1. In this sequence, describe how Hitchcock uses sound design to put you into the subjective " mind of Alice"?
-The use of the quiet of the phone booth shows us her focus and her need to quiet out her thoughts. Her concentration is broken while in the booth and the sound( droning of the gossip's voice) again overtakes her as she deals with her emotions.
-The continued muted sound with the emphasis on the word " knife" showcases her inability to hear anything at word, leading her to startle and throw the knife when the outside noises ( bell, customers, and loudness of the word "knife") cause her to lose control and follow her emotions.
2. Describe the different ways that the sound design of this scene operates in counterpoint to the visual track.
- Alice enters the phone booth and finds quietness, while the obvious noise continues in the background.
-Alice loses focus at the sight of the word POLICE and returns to the room. The silence she sought is broken and she is again inundated with talk of murder. Her face shows her emotional change from distraught to motivated to startled to distraught again.
- Alice goes into breakfast and cannot escape the sound of the gossip remarking that she could not eat. She is asked to cut the bread as the gossip states that knives are no proper way to kill. Alice's face and body language reflects her inward focus and her edging towards falling apart.
-The word "knife" is heard over all of the other sounds. The visual effect on Alice is seen in her face as it becomes more distressed. The louder and more harsh the word becomes, the more agitated Alice looks. When the word screeches, she throws the knife in response.
3. Why do you think this particular use of subjective sound is not used frequently in cinema?
-I would gather that this use of sound came out of use as sound evolved in cinema. As the use of soundtracks and even as less plot oriented films became the norm, there was less use of the visual and sound working together in a way that this was done earlier. While many films use music to further and deepen the plot movement of a film, many of the more modern films seems to be written to showcase the music ( popular tunes or the artist) rather than the other way around. Both have their place, but they are different for the viewer.
Daily Dose #5: Heard About the Murder? (Scene from Blackmail)
in The Master of Suspense: 50 Years of Hitchcock
Posted
1. In this sequence, describe how Hitchcock uses sound design to put you into the subjective " mind of Alice"?
-The use of the quiet of the phone booth shows us her focus and her need to quiet out her thoughts. Her concentration is broken while in the booth and the sound( droning of the gossip's voice) again overtakes her as she deals with her emotions.
-The continued muted sound with the emphasis on the word " knife" showcases her inability to hear anything at word, leading her to startle and throw the knife when the outside noises ( bell, customers, and loudness of the word "knife") cause her to lose control and follow her emotions.
2. Describe the different ways that the sound design of this scene operates in counterpoint to the visual track.
- Alice enters the phone booth and finds quietness, while the obvious noise continues in the background.
-Alice loses focus at the sight of the word POLICE and returns to the room. The silence she sought is broken and she is again inundated with talk of murder. Her face shows her emotional change from distraught to motivated to startled to distraught again.
- Alice goes into breakfast and cannot escape the sound of the gossip remarking that she could not eat. She is asked to cut the bread as the gossip states that knives are no proper way to kill. Alice's face and body language reflects her inward focus and her edging towards falling apart.
-The word "knife" is heard over all of the other sounds. The visual effect on Alice is seen in her face as it becomes more distressed. The louder and more harsh the word becomes, the more agitated Alice looks. When the word screeches, she throws the knife in response.
3. Why do you think this particular use of subjective sound is not used frequently in cinema?
-I would gather that this use of sound came out of use as sound evolved in cinema. As the use of soundtracks and even as less plot oriented films became the norm, there was less use of the visual and sound working together in a way that this was done earlier. While many films use music to further and deepen the plot movement of a film, many of the more modern films seems to be written to showcase the music ( popular tunes or the artist) rather than the other way around. Both have their place, but they are different for the viewer.