It is easy to overlook the importance of subtlety in film today. After all, we are a society that worships immediate gratification. The result? Films that glorify sex, violence, torture, murder, infidelity, homosexuality, lewdness, and gore. That is not art. It is a cheap turn-on.
Needless to say, one of the great artistic masters of film is Alfred Hitchcock. I have always had a great respect for this man, despite his eccentric and often frightening obsessions and oddities. Why? Because he viewed film as a true art form. An opportunity to relate the intricacies of the human mind. And he did so, again and again, with deceptively obvious genius.
I say deceptively obvious because Hitchcock never misses a moment. Although his story lines are rooted in psychological complexities, he shows us exactly what we are meant to see. The camera is our world: every spoken word, every shadow, every movement, every musical note...ALL serve to drive the plot, his plot, in the right direction. Even the suspenseful moments in his films are captured with an effortless grace. And his stories always unfold with meticulous detail and precision, like watching a beautiful dance.
My favorite Hitchcock film is Rear Window. Here, Hitchcock proves his artistic genius by filming a murder/suspense within the confines of a single room. And he does it all with subtle class (which bears zero resemblance to the trashy suspense movies spewed out today).
In the following scene, Grace Kelly is introduced. Although this portion of the movie does not speak for the white-knuckled moments to come, it does provide a perfect example of an onscreen romance as art. I think I can safely say that this is one of the most beautifully choreographed kiss scenes in all of film. It begins quietly, with a slow pan around the apartment complex. It is early evening. A woman is quietly singing scales in the distance. Cut to a high-angled close up of James Stewart, asleep. A shadow softly rises over his body. Cut to low-angled shot of Grace, beautiful. Cut back and forth between Grace and Jim, eyes locked. Finally, the kiss, shot with a soft lens in slow motion. It is perfect. Hitchcock would approve of no less.
Here's to you, Alfred Hitchcock, for creating art through your films.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
A Kiss...
Posted by Simply Sarah at Thursday, May 21, 2009
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2 comments:
Great write up, Sarah. I'm no theatre expert, but I'd have to agree with what you said. After reading the blog and then watching the clip I'd say you summed it up perfectly. If I didn't know better I'd think you studied this stuff or something. Weird!??!
Can't argue with Hitch..But I think two very excellent "kiss scenes" are in Its a Wonderful life where Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed are talking to or listening together on the telephone's one line to an old friend. The heat and passion just builds! Also another Kissing scene is one that you don't even see the kiss! Its in An affair to Remember and Cary Grand and Deborah Kerr are meeting on the stair of the ocean liner and you only see their legs! Gets me every time!
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