[Daily Dose #2: To-night Golden Curls (Opening Scene of The Lodger)]

1. Compare the opening of The Lodger to the opening of The Pleasure Garden - what similarities and differences do you see between the two films? 

  With both films, it seems they open with some kind of chaos; the girls rushing down the stairs for their performance, and the victim in her final moments. The most obvious difference is the use of light a shadow (maybe a screen?) for the films. The Pleasure Garden was bright to depict 'show quality' and style. The Lodger was darker impression, to show a more darker content, and sets the 'in the shadows of the night' vibe. 

2. Identify elements of the "Hitchcock style" in this sequence? Please provide specific examples. Even if you are not sure if it is the "Hitchcock style," what images or techniques stand out in your mind as powerful storytelling? Or images that provide an excess of emotion? 

I've noticed so far with both films that he uses some form of print to present an idea of what's happening next (the letters and newspapers for Patsy, the typist at the typewriter for the newsroom) as opposed to title cards. He also uses what I feel to be background items to help the audience form an opinion about a character (the dog with Mr. Levet, the lodger being upset by the photos in the room). Stairs is another thing I noticed... the opening sequence of Pleasure Garden, and the man slowly ascending the stairs of the house in the Lodger- like big things are coming when you see a set of stairs! 

3. Even though this is a "silent" film, the opening image is one of a woman screaming. What do you notice in how Hitchcock frames that particular shot that makes it work in a silent film even though no audible scream that can be heard. And what other screams like that come to mind from Hitchcock's later work? 

 

I think what works for the 'silent scream' in this film is the angle in which the scene is shot. We are looking down on the woman, giving the impression that someone is looming over her. I again personally feel a lot of the emotion in some of his scenes are seen through the eyes of the actors- very expressive faces. The most infamous scream scene that comes to mind is the shower scene in Psycho!

[Daily Dose #1: Spiralling into View: The Pleasure Garden (1925)]

1, I definitely agree with others that you can see touches of Hitchcock in this opening sequence. The first thing that stuck out for me is the focus on the blonde. Though I know he didn't always have a blonde as the main feature in his movies, when he did, they tended to be at the forefront. I also noticed he makes you 'focus' on a specific thing, like the staircase, and it made sense, having listened to the video interview. He'd stated he builds sets according to how he'd film the shot. 

 

2. There are definitely themes that we'll see again throughout his career. The blonde at the forefront, the binoculars, the focal points (observing the observer), the use of light and dark, including that ominous shadow of Mr. Levet in the alley surprising Patsy (which made me think of Hitchcock's tv show opening), and finally the way he relies on the actors to be expressive with the eyes (the ghost's eyes and Mrs. Danvers' a la 'Rebecca')

 

3. I have enjoyed a silent film or two, so I personally didn't think there were limitations. I think the way this was laid out made it clear what was meant to be viewed.