There is one scene in particular that truly goes beyond the point of believable clarity in terms of sound, and that is the scene in which we first encounter the villainous plantation owner, Monsieur Calvin J. Candie. The sounds played to us during his introduction perfectly portray the kind of cruel, heartless character that is Monsieur Candie. Played by Leonardo DiCaprio, the character is draped over a luxurious lounge suite with his back facing the camera as our protagonists walk into the room. The sound of a bloodthirsty fist-fight fills the space, with grunts and growls and thuds coming from a pair of Mandingo fighters brawling on the floor at Candie’s feet. It is loud, impossible to ignore, and yet Candie, without even caring to take his eyes off the excitement for a polite nod to his guests, speaks strong and clear above the racket: “Why do you wanna get into the Mandingo business?” There is a brief test of character through Candie’s rude and abrupt questioning, when one of the guests finally answers, “it looks like just a bit of fun”. The following shot is a very revealing moment for Candie’s character, as he turns around to show an approving grin. Not only do we see his face, but we learn from his expression just what makes him tick. The significance of this shot is accentuated by a corny sound effect to accompany the camera’s speedy zoom in as it frames the face. It is one of the film’s many comical salutes to the cartoonish sound effects of the Italian Western era. Then comes the truly magical part of the scene, the eerie, hyper-real sounds of minor actions that would realistically struggle to compete with the yelling of fighting men. We hear paper burning on each drag of Candie’s cigarette, each drip of water falling from the bottom of a champagne bottle as it’s carried across the floor (Mentorless, 2013). All the while the bloody fight
There is one scene in particular that truly goes beyond the point of believable clarity in terms of sound, and that is the scene in which we first encounter the villainous plantation owner, Monsieur Calvin J. Candie. The sounds played to us during his introduction perfectly portray the kind of cruel, heartless character that is Monsieur Candie. Played by Leonardo DiCaprio, the character is draped over a luxurious lounge suite with his back facing the camera as our protagonists walk into the room. The sound of a bloodthirsty fist-fight fills the space, with grunts and growls and thuds coming from a pair of Mandingo fighters brawling on the floor at Candie’s feet. It is loud, impossible to ignore, and yet Candie, without even caring to take his eyes off the excitement for a polite nod to his guests, speaks strong and clear above the racket: “Why do you wanna get into the Mandingo business?” There is a brief test of character through Candie’s rude and abrupt questioning, when one of the guests finally answers, “it looks like just a bit of fun”. The following shot is a very revealing moment for Candie’s character, as he turns around to show an approving grin. Not only do we see his face, but we learn from his expression just what makes him tick. The significance of this shot is accentuated by a corny sound effect to accompany the camera’s speedy zoom in as it frames the face. It is one of the film’s many comical salutes to the cartoonish sound effects of the Italian Western era. Then comes the truly magical part of the scene, the eerie, hyper-real sounds of minor actions that would realistically struggle to compete with the yelling of fighting men. We hear paper burning on each drag of Candie’s cigarette, each drip of water falling from the bottom of a champagne bottle as it’s carried across the floor (Mentorless, 2013). All the while the bloody fight