The anatomy of a murder is a film which brings to the forefront themes which were considered taboo in the 1950s: courtroom drama, murder, rape, and women's sexuality. Jazz during this time period in turn was used to express sexuality, drama, and violence. These two elements of the film then, go hand in hand. The jazz music used in the movie, although not used during the courtroom scenes, is used during points of the film in which sexuality and intensity are desired. For example, jazz music is always playing at the bar in which Barney worked, the place where he plays pinball with Laura, the place where he is killed by Manion. All of these moments of intensity are mirrored by the jazz music playing in the background.
While the jazz music is used as underscoring in the some parts of the movie but overall it is used as diagetic music. For instance, Paul plays the piano at the beginning of the movie, Laura plays jazz records when she visits Paul's home, and jazz music is continually playing at Barney's bar. Underscoring occurs rarely in comparison to the volume of diagetic music used. The use of diagetic music directs the viewer to perceive the plot and the lives of the characters as just as real and dramatic as the jazz music that fills their lives.
Something unique about the music in the film is the way in which it starts at the beginning of a scene but doesn't always end at the appropriate time. The music seems to spill over from scene to scene. For instance, when Paul meets Laura outside of the jail by her car, jazz music is playing as an underscore. When they begin to speak, it is expected that the music would end but it in fact does not. It continues for a few seconds as they converse. Similarly, when Paul enters his house and Laura is playing his records, he addresses her but the music is still playing since he has to physically go turn off the record. In these ways, the music breaks the barrier of simply background music or underscoring but becomes part of the characters' lives.
In effect, the jazz music used in the film is quite important as well as appropriate. It gives the film the intensity and sexuality it needs without being too obvious or cliche.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Robin Hood
What makes The Adventures of Robin Hood a classic Hollywood film score? From start to end there is full orchestral music, giving the movie an over the top, intense musical sound. At the beginning the overture is supplemented with a full orchestra giving the start a triumphant and significant tone. From this point on music plays a huge role in the movie, giving it meaning as well as aiding in the triumphant, loud, bold style and plot of the film.
Aside from underscoring a large portion of the movie, the music is also used in other various ways. In many scenes music is played in sequences: short tunes played over and over in differing pitches. This allows for tension to build, for the viewer to anticipate something and it also gives the filmmaker space to let the plot unfold without losing the attention of the viewer. For example, when Robin Hood escapes the hall of Prince John and his men are chasing him, sequences are used over and over anticipating whether Robin Hood will be found and giving the plot time to unfold.
Illustration is also used frequently in the film. For example, when Robin Hood draws an arrow in the forest the strings in the orchestral music also pulls a long note mirroring the action of the character. Near the end also the music mirrors the sword fight going on playing a score that has similar notes and tempo as the swords themselves.
While there are a few instances of diagetic music, for the majority of the movie music is used exclusively in the underscore. This is what makes the movie a blockbuster, an over the top film that brings all the emotions and cliches of Hollywood and extravagant movie plots. The full orchestra and large, loud sound of the music gives the movie the exact feeling it needs.
Aside from underscoring a large portion of the movie, the music is also used in other various ways. In many scenes music is played in sequences: short tunes played over and over in differing pitches. This allows for tension to build, for the viewer to anticipate something and it also gives the filmmaker space to let the plot unfold without losing the attention of the viewer. For example, when Robin Hood escapes the hall of Prince John and his men are chasing him, sequences are used over and over anticipating whether Robin Hood will be found and giving the plot time to unfold.
Illustration is also used frequently in the film. For example, when Robin Hood draws an arrow in the forest the strings in the orchestral music also pulls a long note mirroring the action of the character. Near the end also the music mirrors the sword fight going on playing a score that has similar notes and tempo as the swords themselves.
While there are a few instances of diagetic music, for the majority of the movie music is used exclusively in the underscore. This is what makes the movie a blockbuster, an over the top film that brings all the emotions and cliches of Hollywood and extravagant movie plots. The full orchestra and large, loud sound of the music gives the movie the exact feeling it needs.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Casablanca
Music is an integral element in the movie Casablanca. It is the vehicle for introducing certain tones and dramatic moments as well as flashbacks. The film itself is one of mystery, danger, romance; music only adds to these elements and heightens their intensity. One important aspect of the music is the prevalence of diagetic music, that which both audience and actors can hear.
The most important and frequent of the diagetic music is the song "As Time Goes By," the song which represents Ilsa and Rick's past romance. This song plays many times throughout the movie by Sam the piano player in the diagetic manner. It first makes an appearance when Ilsa comes to Rick's bar and sees her old friend Sam. As he plays it, Ricks himself enters and he and Ilsa lock eyes, allowing the audience to see the connection between the two, the connection that is strengthened by the song that is playing. Later on, Rick asks Sam to play it for him while he is reminiscing about Ilsa and lamenting about seeing her again. Whenever this song plays the audience knows that it represents the lost love of Rick and Ilsa, and brings whatever dramatic moment they are in back to the old days of their love.
Other types of diagetic music also play a significant role. Sam is constantly playing piano throughout the movie, whenever a scene takes place in the bar area. Rick or the police chiefs may be having a serious, dramatic conversation, the camera might pan over the outside with guards and planes, but whenever the scene returns to Rick's cafe the piano keeps playing. This establishes the theme of Rick's cafe overall: that it is an escape from the outside world, an escape from the war and tragedy that is going on outside. As long as the people stay at Rick's, listening to the piano and drinking and laughing, they don't have to deal with the hardships and reality of life. Even after gun shots are fired in the bar, the piano keeps on playing like nothing happened, keeping everyone in the fantasy world of Rick's cafe.
As far as the underscore is concerned, several different tunes are used for plot transitions. Dramatic. high pitched music plays when the planes fly over Casablanca as well as during Rick's flashback to Paris when the occupation is coming in. This kind of underscore is used to signal to the audience the danger and intensity the scene carries with it. Similarly, slow paced, lower pitched music is used to invoke a love scene or a tender moment. Finally at the end of the film, the underscore plays a slow, yet somewhat upbeat tune to announce the end as well as a resolution to the plot.
Overall, music is a very important element in the movie Casablanca. It announces major transitions and signals emotions in the characters and audience. Without the signature song "As Tome Goes By," Rick and Ilsa's love connection and pain of lost love would not have been as deeply felt by both the characters themselves and the audience as well. The piano playing of Sam constantly reminds the audience of the location and plot of the film. And finally, the underscore helps the audience to know when an important or dramatic scene is taking place. Without the music, Casablanca might not have been the outstanding film that it is.
The most important and frequent of the diagetic music is the song "As Time Goes By," the song which represents Ilsa and Rick's past romance. This song plays many times throughout the movie by Sam the piano player in the diagetic manner. It first makes an appearance when Ilsa comes to Rick's bar and sees her old friend Sam. As he plays it, Ricks himself enters and he and Ilsa lock eyes, allowing the audience to see the connection between the two, the connection that is strengthened by the song that is playing. Later on, Rick asks Sam to play it for him while he is reminiscing about Ilsa and lamenting about seeing her again. Whenever this song plays the audience knows that it represents the lost love of Rick and Ilsa, and brings whatever dramatic moment they are in back to the old days of their love.
Other types of diagetic music also play a significant role. Sam is constantly playing piano throughout the movie, whenever a scene takes place in the bar area. Rick or the police chiefs may be having a serious, dramatic conversation, the camera might pan over the outside with guards and planes, but whenever the scene returns to Rick's cafe the piano keeps playing. This establishes the theme of Rick's cafe overall: that it is an escape from the outside world, an escape from the war and tragedy that is going on outside. As long as the people stay at Rick's, listening to the piano and drinking and laughing, they don't have to deal with the hardships and reality of life. Even after gun shots are fired in the bar, the piano keeps on playing like nothing happened, keeping everyone in the fantasy world of Rick's cafe.
As far as the underscore is concerned, several different tunes are used for plot transitions. Dramatic. high pitched music plays when the planes fly over Casablanca as well as during Rick's flashback to Paris when the occupation is coming in. This kind of underscore is used to signal to the audience the danger and intensity the scene carries with it. Similarly, slow paced, lower pitched music is used to invoke a love scene or a tender moment. Finally at the end of the film, the underscore plays a slow, yet somewhat upbeat tune to announce the end as well as a resolution to the plot.
Overall, music is a very important element in the movie Casablanca. It announces major transitions and signals emotions in the characters and audience. Without the signature song "As Tome Goes By," Rick and Ilsa's love connection and pain of lost love would not have been as deeply felt by both the characters themselves and the audience as well. The piano playing of Sam constantly reminds the audience of the location and plot of the film. And finally, the underscore helps the audience to know when an important or dramatic scene is taking place. Without the music, Casablanca might not have been the outstanding film that it is.
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