The Untouchables scene analysis

The Untouchables:

1.      First part of shoot out scene.

·         Camera – Long shot. Establishing shot, showing the location. Framing of the large clock and characters, showing the importance. Main character is high up with a low camera angle, showing his power over everybody else. Woman and baby are shown from a high camera angle, showing their defencelessness and vulnerability.

·         Lighting – High key lighting.

·         Editing – Normal length cuts, showing realism.

·         Mise-en-scene – Clothing establishes the era, suits and hats. Main character is wearing a grey suit, showing that he is not all evil and has a sense of morality. Woman character is wearing a red coat, showing the danger, which is about to come, she also stands out of the crowd.

·         Sound – Diegetic sound of a baby crying. Diegetic speech. Diegetic tannoy and footsteps. Non diegetic sound, creating suspense. Non diegetic music has a childlike feel to it, suggesting the innocence of the child.

2.      Tension mounts.

·         Camera – Close up of the clock, indicating that he is running out of time and something is about to happen.

·         Lighting – High key lighting.

·         Editing – Normal length, showing realism.

·         Mise-en-scene – Baby begins to cry as the villains walk in. Bandage over mans nose and bruised face indicates that he is a villain, in addition to a close up/extreme close up of him and tense music.

·         Sound – Non diegetic sound of the childlike music and other instrumental music building tension.

3.      Shooting begins.

·         Camera – Low angle of the main character to show that he has power of the fight and will he heroic in saving the baby. When the main character has a gun pointed at another character, the camera angle is high, showing his lack of power.

·         Lighting – High key lighting.

·         Editing – Slow motion when the shooting begins and the baby’s pram rolls down the stairs. Parallel shots.

·         Mise-en-scene – Close up on the handle of the child’s pram as the main character lets go, building tension and foreshadows what is going to happen. The bookkeeper is wearing circular glasses, a bowler hat, a grey suit and has a moustache, showing his wealth. Villain is sweating, showing the pressure that he is under and that her is perhaps scared. Villainous characters are wearing black clothes, leather gloves and have cigarettes, with connotations of crime and gangs.

·         Sound – Woman is muted when shouting “my baby” and is in slow motion, showing her pleas are being ignored as the other characters are occupied fighting. Not much speech whilst fighting.