The idea of mise-en-scene refers to the idea of using a variety of visual components in films to help an audience grasp a better understanding of the meaning behind a film, a film’s characters, situations, etc. For example, this technique involves the usage of costumes, makeup, sets, props, lighting, weather, character movement, etc. The use of mise-en-scene shows the audience the importance behind characters and situation as seen in the production of Singin’ in the Rain (1952) directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. In this entertaining film, some examples where mise-en-scene applies is in the introductory scene where the big Hollywood premiere is shown, through the juxtaposition of two women, Kathy and Lina, and the scene where the main …show more content…
Throughout the film, Lina is a movie star who is presented as a stereotypical dumb blonde from that time as she dresses very extravagantly and wears lots of flashy makeup. The way Lina presents herself and acts strongly reflects her arrogance and fakeness. Kathy’s character, on the other hand, juxtaposes Lina’s character. Unlike Lina, Kathy is humble, kind, dresses more simple, truthful, and authentic. One scene that reflects Kathy’s authenticity is when she attempted to throw the cake at Don, but hits Lina instead. This scene reveals that Kathy is not afraid to stand up for herself and will continue to chase her dreams one step at a time. One major difference between Kathy and Lina is their voices. Lina has a high-pitched, obnoxious voice that was not good for the sound films whereas Kathy has a more beautiful and pleasing voice. Although Lina dresses more like a big, famous movie star, her voice is not nearly as beautiful as Kathy’s, who dresses simpler and does not need flashy outfits and makeup to be successful. The film’s use of mise-en-scene with the visual juxtaposition of Kathy and Lina shows how the director’s choice of visual appearance of characters helps the audience grasp a better understanding behind the characters’ actions and