Shadow of a Doubt

Below is a video I made. The video is two images from Hitchcock's 'Shadow of a Doubt'.



Settings and Props

• There is money scattered on the bedroom floor, which suggests that the character of Charlie is rather rich, and doesn't value money as much as he should. Moreover, the use of a cigar highlights the character's indulgence in the finer things in life, and suggest that Charlie is not afraid to purchase items he may not need. A further notable prop used in a glass, which is thrown at the wall. This highlights a potentially short fuse, and possibly previous problems that have made Charlie stressed.

Colour and Lighting

• The room at first is dark, which indicates that Charlie doesn't like attention, and prefers to be left alone. A woman then enters and allows light to enter the room. Charlie then moves back into the shadows, reinforcing the idea. Shadows are also prominent throughout the opening scenes, which could suggest that the film draws conventions from the film noir genre.

Hair, Make-up and Costume

• The suit Charlie is wearing looks expensive and well maintained. This again suggests that Charlie is wealthy, and also hints that he cares for his appearance, whether it be to remain unnoticed and ordinary, or just for himself. This idea is shown again through Charlie's hair, which is slicked back. This is a trait of many antagonist in thrillers, and could imply that Charlie is the antagonist, or has villainous qualities.

Facial Expression and Body Language

• Charlie is shown on his bed, looking relaxed, yet tired. This could infer that he has had endured a lot of hard work over the previous few days, and could be why the two characters are after him.

Placement of Objects and Characters Within the Frame

• Charlie is shown as trapped after he leaves the house, as he is placed in the centre of the frame, and the two other characters are either side. Both Charlie and his niece are shown in similar positions when we are first introduced to them, indicating that they are similar, and that the niece sees Charlie as a role model.