Camera Angles - Understanding Movies

Rear Window

Matthew R. Sutton

Dr. Nolan

ARTH 334 E122 Understanding Movies

Due 1 February 2015

Close Up Shots

Introduction

The close up shot takes a certain feature or part of the subject or an object and makes it take up most of the frame. A close up of a person usually means a close up of their face (unless specified otherwise). Close-ups are obviously useful for showing detail and can also be used as a cut-in. A close-up of a person emphasizes their emotional state. Whereas a mid-shot or wide-shot is more appropriate for delivering facts and general information, a close-up overstates facial expressions which convey emotion. (Media College.com) Also a close up of objects can be used to help describe a scene, or a particular situation. The viewer is drawn into the subject's personal space and shares their feelings or focuses on a situation that will lead you further into the plot or role of the character.

Hitchcock’s Use

First major close up

Alfred Hitchcock’s use of this aspect of shot, the close up, which comes immediately after he sets the story scene and where it is taking place, the court yard of an apartment complex, hence the title “Rear Window”.  Within the first few minutes Hitchcock introduces us to the storylines main character, L. B. Jeffries played by Jimmy Stewart, and the story behind how he is the in the current predicament without so much as a word being said.  The scan of the apartment complex courtyard cuts to the apartment of Jeffries, where he is seen sleeping with sweat running down his forehead.  This creates the uncomfortable feeling of a heat wave and why this person is near the window of his own apartment.  He reemphasises this by showing us a close up of a thermometer which reads 94 degrees. He uses this type of shot and pans down the individual to a plaster cast introducing the character by using the writing of “here lie the broken bones of L.B. Jeffries”. The next close up we see is how he shows the broken, twisted camera on the table and subsequent photos of the race car crash and the person being hit or falling in front of a car. These are just a few of the close ups shots he uses within the first five minutes of the film setting the stage for the thriller to come.

Second major close up

In his next major close up it reveals Jeffries sleeping again and being woke up by someone approaching him.  This puts both you and the character in a dreamlike state as if he is imagining this only to reveal his girl, one Lisa Carol Freemont played by Grace Kelly. This transition is to allow for the introduction of Lisa’s character to the film.  The scene shows both characters engaged in a kissing scene and her questioning him to only to turn around to introduce herself as if they do not know each other.  

Continued use of close ups

Hitchcock uses close up shots almost continually one after the other to place you in the feel or emotion of the film and to keep the flow going throughout.  There are numerous scenes where you see Jimmy Stewart look at a dog and then we see him smiling.  Stewart also looks at a woman undressing and then we see him smiling.  Those two smiles have completely different meanings, even if they are the exact same smile. Hitchcock is putting an idea into the mind of the character and the viewer without explaining it in dialogue and this is done by using a point-of-view shot sequence. How this is achieved by Hitchcock starts with a close up of the Stewart’s eyes and cuts to a shot of what he is seeing adding something for him to look at then cuts back to a close up to show his reaction. He repeats this throughout the film to give the desired feeling to the film or the character is having at the time. Hitchcock does this movement of back and forth between the character and the subject as many times as he wants to build tension or suspense. As a viewer you do not get bored and this type of camera action I believe is what makes one of the most powerful form of film making, even more important than acting.  In this form of filming the viewers will believe they are sharing something personal with the character.  This is what Hitchcock is famous for in very many of his films.