Written on the Wind Mise-en-scene Douglas Sirk’s 1956 melodrama Written on the Wind is a film about the façade of wealth and materialism, explored through a tangled relationship between two wealthy siblings, a geologist, and a secretary. The Hadleys are the children of an oil tycoon. Kyle’s allows his insecurities to conflict with his marriage with Lucy and his best friend Mitch. Meanwhile, the promiscuous Marylee wants Mitch, but is rejected by him. Sirk explores these themes visually, where style and aesthetics become the film’s substance. He succeeds in elevating the genre by subverting conventions through hidden visual details that add meaning the story. Sirk skillfully conveys the contrast between the Hadley family and Lucy and Mitch …show more content…
However, Kyle’s grey suit is deceiving. He is not a modest office worker like Lucy, but instead an insecure yet spoiled playboy who lives off of his father’s wealth. His grey suits are used to compensate for his own insecurities, making him seem more like an independent businessman. As Lucy begins to feel more affection towards Mitch, her wardrobe shifts from blues and greys, to the same earthy brown tones as Mitch. Marylee’s wardrobe consists of bright pink and red tones that accentuate her promiscuous behavior. This also stems from insecurity as well. Marylee longs for Mitch’s affection, and when he rejects Mitch’s advances, she compensates it with her promiscuity. The film’s ironic ending adds another layer to her character. After the death of her brother and father, Marylee is positioned in the middle of the frame wearing the grey suit of patriarchal power as she mournfully strokes the model of the oil derrick while a portrait of her father looms over her almost like a reflection of her at that moment. This last shot brings her arc to a full circle. She is meant to take over her father’s reign, abandon her old life, and become a more “masculine” figure to run the