Film Nior

Question 1

Who were the actors for Bruno and Guy?

Answer 1

Bruno: Robert Walker
Guy: Farley Granger

Question 2

Who were the actors for Norman and Marion?

Answer 2

Norman: Anthony Perkins
Marion: Janet Leigh

Question 3

Film Noir was influenced by….

Answer 3

German Expressionist Cinematography

Question 4

Hays Code:
- year established

• what it addressed
• three principles

Answer 4

• Established in 1934
• crimes against law, sex, vulgarity, obscenities’. profanity, costume, dances, religion., location, national feelings, titles, and repellent subjects
• The three principles:
  1) No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standard of those who see it
  2) Only a correct standard of living could be presented
  3) The law cannot be ridiculed

Question 5

What did Film Noir emerge from?

Answer 5

From the Great Depression & Prohition(WW2)

Question 6

What are the characteristics of a Femme Fatale?

Answer 6

• fatal women
• selfish ambitions
• strong as men
• dangerous figure, being smart, powerful, etc.
• long fingernails = claws
• smokes = loose morals
• uncontrollable untamed animals
• entrancing, people play with fire
• usually shot from a low angle to symbolize dominance

Question 7

Examples of doubles thought Strangers on a Train:

Answer 7

• 2 taxes and 2 trains
• 2 pairs of feet
• 2 respectful fathers, 2 women with glasses, 2 women who talk about crime with Bruno, and 2 guys who go with Barbara
• 2 Hitchcock appearances
• Alfred Hitchcock carries a “double bass”
• “double” crosser
• 2 little boys at the fair ground

Question 8

What does Film Noir mean?

Answer 8

Black film

Question 9

What is the Chiaroscuro Effect?

Answer 9

By using a strong bold contrast, it affects the composition of the shot and givers volume

Question 10

What is a camera pan and a camera tilt?

Answer 10

pan: camera turning on the x-axis
tilt: camera turning on the y-axis

Question 11

What was the entrance policy in Psycho?

Answer 11

You have to be in the movie theatre from the beginning to end. So, even if you left, could could never come back or join in the theatre halfway in.

Question 12

Who was Hitchcock influenced by?

Answer 12

Edgar Allen Poe

Question 13

What is a McGuffin?
What was the McGuffin in Strangers on a Train?
What was the McGuffin in Psycho?

Answer 13

• A reoccurring object that moves the plot forward but doesn’t serve any other importance
• Lighter and Glasses
• Money

Question 14

What is night-for-night shooting?

Answer 14

Shooting night scenes at night for natural effect.

Question 15

What is the Rule of Thirds?

Answer 15

Place the subject along the lines that split up the frame into 3 sides, left to right and top to bottom. This makes the shot more balanced, interesting, and dynamic.

Question 16

Random Notes on Strangers on a Train:

Answer 16

• When Guy talked about straggling someone, it transitions to Bruno’s hands in a strangle position.
• Scenes like Bruno helping a blind man cross the street after killing someone help to emphasize his psychopathic nature.
• Pluto(that was the name of Bruno’s boat) = Satanic Greek God

Question 17

Random Notes on Psycho:

Answer 17

• Starts with stripes and cuts for the title card
• First shot is a aerial view, like a birds eye view
• Windows = theme of duality
• The newspaper provided a very subtle way to show that Marion was in Los Angeles
• First film to show a toilet!