Throughout the history of film and theatre directors have used mise-en-scene and location to control the scene. Whether this is in front of the camera or a live audience, the components of mise-en-scene allow the director to have full control of the action, enabling them to engage and captivate the audience. It supports and expands the narrative, as well as creating the classic conventions we see in different genres of film. Mise-en-scene simply means, ‘putting into the scene’ (Bordwell and Thompson, 2010), and was first used in theatre direction. This has now transpired into film, and “in controlling the mise-en-scene, the director stages the event for the camera”. (Bordwell and Thompson, 2010). It serves the purpose of creating a …show more content…
Citizen Kane, an American drama directed by Orson Welles in 1941, uses mise-en-scene and location to tell the story of the late Charles Foster Kane, a successful newspaper publisher. Welles effectively creates a narrative using a series of flashbacks, told from the point of view of Kane’s friends, lovers and associates during an interview with reporter Jerry Thompson. Thompson takes a particular interest in Kane’s life, and throughout the film we can see prime examples mise-en-scene and location working together to portray a realistic storyline to the audience. In one of the most significant scenes in Citizen Kane, the audience witnesses the decline of Kane’s marriage to Emily Monroe Norton. This is shown to the viewers via a montage of short scenes. Welles uses mise-en-scene to shape the scene; the montage depicts the deterioration of Kane and Emily’s marriage in a powerful and thought provoking way. As the scene progresses we move through five different scenarios, small changes from costume to posture enable the audience to follow the narrative and see the cracks forming within their relationship.
At the beginning of the montage Kane and Emily are sat at the table for breakfast, both characters seem to be relaxed and conversation flows effortlessly. The scene begins with the couple discussing Kane missing a morning of work so they can prolong their time together, the audience can see that both characters are comfortable in
The term “mise en scene” carries the original meaning of “putting into scene” and was a term that signifies the director’s control of visuals and events in the frame. There are several aspects in mise en scene. Aspect such as setting, lighting, costume and behavior of figures were controlled to allow the director to stage the event and create the overall effect within the frame.
An example of deep focus appears in this sequence. A young Mr. Kane is visible in the background by the window in the middle ground while Mrs. Kane signs over custody of him to Mr. Thatcher in the foreground of the shot. There is a great significance to Kane appearing at the background of the frame. The narrative perspective captures Kane being present, but almost pushed to the literal and symbolic background as decisions are made to determine his future in the foreground. The use of deep focus turns what would’ve been a flat cinema screen into a three-dimensional world with a strong sense of realism. Although our attention is not immediately forced to any specific aspect of the mise-en-scene, a certain important moment is noted just as Mrs. Kane signs the paperwork. Young Kane while playing a childish game of “civil war” screams “Union forever;”
Since the beginning of the Industrial Age, Americans have idealized the journey towards economic success. One thing people do not realize, however, is that that journey is not the same for every individual. For Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles), the main character of Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles, the path towards riches and a fulfilled life is being well liked. He serves to please others. He strives for that attention. This view cost him his happiness in the end. In this man’s rise and fall through prosperity, Welles shows the futility of striving solely for likeability.
The term Mise-en-Scene is used to signify the director’s control over what happens in the film frame. In English the phrase literally translates to “putting in the scene” (Bordwell, 2010a). ‘Night of the Hunter’ (Charles Laughton, 1955) is a prime example of a film that uses aspects of Mise-en-Scene to sway the audience’s opinions of characters and their understanding of narrative themes and to create a certain atmosphere in the film. “Although the fundamental aspects of Mise-en-Scene in both theatre and cinema are those of lighting, blocking and production design (costume, props and sets),
Citizen Kane uses mise-en-scene is multiple scenes to help tell the narrative. A perfect example is when the parents
Orson Welles’ 1941 classic film Citizen Kane tells the story of Charles Forster Kane. The turning point of the film is when Jim Gettys attempts to blackmail Kane. The scene demonstrates Kane’s fall from grace through pride. His reactions to the other characters in this scene (Mrs. Kane, Susan Alexander, and Mr. Gettys), the angles that are shown in his perspective, and the lighting of the scene helps to demonstrate this point. It is after the blackmail scene that, in desperation, Kane tries to regain his credibly with the public and
The first is an intimate scene where Kane is sitting in a comfy chair close to Susan. There is a fuzzy carpet on the ground, the walls have a flowery wallpaper. The room could be considered cramped with four visible chairs, five visible plants, and four visible pictures. The scene is also well light with almost nothing in the darkness. The scene looks cramped for a movie but portrays a sense of homeliness. It gives the sense of warmth and joy in the relationship between Kane and Susan. The very opposite scene from this Kane is sitting what could be twenty to thirty feet away from Susan in a stiff wooden chair resembling a throne. The walls behind Kane are huge and clean made of stone. There are cold almost cathedral-like windows in the wall. Almost the entire room is dark with only the carpet and couch, Kane, and Susan being lit. The mise-en-scene of these two scenes show a progression of their relationship and also helps to portray Kane’s own psychological disrepair. The characters could have been aliens and it would still feel real because the character progression is what gives the film
When discussing the greatest films of all time, Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles, usually comes up. It’s influence in American cinema can still be felt today, but at the time the film was not released without controversy. The main character in the movie, Charles Foster Kane, is undeniably based of the real life figure of William Randolph Hearst, a famous American newspaper publisher. Hearst was very aware of this fact and tried to hinder the success of Welles’ picture by denying it any sort of press in his newspapers. Despite the smear campaign Kane’s influence lives on through Welles’ revolutionary filmic techniques and its presence in pop culture.
The structure in the film Citizen Kane is non-linear in that it does not follow any planned order. The story is well formulated and presented using flashbacks that pertain different times in the life of Kane (Welles). These flashbacks are unplanned search that they offer the viewer an incomplete glimpse of Kane’s life and essentially adding more suspense. It takes the form of the memory when a person tries to remember an event that took place a long time ago. The use of the non-linear structure helps to portray how complicated the life of Kane was. It is vital to note the film uses several narrators. The mystery of Kane’s life is also being put together like a puzzle (Welles). The audience is with the journalist in the quench to find what the mystery word meant to Kane. The layout of the story is also planned with
Suspense is a crucial ingredient in the making of horror and thriller films. The significance of suspense in horror films is to bring out the “twist or unexpected moment of realization that makes someone scream and one's heart race. In the film industry, there are various types of genre, but as different as films may seem, they all have one element that links them all together. That element is known as Mise-en-scene. Mise-en-scene is a French phrase that means “putting into the scene.” Mise-en-scene includes elements such as setting, lighting, costume, and figure movement and expression (acting).
For citizen Kane, the most important assets of his life are not the political ambitions, successful newspaper business, nor his relationships with the significant others. Judging by his last word, “Rosebud,” the most important piece of his life is memory from his childhood. Although his life is changed for what appears to be better, from a materialistic viewpoint, it actually leaves him vulnerable and alone. Kane’s life is ultimately destructed by his lust to fulfill the American dream of fame, power and wealth. The inevitable struggle of Kane is reflective of the struggle of many must confront in this materialistic world, as one on his or her quest to find the true meaning of
In Citizen Kane, Welles is attempting to expose the great influential political and social power that someone has as the head of many newspaper chains. This narrative drama explains the life of Kane and how different people viewed it. From the way the way the characters were telling the story to the way shadows, lighting and the laco of color was used, this film fits into the drama genre. Being the “greatest film of all time”, Citizen Kane brings the the world of newspaper tycoons to
Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane is a revolutionary film. Although it might not look like much to the modern viewer, many aspects of the film were the first of their kind to appear and are still used today.
The absolutely stunning film, Citizen Kane (1941), is one of the world’s most famous and highly renowned films. The film contains many remarkable scenes and cinematic techniques as well as innovations. Within this well-known film, Orson Welles (director) portrays many stylistic features and fundamentals of cinematography. The scene of Charles Foster Kane and his wife, Susan, at Xanadu shows the dominance that Kane bears over people in general as well as Susan specifically. Throughout the film, Orson Welles continues to convey the message of Susan’s inferiority to Mr. Kane. Also, Welles furthers the image of how demanding Kane is of Susan and many others. Mr. Welles conveys the message that Kane has suffered a hard life, and will
Mise en Scene are used in every aspects of filmmaking. The term refers to the overall look and feel of