger’s face when he is talking to the detective allows us to see his weakness; he is taken by surprise and feels helpless to the whole situation-it almost looks like he is going to pass out when one of the detectives takes out his hidden bag. The flashing of light throughout the frames in the scene adds to the suspense of uncertain faith in the lodger’s innocence.
The camera puts a shallow focus on the detective when he finds the map and is concluding that the lodger is the avenger. We are presented with his light eyes that look almost evil-they let us in on the motives of his actions, which we can interpret as spiteful. This shallow focus is done with almost every key character in this scene. When Daisy gets the audience’s full attention through this technique, we are struck with her sorrow, fear, and love for the lodger.
It is interesting how the lodger responded to the detectives accusing statement of “ the plan of the murders!” by affirming it with a calm “Exactly”. Why choose that incriminating word and not explain? The lodger utters a couple other words after that phrase is shown on the screen, but we don’t know what he says. That was probably done on purpose to add to the frustration and suspense that, by this time, the audience is suffocating in.
After watching The Lodger, I must say I really enjoy Hitchcock’s film style; it really had me anticipating what was going to happen as time progressed in the film. One of the most confusing aspects to me when I first began to watch the film was the flashing screen “To-night ‘Golden Curls’” after showing a telegram. Later I found that it referred to the fact that the avenger was out to attack women with golden blonde hair. You see the women working in the backroom begin to put on hats and wigs because they knew the avenger wanted to murder blonde women. Certain aspects of the movie made the watcher think and anticipate future events which made this movie really exciting and fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most profound scenes was when Daisy was about to go out with the Lodger and the mother is looking on their actions from upstairs (Timestamp 45:55). The camera does numerous close up shots of the mother as she frantically paces around the upstairs room wondering what will happen to her daughter Daisy if she went out with the Lodger. As Daisy and the Lodger talk at the bottom of the stairs the mother constantly keeps a watch on them until they go out. At (Timestamp 46:30) the mother walks downstairs to find the two gone and began to look for the two around the house at an alarming rate only to find them gone. The camera is focused so that you can see all the facial expressions of the mother which really makes the audience anxious to what is going to happen later in the movie. Due to the fact that it was a Tuesday night the tension rises in the movie due to the plot that the avenger kills women on Tuesdays. At (timestamp 46:50) “God forgive me! I let her go out with the Lodger!” comes out when the mother is talking to the father, displaying her worries for allowing her daughter to go out with that stranger.
In this scene Hitchcock uses many cinematographic techniques to really get the audience to feel what the mother is feeling at the time. He does not even use words or dialogue but by the camera angles and focus on the mother really get the audience to feel what the characters are feeling without using any words and hardly any text. The close up shots of the mother and the camera pan to Daisy and the Lodger talking at the end of the stairs really creates an ominous mood filled with apprehension for Daisy’s wellbeing. These certain techniques truly displayed the feelings and tensions between Daisy’s parents, mainly the mother, and the relationship between Daisy and the Lodger.