Auteur theory looking at Hitchcock

1. Auteur Theory

2. FS3 - coursework
 The
small-scale research project requires you to
produce a presentation script (1000 – 1500 words)
 The research will stem from on of the following topics:
 A star/performer
 Genre – this may focus on a single genre or a range
of genres
 Technology – focusing on the impact or
development of a particular technology.
 Institutional – this may focus on a national cinema
context
 Auteur – focusing on the auteur, either
individual, collaborative

3. What’s Auteur all about?
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Auteur theory was articulated in the 1950s by French film critics
including Francois Truffaut (later went on to direct)
The concept describes the mark of a film director also known
as the author who has control over:
thematic or stylistic consistencies
personal aesthetic vision
recurring themes
established technique
a defined view of the world
and a significant degree of control over production.
The works of an auteur director are stamped by the personality
and unique artistic vision of its creator
Their films are recognisable and distinctive because of their
specific style
In auteur films, it is the director who controls the artistic
statement, takes credit for the film and is responsible for
attracting the audience.

4. Who can you name
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Can you think of any directors who have very
distinct styles
E.g. M. Night Shyamalan who often writes,
produces, directs and acts in his very mysterious
films such as:
The Sixth Sense
Unbreakable
The Village
The Happening
Signs
Lady in the Water

5. Alfred Hitchcock
 Some
consider his Auteur status to be:
 the master of mystery and suspense
 his films play with the audience's nerves
 sexual or tabooed areas assume central or implicit
places in his work
 there is a persistent element of black comedy,
 eccentric characterisations.
 Hitchcock was influenced by the German
Expressionists, and admired their ability "to express
ideas in purely visual terms“
 It is this visual expression of thought and psychology
that Hitchcock achieves throughout his films.

6. Hitchcock and cinematic
technique
 His
technical signature includes:
 use of camera viewpoints
 elaborate editing
 soundtrack to build suspense
 He also places great focus on the creation
of set pieces where he is able to exercise
his talent for detail and suspense.

7. Rear Window - MacGuffin
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Rear Window makes great use of Hitchcock’s concept of
the MacGuffin
Something pursued by characters in the film but having little
meaning to the audience or relevance to the film except
as a plot contrivance.
Common examples are:
money,
victory,
glory,
survival,
a source of power,
a potential threat,
a mysterious but highly desired item or object,
or simply something that is entirely unexplained.

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The MacGuffin is common in films, especially
thrillers.
Usually the MacGuffin is the central focus of
the film in the first act, and then declines in
importance as the struggles and motivations
of characters play out.
It may come back into play at the climax of
the story, but sometimes the MacGuffin is
actually forgotten by the end of the story.
What is this film’s MacGuffin and how is it
used? Here is a hint: in this film the MacGuffin
is an action, not a physical object.

9. Rear Window - Voyeurism
A
recurring psychological theme in
Hitchcock’s films is voyeurism—
 deriving pleasure, particularly sexual
pleasure, from watching rather than
doing
 this theme is more overt in Rear Window
than in other Hitchcock films.
 Rear Window is filmed entirely from the
apartment and mostly Jeffries POV.