Scene Analysis

The specific scene that really heightened my interest in this movie starts with around fifteen minutes left in the film. It is the scene where Norman Maine is listening in on the conversation that Esther and Oliver are having regarding how she will give up her career and take care of Norman. It is obvious that Esther feels a lot of guilt for being away from him so much and that she believes had she been around more, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. However, Oliver urges her to continue her work because she has worked so hard and it’s her life to live. Ultimately, she decides to give it up anyway because of her love for her husband. What makes this scene so interesting is the way it is shot. While most of the movie focuses on full shots of all the actors and actresses faces, this one scene is different. A more targeted point of focus requires the viewer to dig deeper and to analyze more than what is just being displayed on the screen.

            Norman is laying down in in bed while Esther and Oliver are talking in the other room. However, the doors to the bedroom are slightly left ajar and the light is shining in on Norman. The crack in the door is only large enough for a small beam of light but it shines directly onto his eyes and his eyes alone. Other than Norman’s eyes the entire shot is complete darkness. This forces us as the viewers to focus solely on his eyes and nothing else. This creates somewhat of an anxious feeling and really makes the viewer feel that he is doing some intense thinking. His eyes act as a window to what he is feeling inside, which sometimes can be overlooked when there is a whole face and body language to observe as well. As stated prior, using this lighting it forces all the attention to his eyes. There is certainly a feeling of uneasiness with a strong sense of defeat as well. Amidst all that there is also a look to conviction as well, like he has made up his mind on what he needs to do. Which as the scene comes to close involves him walking out of their beach front house and downing himself in the ocean. The style in which the scene is shot not only gives unique perspective to the thought of the character, but also leads seamlessly into his actions taken.