Guest commentary by:

Forris Day

John P. Hess

Lesley Coffin

William Martell

 

Sponsored by:

Glidecam Industries

Michael Wiese Books

Paralinx

 

NOTES:

 

In this webisode filmmakers learn more advanced theories of editing and shot selection.  It is also a great episode to study for keeping the plot simple - a necessity for Hitchcockian suspense.

 

• Still Shots - Even though the main character can't move (not even his eyes) Hitchcock used long, still shots in order to enhance this feeling of paralysis rather than trying to add motion with the camera.

• Stream of Consciousness Narration - We hear Cotten's thoughts in a voice-over while watching his face.  This becomes a way to vocalize the audience's thoughts as well.

• Axis of Proximity - Varying the distance of the camera to the subject creates different emotional intensities.  Close-ups during certain lines of dialogue provide emphasis to those lines.

• Changing Locations - As the hero goes through his emotional change, his surroundings also change.

• Montage and Kuleshov Effect - Montage is the impressionistic interaction of shots placed one after another.  By changing the surrounding shots, a person's face takes on a different emotion.

• Simplicity of Storytelling - A hyper-present clarity is generated by focusing on the simple goals surrounding hands, feet, and objects.  Once the audience is lured into these goals, Hitchcock teases with missed opportunities and close-calls.

 

The full episode of "Breakdown" (1955) can be found on DVD, as well as Netflix.

 

TRIVIA QUESTION:

In which two earlier Hitchcock movies was Joseph Cotten in the running to play the lead, but inevitably wasn't cast?

 

ANSWER: Spellbound & Notorious