Auteur Traits Flashcards
Who is Alfred Hitchcock?
Alfred Hitchcock is one of the first directors considered an auteur by French critics. He is seen as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
What is Hitchcock known as?
The Master of Suspense.
What is the significance of the film Vertigo?
Vertigo was voted as the greatest film of all time in Sight and Sound’s once-a-decade 2012 poll.
What are Hitchcock’s three films often regarded as the best three-film run in history?
- Vertigo (1958)
- North by Northwest (1959)
- Psycho (1960)
What is the Studio System?
A system in Hollywood where filmmakers worked within constraints but could still create consistent work in tone, style, and theme.
What are the Five Key Traits of Hitchcock’s films?
- Fragile masculine identity
- Interest in Freudian Psychoanalysis
- Understanding of voyeurism
- Importance and symbolism of The Mother
- Pure Cinema to tell a story visually
What does ‘Pure Cinema’ mean according to Hitchcock?
Using only Film Form to communicate without relying on dialogue.
What techniques did Hitchcock use for ‘Pure Cinema’?
- Shot Reverse Shot
- Eyeline Match
- POV
- Close Up
- Facial Expression
- Mise en scene
- Non-diegetic Score
What complicates the auteur argument for Vertigo?
It may simply be a studio system genre picture with deeper meanings and subtexts.
Who is Arthur Penn?
Arthur Penn is a key figure in the new wave of American cinema, influencing the transition between The Studio System and New Hollywood.
What are some key films made by Arthur Penn?
- Mickey One
- The Chase
- Bonnie & Clyde
- Night Moves
What are the Five Key Traits of Penn’s films?
- Impulsive, outsider protagonists
- Left-wing Capitalist Critique
- Tension between reality and mythical images
- Barely repressed violence in America
- Stylistic Film Form in dialogue with the French New Wave
What complicates the auteur argument for Bonnie & Clyde?
The contributions of Warren Beatty, Dede Allen, and the influence of the New Hollywood industry raise questions about Penn’s sole authorship.
Fill in the blank: Hitchcock believed a director should rely on _______ instead of dialogue.
Pure Cinema
True or False: Arthur Penn developed a distinct style of filmmaking.
False
What is a significant influence on Arthur Penn’s filmmaking?
The French New Wave.
What is the role of the characters in Penn’s films?
They often feature impulsive, outsider protagonists with unstable, conflicting identities.
What genre does Vertigo fit into?
Genre thriller.
What did Truffaut do in relation to Hitchcock?
Interviewed him for over 25 hours to explore his obsessions and concerns.
What was a major theme in Hitchcock’s work?
Exploration of personal obsessions and recurring themes.
