|
|
This is only a preview of the paper
Click here to register and get the full text.
Existing members click here to login
|
|
|
Discuss how, and to what effect, Citizen Kane arranges people and objects within the frame
By Neil Kane
Citizen Kane, hailed by many as one of the most important and innovative films ever made, is the story of one man, Charles Foster Kane, and the rise and fall of his idealistic, media empire. An empire which sought to conquer the world for the working man, but ended in Kane’s ever increasing corruption, distrust and loneliness. Throughout the film the framing of people and objects reflect Kane’s life and his relationships with the other characters. Techniques such as deep focus Through the framing, the audience receive a better idea of how Kane’s attitudes, emotions and relationships served to bring about his eventual downfall.
In Citizen Kane, people are framed in the shot facing the camera. ... One example of this is during the shot in Xanadu where Kane talks to his wife across a large hall. ... The effect this has on Thompson is that it turns him into more of a neutral character, one who serves to develop and connect the plot, rather than actually being part of the story. It is not until the end where we see a much clearer image of his character, and even then it is only to aid in his conclusion of Kane’s character, and the movie itself. ... For example, Citizen Kane opens on a sign saying ‘No Trespassing’ which eventually pans out to reveal a lone house on the hill, with one light burning dimly in the window. ... What links these shots is the single light in the house, which never changes its position within the frame . The effect of this technique is that it slowly draws the audiences’ attention to the lighted window, leading us to believe that whatever is in the room must be important to the story. ... It is seen later when Kane headhunts the Chronicle’s reporters for the Inquirer. ... During the same scene we see Kane graphically matched during Bernstein and Lelands’ conversation about Kane. This allows for a continual focus on Kane during the conversation, which is important as he himself is the focus of the dialogue.
Deep focus cinematography is used by Welles throughout the filming of Citizen Kane to great effect. During the scene where Kane’s mother effectively signs the boy over to Mr. Thatcher, we are first introduced to Kane through a long shot of the boy playing innocently out in the snow.
Approximate Word count = 2018
Approximate Pages = 8.1
(250 words per page double spaced)
|
|
|
|
|
|