ipl-logo

Understanding Film: Mise-En-Scene's Role In Slapstick Comedy

1086 Words5 Pages

Lily Reslink
Dr. Minnis
COMM 221: Understanding Film
24 April 2023
Mise-en-scene’s Role in Mr. Hulot’s Holiday’s Slapstick Comedy
Despite having sound, the structure of Mr. Hulot’s Holiday (1953) is highly reminiscent of a silent film. Sound plays such a minimal role that the film that the visual components naturally rise to prominence. With a film so reliant on what is in front of the camera to convey meaning in each scene, mise-en-scene in Mr. Hulot’s Holiday becomes the primary element in fulfilling the film’s purpose as a slapstick comedy. Mr. Hulot’s Holiday does not have a plot in the conventional sense of Hollywood narrative films. Instead, the film cuts between a series of unfortunate events that seem to follow Mr. Hulot wherever he …show more content…

Hulot’s vacation progresses, visually-driven gags continue to serve as the foundation of the film. Mise-en-scene contributes to these in several examples. The scene where Mr. Hulot rides on a boat that is cut in half is a clear-cut example of mise-en-scene’s role in creating comedic gags. Gags rely on presenting something unexpected and this scene does just that. The two halves of the boat folded over each other with Mr. Hulot struggling to free himself creates the illusion of some kind of shark or sea monster opening and closing its jaw. Given the pattern established in the film thus far, the audience likely presumes that something will go horribly wrong but they would have no way of knowing it would be exactly that. The shot that follows includes a distant shot of beach-goers, mostly children, running away in terror. The public beach setting is indispensable to this scene’s comedic effect. Having seen the build-up to the boat being cut in half and Mr. Hulot riding away on it, this outcome is more humorous to the audience because of the pure ridiculousness of the situation. This creative use props in front of the camera is indicative of the mise-en-scene’s effective role in the film’s comedy. While this gag obviously had no intention of tricking the audience, each part of the set up of this scene in front of the camera enhanced the ultimate humor of tricking the

Show More
Related
686 Words | 3 Pages

While some points were exaggerated, other situations were completely different from the way life was. Themes of chivalry, education and learning, feudalism, and religion were satirized through the many jokes in the film. Even though a majority of the scenes in the movie were fictional, there were true circumstances present

Read More
504 Words | 3 Pages

With each scene being completely disconnected from the previous one the set had to change around every time a new scene was starting. Including two turntables and backdrop where projection could be made, helped the scene to feel more realistic to the location the act was supposed to take place. The scene “What?!?” had the turntable set to where there was a door and a park bench. The backdrop had a house projected on it. These elements made the audience understand that the scene was taking place outside of a house.

Read More
1668 Words | 7 Pages

In the play, “A Raisin in the Sun” we see a lot of arguments and disagreements among the members of the family. After viewing two versions of Act 1, Scene 1 of “A Raisin in the Sun” the 1961 version film most effectively uses cinematic techniques to portray the tension among the members of the Younger family that are evident in the

Read More
2119 Words | 9 Pages

There were three cinematic adaptations of this play, which includes Cyrano (1950), Roxanne, and Let it Shine. Each of these movie adaptations showed similarity to the original play, while some were more faithful than others. The entire mise-en-scẻne is the filmmaker’s choice and what they decide is right for their

Read More
988 Words | 4 Pages

This incredibly humorous idea, of the stag and hen night before the wedding, gives the audience a clear and simple over view of the lifestyles present in the 1980s, as characters throughout the play give out continuous hints regarding: sexual references, alcohol and sexism, which could have been a personal choice by Rourke to present

Read More
1617 Words | 7 Pages

Mise-en-scéne is crucial to classical Hollywood as it defined an era ‘that in its primary sense and effect, shows us something; it is a means of display. ' (Martin 2014, p.XV). Billy Wilder 's Sunset Boulevard (Wilder 1950) will be analysed and explored with its techniques and styles of mise-en-scéne and how this aspect of filmmaking establishes together as a cohesive whole with the narrative themes as classical Hollywood storytelling. Features of the film 's sense of space and time, setting, motifs, characters, and character goals will be explored and how they affect the characterisation, structure, and three-act organisation.

Read More
1484 Words | 6 Pages

The scene uses logos by appealing to the voice of reason in the audience’s minds. It provides information regarding the ship’s situation, such as the reality that there are no lifeboats while the boat is sinking, creating a sense of despair and hopelessness among the viewers (Cameron). As a result, the scene convinces the intended audience of the situation’s tragic reality as well as the dire repercussions of human error. The factual information from the audience’s dialogue regarding the disaster makes viewers understand the grave reality of the situation. Additionally, the film utilizes logos by showing the viewers the ship’s structural and technical failures, such as the insufficient number of lifeboats and damaged compartments, emphasizing the disaster’s tragic

Read More
615 Words | 3 Pages

Double Indemnity Clip Analysis The purpose of this paper is to explain and describe the stylistic choices of the selected clip from the movie Double Indemnity (1944.) Consisting of five shots, the features of the clip serve to cast feelings of uncertainty and intrigue upon the viewer. The introductory shot of the clip starts as two men enter an elevator.

Read More
835 Words | 4 Pages

The two strike Huck as dishonest con-men skipping through the positions of life. Along with connecting this use of satirizing back to the 1800's, it is similar to the 1990 blockbuster film, Home Alone. Harry plans on robbing a rich family who is going away on vacation. As Harry enters the home, he is impersonating a police officer as the family is franticly rushing to pack and head out the door. Harry looks to fool the family as he scouts the home of their security systems and such.

Read More
778 Words | 4 Pages

The Walt Disney film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” is a classic comedy film that was released during the year 1988. This classic movie’s plot is set in a world where cartoon characters exist alongside humans and follows the story of a private detective who goes by the name of Eddie Valiant, who had been hired by R.K. Maroon to investigate a case involving no other than famous cartoon character, Roger Rabbit. The movie ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” is a great example of a classic comedy because of the film’s ability to combine elements of humor, satire, and parody in a way that makes the film a unique and entertaining experience for its audience. One of the key elements of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”

Read More
807 Words | 4 Pages

Some people find violence amusing, others do not. Amusement through violent action between characters is called slapstick comedy. Happy Gilmore uses an iota amount of slapstick comedy through beating up others, unintentionally hurting others, others hurting him, and hurting himself. Happy Gilmore uses slapstick comedy through beating up characters. He beats up his young caddie. "

Read More
724 Words | 3 Pages

Limited for most of the time to two sets, the film 's great strength is the interplay between the two leads, who play former spouses having a tough time remaining apart. It also boasts one of the blackest comedy situations ever, as a small-time loser finds himself up against city corruption and imminent execution. Clever, witty and extremely satisfying, this marvelous film is still achingly funny

Read More
709 Words | 3 Pages

This essay will examine the functions and effects of cinematography in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws Jaws follows the police chief Brody, along with scientist Hooper and shark hunter Quint, in their attempt to protect the town of Amity against a Great White shark that is terrorising beachgoers. It was adapted from Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel of the same name. Following its release in summer 1975, Jaws became the highest grossing film As Jaws was one of the first motion pictures to be shot partially on water, the production came across issues with the prosthetic shark, and as a result, Spielberg decided to only suggest the appearance of the shark as often as possible, as opposed to showing the prosthetic body during attacks. This sparing use of the prosthetic, and primary focus instead on creating suspense and dread without the shark visibly present, proved to be an inspired decision, as Jaws is considered a pioneering achievement in the horror genre.

Read More
747 Words | 3 Pages

One of the several themes that Priestley has introduced to the play is ‘Time,’ and this theme not only interlinks with some others like ‘Age and Youth’ and ‘Social Responsibility,’ but also introduces a very important drama technique into the play for the audience called the dramatic irony. In Act One, Mr. Birling, as a representative of the older generation of the play and the head of the family, is talking to the others about the progress humanity is making and mentions the liner, Titanic saying it is “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.” The word ‘absolutely’ in this context shows just how confident in his words Mr. Birling is, without understanding that it will all change. As the play is set back in 1912, but is performed much later in 1946, after the audience knows, and finds it ironic that Mr. Birling, thinking he is an old, wise man says such nonsense, as time will show.

Read More
1686 Words | 7 Pages

“Godotmania” Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot completely changed our perception of theatre as a whole, thanks in part to the unique and unusual path it took on the wide map of theater. It is perhaps those two words, unique and unusual, that best describe everything we associate with the drama, from its obscure plot and characters, all the way to the stories told of its curious production history. It is safe to assume that when Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot was first released, nobody had expected that a nonsensical ‘adventures’ of two senile old men and their ludicrous inactivity would go on to have such an impact on theater. Ever since its release, the play had been treated as somewhat of an outlier, giving headaches to producers and actors alike. However, the few that had successfully tackled the production of such an absurd drama, can vouch for its importance.

Read More

More about Understanding Film: Mise-En-Scene's Role In Slapstick Comedy

Related Topics

Open Document