Alfred Hitcocks - Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Shadow of a Doubt

On the 28th of January I watched this movie at home it is about a teenage girl who is awaiting the arrival of her uncle. Two men arrive at the door claiming to be journalists, one of them talks to her in private and tells Charlie (the teenage girl), that her uncle is a murderer, they suspect he is known as a 'Merry widow murderer', - Charlie's uncle seduces,murderers and robs wealthy widowed women.

When he comes to stay she notices his odd behaviour, one evening he even mentions how he despises rich widows. Her uncle confronts Charlie on her behaviour, (as she has distanced herself from him), and ends up telling her that he is the 'Merry widow murderer.' She promises to keep it a secret, only if he leaves soon. Shortly after, she has accidents, falling down the stairs, locked in a garage that has flames coming out a car.

Analysis of the title sequence

People are dancing in a ballroom while titles are appearing, the camera fades into a landscape of a bridge, then slowly pans to the side, where you can see a river. It fades onto an abandoned car, then onto children playing on a road. There is a high angle shot of a window, which fades into a high angle close up, of the window. It fades onto a man, lying on his bed, the camera zooms towards him. You can see him playing with his cigar. The camera pans towards a small table which has a stash of money then tilts down, revealing more money on the floor.

This immediately present a wealthy person. His facial expression shows that he is in deep thought, his eyes are closed which seems his concentrating on something.

While the titles are going on, there is non-diegetic instrumental music, it continues onto the scene of the landscape but quiets down, and stops. As it stops, new music starts immediately, this flows really well. While the camera pans round, the music gets faster and more upbeat. This makes the audience move with the landscape, it makes them feel that they are actually at the scene. When the scene fades onto the street scene, the music gets quieter and slower. You can hear diegetic sounds of children playing (laughing and talking). The music increases in volume, and gets even louder when you see the image of the window. When the man is introduced, the music decreases in volume. While the camera is zooming towards the man, there is a single music note and you can hear bells. When the camera tilts down the music continues.