Narrative Techniques In Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window

In Alfred Hitchcock’s film, Rear Window, he uses elements of film in a way that expresses to the audience what the character desires and the power relations that exist between them. In the sequence where Lisa and L.B. Jeffries have dinner from “21 Club,” their contradicting desires are expressed through these various elements. For example, Hitchcock uses framing, editing, and character positioning within the mise-en-scene to portray that Lisa desires Jeff but he doesn’t feel as strongly of her. Furthermore, these elements help the audience to analyze the film for larger significance and to see that during the Classical Hollywood Cinema era, women are often sexualized in their roles and are subjected to or become objects for the male characters …show more content…
The editor may arrange shots in a certain order, cutting the length of a shot, etc., to render an idea in the minds of the viewers. The editing also allows us to sit in the seat of Jeff with the use of point of view by cutting back and forth between Jeff and what he sees. It allows the audience to get a feel of what is occurring and when it cuts to a close up of Jeff we can see his emotions and reactions toward Lisa. The use of editing with the consideration of the axis of action help to define the character’s spacial relations or where the characters are in relation to one another. Had the scene been one long take without the addition of cuts, the viewer would not always know they are in relation to what is occurring in the story. If the audience does not know where the characters are in regards to space, the things occurring on screen will not be as clear. However, because editing is present, when she opens the door for the delivery guy we can see that he is in surprised. The immediate switch of camera angle through cutting allows the viewer to also see his sarcastic and disagreeing reaction—like when she suggests he leaves the magazine for her. Thus also helping to show who holds power and that he does not desire her in the same …show more content…
The, filmmaker can control what appears in the scene in a strategic way to express a message. In Rear Window, character placement does such; Jeff is sitting in his wheelchair the entire time while Lisa frantically does everything. And although he is at a lower position than her, he be seen as her controller and this makes him dominant over her. In the scene he does not do a single thing for her and that can be used to represents his feelings. The lighting and the clothing of Lisa serves many purposes with one being to feminize and sexualize her towards Jeff. The lighting tends to be darker when the camera is directed towards Jeffries, while Lisa is constantly illuminated in bright contrast. In regards to the mise-en-scene around her clothing, Lisa states that she never wears dresses twice and also that she is wearing what is expected of her. Jeff’s attitude shows that he is not against a pretty female galloping about his room but just that she is “too perfect for him.” With the use of the powerful mise-en-scene the viewer is able to better understand that Lisa expects Jeff to marry her but that he isn’t ready for marriage. She’s too perfect for what he