During 1920s - 1930s a film which would shape modern day thriller films was produced 'The Lodger' produced by Alfred Hichcock. This film was a Jack the Ripper type film full of suspense and excitement. It uses very simple and basic editing techniques becasue the equipment was very basic. It was a black and white film slient film and was rated a 12 certificate. The 12 certificate may suggest that it is not that scary and thrilling but this may have been due to the lack technological equipment involved. Another film during this era was 'Blackmail' again produced by Alfred Hichcock and was noturiously known for being Hitchcocks and Britians first sound film. This film crosses both the crime category and thriller, but mainly due to the storyline falls under a thriller film.
During the 1940s - Hitchcock produced yet another film which would hit the limelight and achieve great things, it won an oscar for its greatness. The film was produced by David O. Selznick and he won an Academy award for best picture in producing 'Rebecca'. This film was so successful because it mastered suspense and got the audience on the edge of their seats. Secondly George Cukor produced two films during the 40s which were a 'great hit' one being called 'Gaslight' which was a phycological thriller about a husband who plotted to make his own wife go insane in order to inherit her inheritance. The second film that he directed was called 'Noir' which was about a murder investigation.
During the 1950s - In the 1950s a thriller made by other than Hitchcock was 'Niagara' by Henry Hathaway this film stared the legendary Marilyn Monroe. The storyline contains the normal contents of a thriller, such as the plotting of murder who the killer happens to be Marilyn Monroe. Another film produced within this era would be by the dominant film producer at the time Hitchcock. It was
a classic film called 'stranger on a train' about two train passengers that who both staged a battle of wits and traded murderes with each other. During this era Hitchcock was in the peak of his career and has recieved many global awards, editing and camera shots were steadily progressing and getting more complex.
My research will help me with my own narrative because I am able to use some slightly older techniques used in films such as 'Phsyco' to still make the audience feel engaged and on suspense throughout my narrative clip. In the film Phsyco editing styles such as 'Low key lighting' are used to create a sense of suspense amongst the audience and also when something un suspected happened the audience would feel shocked.
Hannibal - Film had a big budget meaning that the people employed could be highly skilled resulting in a better overall film produced. In this film the location was the key filmed in both USA, and Italy where specific needs of the film were catered for. The fact that the film made over 35% of all money made in the first opening would suggest that the trailers and clips must have been affective.
This post demonstrates some understanding of how thriller have changed over the years. You have included a variety of examples to support the points that you have made. However, screenshots are needed to support the points that you have made on the conventions.
ReplyDeleteTo develop this post, you need to consider further thriller films from the years, to demonstrate more knowledge
The box office information that you have included above, helps to demonstrate further understanding of the thriller genre. But further discussion of the narratives and audience figures are needed, to show further understanding of how thriller films appeal to an audience.
ReplyDeleteThis can be achieved, by considering 3 different films and the narratives. Consider why the audience are interested in watching these types of films in more detail