The Outsiders Movement Analysis

Movement is important and symbolic in any film, but in The Outsiders one scene with movement reveals a lot of information, emotion, and hidden meanings. This scene is very well-known and famous. The scene is after Johnny, Pony, and Dally save the children from a burning church. Dally is in a hospital room with Two-Bit and Pony. The first shot is a close-up of Two-Bit with a butterfly knife. Two-Bit swings the knife in a precise, fast arc until the blade sticks straight up. The fluttering of the knife symbolizes revenge they need to get for Johnny and hatred for the Socs. A cut shows a close-up of Dally’s empty hand outstretched, waiting for the knife to find his grip. Two-Bit places the knife in Dally’s hand, and Dally grips it. Dally’s hand trembles as he tries to find a …show more content…
Moreover, the stabbing motion shows he would like to do that to one of the Socs because Johnny is dying due to the Socs driving Johnny out-of-town to hide. Dally turns to face the camera in a swift motion in a close-up. Dally’s right hand is in a fist while the left one holds the knife. Dally says in a loud tone, “Let’s do it for Johnny man, we’ll do it for Johnny.” As Dally screams this, his right hand points aggressively at Two-Bit and Pony to emphasize they have to win the fight against the Socs and how outraged he is about the Socs and Johnny. The movement in this scene represents Dally’s emotional state which is fragile, broken, and beaten because he knows there is a chance Johnny may die. Every movement by Dally reveals his emotions of anger, fear, hatred, and sadness. While Dally’s hand trembles with the knife, this reveals his anxiety for Johnny’s future and his own without his best friend (Johnny) in his life. The fast movements by Dally and Two-Bit with the knife show they are ready for the fight and to destroy the