From: stella@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 1, 2010 at 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: SCHEDULED FILM FOR 12 MARCH 2010
To: rdca25@gmail.com
Mamie, Eileen, Tiffany, Chin, Jeanette, Joan, Candy Jiang, Anne, Holly, Juliet, Abby, Alice Wang, Alice Huang, April, Joseph, Vicky Shih, Candy Cheng, Carolina, Vicky Lin, Hilary, Tina, Karen, Max, Ida, Sophia, Vicky Liu, Cherry, Violet, John, Hansel, Emily, Alina, Vivian Yang, Mandy, Vincent, Ivana, Finna, Christine, Katherine, Christopher, Selena, Anna, Hazel, Tiger, Irving, Vivian Lin, Minnie,
MamieIn the beginning of Oliver Twist, the moving cloud and the twisted branch create a spooky atmosphere. It looks like something bad is going to happen. Without the music accompanying, this scene is kind of long but we can focus on the sky and the tree. I think the dark sky has the symbolic meaning: adversity and unseen future.
In addition, Low-key lighting is the major manner used in this film, making the idea of social corruption more clearly. We can only see the actors’ face while the background is complete black. As a result, the facial expression is quite important in this film. I extremely like the contrast between the privileged and the orphan. High-angle shot makes the orphans look smaller and inferior, while we cannot see the privileged people’s body since they are superior and authoritative. We all know that high-angle shot can show someone is in a danger situation but we see the opposite use of this in another scene. With their mouth watering, the orphans look at the luxurious meal. Although the orphans are in a high situation, they still live a poor life. This is very ironic.
EileenThe plot of the movie always make me feel nervous and afraid that what will happen to Oliver Twist. Oliver Twist has been through the miserable childhood. However, in the end of the movie he finally found his rich grandfather and lived happily ever after. The movie sometimes is too dark to see clearly of the whole screen, but the brightest side usually is the thing that the movie wants us to see. In the film there are some contrastive scenes, the quiet council contrast to the noisy factory and the stormy weather contrast to the peaceful weather. The shots in the film also impressed me. When the children were stand in line to have the soup, they used the high angle. It seems that the children were wretched. When they used the high angle of the shot, it seems that person has lots of power to dominate the things. However sometimes the shots also can speak, audience can feel the things not only through the lines but also through the shots.
TiffanyFor this film, light plays an important role. To build miserable atmosphere, low-key light is used much more than high-key light. Before Twist comes across Mr. Brownlow, he leads hopeless life so that he always appears or vanishes in the dark―little light meaning little hope, delight, and happiness. However, everything becomes different after meeting Mr. Brownlow. Light usage in his grandfather’s house also changes into warmth as well as mildness. In addition, the scene which Twist first attends London, there are plenty of people and even animals like pigs, chickens, and sheep. Those animals which live stupid, blind, and hasty lives symbolize that people in London also make their living as the animals. The crowd is also familiar image at the end of this movie. The other thing I observe is that at first Twist’s lines are always “Yes, sir.” The continuous repetition of the line shows that Twist do not have power to control his life at all because he is an orphan.
ChinThis is quite a good and interesting movie. I like the beginning part that the light borrowed from the lighting to show the gate. I think such cinematography can be found in many movies, nowadays, especially those related with vampire. High angle shot shows the authority, it is clearly seen in the part that the children lining up to get their “food”. Back to the front part, we used to match the music to the beginning part, and the result is I like the part with music after I compared the scene without music. Another thing that I want to talk about is the cutting. I think some cuts are too sudden for me to combine the story with the coming scenes. For instance, the cut from the court(after the boy being caught) to the house of the Brownlow(the boy lied on the bed). I think some of these cuts are the defects of the movie. Besides of that, I think this is a good movie to study, especially lighting.
JeanetteAs a novel-adapted film, I think it express the plot and theme quite genuinely. I practically like the scene at the beginning—when Oliver Twist wants to have some more food. The director uses a sequence of shots to capture different people reaction—“What?”—after hearing Oliver’s asking. This technique creates an amusing effect, because I get to see the astonishment all the characters express in a row (one after another), instead of just a plain one.
JoanThe film, Oliver Twist, is really a special and touching one. In the beginning of the movie, the sky is very dark and thundering. Gradually, a long shot focusing on Twist’s mother shows not only his mother’s loneliness but also Twist’s throughout the movie. Because it is a black and white movie, the contrasting of light and color is an important thing. The high contrast can make people feel impressed as well as pay high attention to the film. Most of the time, the background is black and dark, but there are always some special lights on people’s body. For example, those lights are played on people’s chests, clothes, and faces, etc. What’s more, sometimes the light only focuses on a half of the face. And there are many high angle shots to show the different status. When the man and the woman calls Oliver Twist to talk to them, the director uses the high angle shot to show the different status of the two adults and Twister. As an
adopted child, Twist has no choice but obey what his master asks him to do. He is asked to meet a group of committee, and here, there is a slightly high angle shot to show his low status again and the man who goes there with him keeps saying that this child is an idiot. The high angle shot on the march is very ironical because a march is supposed to be very neat and ordered. However, those orphans are playing while they walk through the road. Another big contrast appears while the children and adults are eating dinner. Those children gobble the poor food. On the contrary, the adults enjoy the delicious food elegantly. In the end of the film, there is a big contrast to the beginning of the film; that is, the bright sky contrasts to the dark and thundering sky. The sound track also impresses me. Throughout the movie, there is no music. The director only uses some sound effects to show the natural sounds which are produced by the people or natural
circumstances. It’s really special!
Candy JiangDavid Lean, the director of this film, Oliver Twist, is a master in using special techniques of shooting. He used long shot and high- and low-angle shots to help us to read between the lines.
At the very beginning of Oliver Twist, right before the storm, the director composed a dark but beautiful scene with grayish and heavy clouds in the sky and a tilt shot of the mountain ridge. Here the director made good use of the effect of long shot to show and enhance the loneliness and the helplessness of the pregnant woman. Compared with the limitless sky and ground, that woman looks more insignificant and more solitary.
In the following story, high- and low-angle shots are used to indicate status. Every shot of orphans is high angle one, a typical shot to show the humble birth and low class. Also, there is a scene with a long line of orphans walking. In this scene, in addition to the high-angle shot, the frame contains the steel gate with sharp hooks at the top. This framing makes those orphans look not only humble but also more prisoner- and slaver-like. For those high-ranked officials or people in charge of orphans, the shot is of course the low-angle one. When Oliver asked for more meal, he was shot with high angle, the use of which is because of not only his height but also his social status; on the contrary, the response of those “nobler” men were shot with low angle with the same reason I mentioned before.
The angle of the shot is not the only method referring to humble birth. In one scene, Oliver was driven away from the table and asked to eat his meal at the corner by Noah. The framing here is Oliver sitting at the corner with a dog and both of them were eating about the same cold leftovers. The scene conveys the idea that Oliver was treated the same as those people treated that dog.
AnneOliver Twist, a little boy whose mother dead when he was born. He was brought up and in care of the woman ,Mrs. Mann. After he grown up and had the capability to work, they transferred him to a workhouse, the same place his mother worked before. Since then , he kept working until the day his relative found him. In the workhouse ,they provided him a little food and didn’t treat him well , so he decided to move to London. Olievr is innocent and no one to rely on in London. In order to live, he became a pick-pocket. Then there is a series of coincident and accident that brought him back to a happy life.
In the movie ,the director doesn’t like to use lots of music , sometimes make me feel the scene quite long. Besides, the director used some high angle shot , let me feel the same fear and the despair as the character did .There was a scene the old man taught Oliver how to be a pick-pocket it was immorality but the whole scene looked interesting and warming. As a child ,Oliver is brave and smart than any other .This is a good topic to encourage people.
HollyIn the film, the lighting is applied in many scenes. For example, at the beginning of the movie, a long shot taken in a field with the low-key lighting shows a woman’s lonely back, emphasizing on her isolation in the storm. As the thunder later provides the high-key lighting, the light makes focus on the woman’s pale and painful face, bringing out her facial expression in dramatic way. The high contrast of the lighting in the orphanage shows the miserable children with malnutrition; especially for Oliver, the high-key lighting stands out the little Oliver’s white and bony chest, put the emphasis on his pale body, which points out the bad meals and cares in the orphanage. It’s interesting that children’s faces are usually with the high key lighting in the film, while those evil-minded adults are with the low-key lighting most of the time. The audience can easily get the first impression of the character by the use of lighting, or we can say the director gives us this hint and intuition with purpose.
In addition to the lighting, the change of the angle makes the difference, too. In the orphanage, the low-angle shots are applied on the adults, showing their supreme authority and pride. High angle shots are for those little kids, standing out their fragility and helplessness. The scene of Oliver’s asking for more food to the cook is a good model of the angle shot. The high-angle shot emphasize on Oliver’s little body and face and his eyes are like a symbol of innocence and sincerity, a childlike characteristic; the low angle shots, however, spread out the administrators’ greed and selfish faces. Then a sequence of montage show their corruption and immorality with close-ups focusing on the adults’ big faces.
I love the ending of this film. The extreme high-key light symbolizes the beautiful domesticity for Oliver. The familiar image, the bride, is a symbol of connection. The connection among the orphanage, the coffin store, the pickpockets and the vicious headman are the dark sides in the society. This film is a direct stimulus of our life and the domesticity is the base of a stable society.
JulietIn my opinion, Guy Green is good at lighting. He makes a comparison between the slum area and Mr. Brownlow’s (Henry Stephenson) luxurious residence. As we can see, the slum area seems dark and uncomfortable all the time. On the contrary, when Oliver Twist (John Howard Davies) stays at Mr. Brownlow’s house, all scenes seem bright and joyful with high-key lighting. For me, this kind of arrangement actually helps audiences to differentiate distinct atmosphere and even to realize hidden meanings behind the scenes.
What’s more, I appreciate some contrasts used in the film. For instance, in the first shot, commissioners talk about orphans’ entertainments. However, in the next shot, we can find that those orphans are indeed forced to work hard in the factory. It is an irony. Audiences may be astonished after finding the fact in the second shot. For me, this editing successfully impresses audiences because it really makes a strong contrast. In addition, I want to recommend another contrast in the film. That is the two different eating scenes in the church. In the scene which orphans are eating their meal, we can see that everyone only have one bowl of soup. Compared with orphans, those adults in the church have a luxurious meal. How ironic it is! According to these two examples, I think that the director, David Lean, indeed makes impressive contrasts in this film.
AbbyPersonally I like the first part with the soundtrack. Because for the beginning, it’s a little bit long and everything is dull; thus if there is the help of the soundtrack, the audience may get the idea or feeling of the scenes easier. Music always can somehow help people seize the idea or feeling in some way and let the audience understand the film more. Some cues are essential because when they cooperate with the action or emotion of the scene, the audience can easily catch the turning of the emotion or the power of the action. But sometimes without music can create a mysterious feeling, like some murder scenes, without music may be a good choice. Throughout the whole film, the low key lighting plays an important role. Besides the contrast between the light, there are some other contrast scenes, like when the cut from the quiet place to the noisy place; the “light” meal and the big meal.
Alice WangThere are numerous film adaption of the novel Oliver Twist; however, the one shot by David Lean stands out from the others in many ways, especially when it comes to the special use of lighting. Unlike most movies, the scenes in David Lean’s Oliver Twist are mostly shot either in darkness or in low-key lighting, giving the audience a tense and uneasy feeling when watching the film. Also, almost all the use of the lighting in the movie seems to be arbitrary. For example, the lighting may be arranged to indicate the characters by using pinpoints of light while the light source in the scene is supposed to be from only one single place. The only exceptions of low-key lighting always occur in the scenes where Oliver is with his benefactor, Browlow, in a normal home. During these kinds of scenes, the lighting use would be softer high-key lighting. However, in the case of the scene when Nancy meets Browlow, low-key lighting is used due to the fact that when the two meets, Browlow is forced to become a part of Nancy’s world in order to save Oliver and get him into the normal life. On the other hand, the use of special ways of shooting also adds to the uniqueness of the movie. The great amount of long shots, high-angle shots and subjective shots not only improve the dramatic effects of the scenes, but also lead the audience to experience the story in a special and impressive way.
Alice HuangOliver Twist is one of the movies which I think is suitable to be filmed as a monochromatic movie since the symbols and techniques the director uses interpret the content well enough. For instance, in the beginning of this film, the tree on which the young lady leans is a typical symbol of “hope” or “support.” Or the use of the light also makes the concept “greedy” become more vivid because all of us notice the extreme spotlight shot on the necklace. Also, several high-angle shots reveal that the poor is governed by the rich, or that the normal people are exploited by the authority.
As what professor mentions in the class, the director makes good use of “cuts” in this film. The first example is the one professor shows us in the class, in which the abnormal tranquility in the board forms a great contrast against the hard-working workers in the noisy factory. Other shots such the one shown in the beginning of the film, the cut from the storm to the light hung on the church can be explained as from despair to hope. When Oliver’s grandfather is waiting for Nancy’s appearance, the cut from his grandfather’s anxious face to Nancy’s hand indicates that Nancy would never be able to keep their promise.
Overall, this film is nice for its abundant symbols and well-applied cuts. The only part that I think require extra improvement is the soundtrack. Some of the soundtracks of this film are fine, while some of them just make the content of certain scenes become kind of funny and unprofessional.
AprilIn the film, “sarcastic cutting” is used widely and perfectly. In the beginning, when the board of the church compares the factory to “the amusement park for the poor”, the shot cut immediately into a place where workers of all ages expire and labor; the director expresses the sarcastic concept straightly to the audience, clearly and sharply. Also, when the baby was born as an orphan, the camera then switches to a scene where a banner hangs on the wall reads “God is good.” However, it is obviously that God treats the baby boy unfairly for he would have to grow up without parents. The director takes advantage of theses cutting techniques to show the cruel reality in life at that particular time.
JosephI also saw the other version of this film, which is directed by Roman Polanski in 2005. Compare with two films. The main and obvious difference is the one we saw in the class is a black-and-white version. Before watching, I assumed that the old one might be less interesting. Yet I eventually found that the black-and-white one is superior because the director made the contrasts much stronger by the shooting, lighting, arrangement of the plot, costumes and so on.
It seems that every contrast in this film has its own meaning or purpose. For example, the contrast between the lighting of different scenes stands for different situations. Hey-key lighting is always used for positive or happiness, while low-key lighting is for darkness or cruelty, both of which emphasize two opposite human personalities: humane and inhumane. At the end of the film, Brownlow realizes that Oliver is his grandson and takes him home. The scene echoes the previous scene that Oliver is given birth in the workhouse where he suffers. And all these details make the film succeed.
Vichy ShihOliver Twist is a famous drama wrote by Charles Dickens. It had even been played in Broadway! The story mainly talks about the gap between destitution and richness. Oliver Twist was a boy born as an orphan because his mother died as soon as he was given birth. He had a miserable childhood, and went astray when he encountered a group of pickpocket. But finally his grandfather found him and took him home, giving him a new life! The movie used abundant of darkness scenery to stand of deprived environment. And the music was in a low sound. Just in the end, when Oliver got in the Mr. Brownlow’s home, the scenery became bright, symbolizing a new happiness life.
Candy ChengAfter watching the movie, “Oliver Twist”, I feel really happy for Oliver because he has a warm home at last. During the film, I can see how poor Oliver is and how other people treat him. The characteristics are all black and white, but I still regard them as colorful ones. The person impresses me the most is one the leader of the thieves. He has a very big nose, and he treats the teenagers meanly! Even though the teenagers are stealing, they are forced to do those things. Oliver’s grandpa is a really nice gentleman, and I like him the most. When Oliver is caught by one of the thieves, he runs quickly to get rid of her. At that time, I yell in my mind and I really hope he can run away! I also feel happy that there is a happy ending!
CarolinaThe film has absolutely succeed to create a despairing and hopeless atmosphere, just as described in Dickens’s novel, playing especially with the contrast of darkness and lighting. The movie is filmed mostly in darkness, except the moments when Oliver lives with Mr.Brownlow, such as the ending. Thus, the remaining part of the movie is “unclear” because of the weak lighting. The faces of the characters can seldom be seen completely, and the same happens to the entire mise-en–scène. That dim atmosphere, not only represents the hopelessness but also the sinister mood of poverty and robbery. However, on the other side, lighting gives the promising impression of destiny, fortune, and love, characterized by the old gentleman, Mr.Brownlow and his maid.
The beginning of the movie is quite strange because the direction, David Lean, did not use music to accompany the stormy night. As we have synchronized the music that was supposedly composed for this part, I feel that without the music, the entire mise-en-scène seems to be emotionless. The audience cannot exactly understand how big or how powerful are the storm and the lightings.
John Howard Davies had an outstanding performance as the protagonist Oliver Twist. He was very natural in acting, and his innocence eyes also give him a plus. Through his gazes, you can really feel his longing and faith to this ugly and miserable world. The part when he begs for more food in the working house is a classic. In this corrupted city, he remains with a pure soul.
Comparing to the one I saw few years ago (I believed directed by Roman Polanski and released in the year 2005), David Leans had surely beaten the other one, without using computer or other advanced machineries. It is an exquisite black-and-white film.
Vicky LinIn the movie, Oliver Twist, just like professor said that there are a lot of low-key scenes, for example, in the very beginning of the film, there is a pregnant woman running in thunderstorm. In fact, nearly all of the scenes are dark, except for there is a lightning. Also, the director used this cinematography to indicates that some dark sides of this world that Oliver had experienced, for instance, there are a lot of people in the house that the thieves own, however, there is dark, too. The director only lighten their faces especially their eyes when shooting. Besides low-key lights in the most parts of the movie, the low-angle and high-angle shots also make me impressive. I remember that all the kids are looking at the delicious food and long for eating. The director used low-angle shot to take the scene.
HilaryToday at first the pronunciation of the film was German, and there was no caption of the movie. Because the film was black and white, I regarded it as Charlie Chaplin’s pantomime. After taking a nap, the English edition started.
We have seen two kinds of the beginning of the film on Wednesday. At that time I noticed the importance of the incidental music. The music can effect our emotion. As the movie going, our emotion went up and down. And the edition with incidental music seems to be much shorter.
There are some special shots which I like. For example, there is a high angle shot when they give kids porridge. The shot makes them look more helpless. Another one is that it shows the old woman’s motive to steal the lady’s necklace. Director take a close-up shot on the necklace and then he take the old woman’s greedy look. We can understand that she will steal it. And still others, when the first time everybody runs after Oliver Twist, the shot makes us feel like running after him, too.
Let’s talk about the plot. We can find the similar story in many TV shows. The bad guys threaten children who are innocent and helpless to work overtime or to be thieves. It let me think of hot news which is about the Apple hiring few kids to work.
I am so lucky to be here.
TinaThe director of this movie makes good use of lighting. In many scenes, the lighting is low and partial. Take the first appearance of Oliver Twist for example, half of his face is in the dark and the other half lighted, showing the weakness and the mystery of the orphan. In the sequence where the dying old woman is going to tell the matron about Oliver’s mother, the matron tells the maid to put the lamp on the ground. That causes a low key lighting which not only prevents the old lady seeing the matron’s face but also expresses the weakness of the old lady and a tense atmosphere.
KarenThe movie Oliver Twist is shot mostly in low-key lighting. In the beginning of the film, there’s a scene that Oliver’s mother was lying on the bed, turning her body over to reach for the baby. Her face in profile was so gorgeous that it impressed me a lot. Some times the faces are divided into two halves to indicate the bright side and the dark side of human beings. The gloomy lighting also suggests a sense of horror, evil, or secrecy. Only when Twist is at Mr. Brownlow’s home does the lighting become brighter, and creating a joyful and relaxing atmosphere. The people around Oliver, such as those at the workhouse and the pickpocket, are not treating him really well. Many of them seem to take advantage of Oliver, and not until he meets his Mr. Brownlow did his life become better. Finally, under the bright sky, Oliver returns to Mr. Brownlow’s, or his grandfather’s home, a place where he should be and gives him the feeling of “home.”
MaxA film always tries to build up some kinds of atmosphere gradually through music. However, doing this in the very opposite method can also be amazingly effective. For instance, in the very beginning of this movie, Oliver Twist, there is a silent long scene arousing viewers’ curiosity and tension. Perhaps the director can achieve another sort of effect by using a sound track, but the final vision whose background music was taken away is also a great choice.
Contrast, a technique often seen on movies, is greatly used in this film. While the little workers do not have enough food to eat, the people of high class enjoy a wide variety of food. The former have their meal with hatred while the latter eat meat like pigs. But it is a pity that the black-and-white film cannot represent this well, for it is sometimes hard to tell what people are having.
Finally, the exciting plots of this video are well designed. It is full of climates. What’s more. of all scenes in this movie, personally I love the inter-cutting most—the one showing the poor workers’ tiring working after a man’s describing them as having fun. So far I still remember the ugly face of the man clearly!
IdaOliver Twist, a book that I read in the secondary school. Comparing to the book, David Lean’s Oliver Twist is much more artistic. All the lightings are beautiful and meaningful. Even in the sunny day, we can also see shadows everywhere. This should absolutely be ascribed to Lean’s choosing of light, especially the changing from symbolic dark to light, which indicate hope for Twist. Also, I like the performance of young Davies. Although he doesn’t say much in the film, he just gives me a feeling that he is Oliver Twist who is a poor orphan. The reason may be Davies do look different, somehow his face makes me feel sympathetic. Also, the performance of Newton, who acts as Bill, is remarkable. The scene that he murders Nancy is unforgettable for me. In fact, there are many good actors in Oliver Twist, but who we need to thank for must be the director, who successfully gets us emotionally involved in the whole adventure. However, one thing that I
feel strange is why the director insists on spotting (using no music) at the beginning of the film. As our profession has shown us the beginning with music in the class, I think that it is much more emotional to have the music. Furthermore, some other music in the film is great and makes the film much entertaining.
SophiaWhat attracts the viewers the most in Oliver Twist is the light. The low-key lighting is worth to be noticed. Only the portrait can be seen. More obviously, when the light is on people’s faces, the viewers can see the face clearly instead of the background around. The bright and black side on faces is clear so that the viewers would focus on them. Thus, this film is good at chiaroscuro that dominates the whole film. However, the overuse of low-key lighting may reduce the viewers’ interest on the film. Also, there is little background music in the film. Only the plot which is more violent such as the children had a fight. There are just dialogues which make the whole film more complete. In addition, the plot in this film is well-organized because it always catches the viewers’ attention. The subsequent climax of Oliver Twist fulfills the viewers’ expectation exactly.
Vicky LiuOliver Twist is a quite enchanting movie. The actors in the movie are so well performed that I am so fascinated with it. Barney Clark, staring Oliver Twist, acts especially well. Owing to being an orphan, Oliver Twist is afraid of lonely. Barney Clark expresses the fear of being alone perfectly.
I really like the arrangement of the plot. The story is almost the same as the original works. However, the turning point seems not to be clear enough. The plot does not tell us how the Oliver’s grandfather knows that Oliver is his grandson. The viewers do not know who the spy is and who makes all things clear.
Nancy is a key person. She gives Oliver hope. This heart-kind woman reverses the destiny of Oliver. When Oliver is captured by Fagin again, life seems to be devastated for him. Nevertheless, Nancy changes the situation.
Most parts of the light in the movie are dim. The light may represent for the miserable destiny of Oliver Twist. In contrast, when Oliver Twist returns back to his grandfather’s house, the light becomes brighter representing the cheerful atmosphere.
CherryIn the very beginning, we can predict this maybe a miserable story merely from the scene. At first we can see many dim or bleak scenes like tempest, falling leaves, no people except for the lonely and helpless young woman as well as the shaking light hanging outside the front gate, all of which point out the poor child’s birth and life afterwards. Second part is the usage of symbols in movies. Thus, the next impressive scene to me is the image of the dog, which was also used in the movie, Lust. While the moving scene from dog to the man in Lust mock the character’s behavior is just like animals, the same change of scenes (from the dog to Oliver when he devours food). In my opinion, it may indicate Oliver has no choice but to lead a poor life under others’ commandment.
VioletThe movie was started from one book; it means that Charles Dickens’s novel was filmed into this movie.
The first scene, there was a woman who is suffering from childbirth pain in a storm. Director describes the storm in an extreme long shot and the woman in a close-up. It’s complete contrast. It makes audience feel more heightened tension. So director was a success attracting audience’s gaze in a first scene already.
I found that in this movie, there are lots of low key lighting and medium shot. Maybe I think that director want to describe some darkness of industrial society as use these effect. Moreover there’s so many similar scene that asking the name of Oliver (in poorhouse and in the court too). I realized that scenes make audiences remind Oliver’s name. Oliver Twister, his full name, suggests starving skinny boy like twister to audience’s mind.
The studio set that showed after Oliver ran out from mortician’s home to London makes me can’t believe this is 1940’s movie, because the studio set so awesome. After Oliver lived with Fagin, there is nothing but low key lighting and Eye level shot. Because in this period there is no hope to Oliver and director might try to emphasize Fagin’s evilness.
There is an observable scene. It’s a chasing scene. Other boys try to steal old man’s wallet not Oliver. But people mistaken Oliver for a snatcher, and chased after Oliver. In this chasing scene, director tries to take more different camera angles as many as possible. And it makes audience feel more tension.
When Oliver woke up Brownlow’s house, a maid pulls back the curtains and bright sunshine on the room. I think this scene suggests that Oliver's newly bright future. And usually Brownlow’s and Brownlow’s house scenes are the soft and bright lighting, except during Oliver be caught by Fagin.
The scene which Nancy is killed by Bill, the camera only shows Nancy’s arm. In this scene, the light from the window is on the Nancy’s arm. The lighting reminded Nancy’s dead to the audiences in a roundabout way.
I think that black-and-white film’s best strong point is easy to emphasize what she/he thinks important effectively. So audience can catch important thing easily and clearly. Moreover in the black-and-white film can makes dominant contrast easily.
JohnThis is a story talking about a little boy named Oliver Twist. But most of the time, I was thinking about the social environment. In my view, church is filled with people that are full of love. They will spend lots of time taking care each other. And they pay attention to education of their children. However, in the era of the movie, they take children as slaves and a tool of business. It’s really horrible. The social class was obvious. It’s really difficult to image how to live in the era.
Oliver is a special child. He is full of vitality. It’s not easy to beat him. He is unlike the other children in the story. I think this is why can he lived even thought he was underwent lots of frustration.
As teacher says, music is really important. Music not only attracts audience’s attention but also makes the frame fun.
HanselBlack and white in this movie seems to have fairly simple symbolic meanings. Throughout most of the film, there is a lot of dark shade. The darkness represents the scheme and the miserable condition Oliver is in. In the last scene when Oliver finally goes home, we see clearly the daylight and a big portion of white color indicating happiness and a bright future. This movie brings alive the hard time for people of the lowest status in the society at that time. With the story of Oliver Twist, people retain their hope so as not to lose faith in the world.
EmilyOliver Twist is the best black & white film I’ve ever seen. I like the happy ending that Oliver finally found his family and will enjoy his life. In the whole film, every scene is in darkness except for the last few one. The cinematographer uses the light very well. Although the scene is dark, the viewers still could read the meaning by the lighting. The cinematographer uses many low-key lighting in this film, but sometimes the high-key lighting when Mr. Brownlow shows his caring to Oliver. The low-key lighting and the darkness scenes are used to show the inhumane and selfish around Oliver. The high-key lighting is used to present the joy of Oliver.
In some scene, the light shows only some part of the face which makes the people look more evil. The cinematographer also uses the light to make the ironic effect. When the old woman took Oliver to the orphanage, the light spots on the wall that says ’God is good”, but the orphanage is not that “good.”
Although this film is adapted by the novel, it still shows out the difficulties and the happy that Oliver met.
AlinaOliver is an orphan. He grew up in a shelter which is just like a prison. Everyday he was given few foods and always felt hungry. After the shelter, he was sold for a coffin shop to be an apprentice, but that is not the end of his tragic life. So he began to escape. He roved at streets in London.
One day he was cheat to join a group of pickpockets, and the worst was, this was a trap set by his half-brother for preventing him getting the heritage left by their father. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape from the bad. Fortunately, the good and honest let him get the help. He met his aunt, scrubbed the charges, reunion with his family, and got the heritage.
This film described the social and pointed out the dark side of the humanity, but Oliver represented the good and hope. His pure heart and strong made him through the dark, this is what we can learn from him.
Vivian YangOliver Twist, adapted from the famous novel, was directed by David Lean in 1948. Although it is a
black-white film, it still shows outstanding performance in cinematography. To be honest, I even consider
the whole film as somewhat exaggerative expression, especially in acting. For example, when Oliver says
his famous line," please sir, I want some more", the reaction of the caretaker along with the board investors
together cried out, "what?"
This kind of acting reminds me of "Ophans of the Storm" we appreciated last semester, since that we only
need to pay attetion to the facial expression to figure out the content. In this cinema, music also plays a
significant role in conveying the concept of each scene. No matter soft, thrilling, or scary, the director use
the underscore appropriately to lead the audiences' emotion.
In genral, Oliver Twist is undoubtedly a huge success in both acting and cinematography. Even when we
come back to watch it 60 years later, we can still clearly catch the idea of the whole movie.
MandyIn this movie, the director also uses the low-key lighting just like the last movie’s director uses. But in this film, I think the aim of low-key lighting is to emphasize how dark and painful the world is. The dim light lets us to feel Oliver’s misery in a more vivid way. With low-key lighting, the director transforms Charles Dickenson’s ironic words into an impressive movie successfully. At the end of this film, there are thousands of people pour into Fagin’s house. I think it’s weird to have some many people save a little kid. Maybe it’s because this scene is a big contrast to previous miserable scenes. And because of many people’s torches, the bright lighting seems more natural. I am surprised that the director uses amounts of extras at that time.
VincentThis is a very famous film, which is based on the novel written by Dickens. Many yeas before, I’ve heard the story on high school’s English class. So it’s not the first time I hear of the boy’s name, Oliver Twist. It’s quite a fantastic experience to watch a black-and-white film. I mean, without colors, the effect of light and shadow become so powerful that every single shot seems dazzling. Also, the using of music in this film is really unique. Some chapters are without music, and the full silence makes the film slower and more sad than it really is. About the story, I feel glad when Oliver’s life become well, and the passion of people lived in London really makes me laugh. I mean, citizen of whole London chasing a bad guy and a poor boy is really a amazing scene!
IvanaThe Hitchcock is good at using costume and lighting to build up the characteristics of actors and the atmosphere. In his thief costume, Twist dresses like a beggar, his eyes looking sullen. However, in Brownlow’s house, the decorated costumes bring energy to him. In the costumes, he is like a prince, who always wears a satisfied smile. Also, the high-key lighting and the day-time shots in Brownlow’s house create a dreamlike atmosphere, as if Twist will live in happiness forever and ever. In contrast, the later scenes are violent and evil, beginning with Twist’s prince-like clothes being forced to take off. Most of the shots that concerning to bad guys are dark and low-key lighted, often with the light focusing on half of their faces or their eyes to make them eviler. Personally, I like the lighting and costume design for they are made smoothly and perfectly fit in to each shot.
FinnaThis film is mainly about the low-key lighting. The scenes are always dark and not clear except the pinpoints of light. Only the characters will be shown with light within the dark screen. The scenes and angled are captured well. For example, when the children squeeze in the upstairs and keep watching adults eating delicious food, the shot is getting close to adults and the food on the table. When Oliver is forced to sleep in a very dark room, he saw the coffin near him, which is appeared by the subtle light. And it also makes the scene more horrible and imaginable. The settings are also well-built which can efficiently reflect the characters' situations and personalities.
ChristineOliver was an average orphan just like other homeless kids in the factory, it is his mysterious identity that made his life different from those.The film pictured the crime-prevalent society of that time, there was even dealing on kids.With the ups and downs of Oliver’s life adventure, we stood by his side crossing our fingers for him. At the end, he finally settled down with his kind-hearted grandpa and lived what he had deserved.
Lighting is a big work in Oliver Twist.The director used different angles of light to produce not only contrast atmosphere but also made the audience focus on the theme under the low-key lighting without missing what is really importance. Interestingly, the sources of lighting are all natural light. For example, sun ray from windows, candlelit and letting out light from door crack. Those of which guide us to feel the way those characters felt and saw what they saw. Exsaggerate facial expression and personality are also connected with the low-key lighting.
KatherineI’ve found many interesting things in the movie. In the movie, the light effect controls the most part of the movie. It indicates different meanings. When the light focused on the eyes, it meant that the man had some bad thoughts. I remember there was a scene when the dog ran to the bad man’s house, the music just began faster and faster. The music aroused people’s feeling and made us felt nervous when they came closer to those bad guys. And I think the dog is very smart. He knew when to run away and what it should do. It seems a little bit ironic since the dog is the one that are the most close to him, but in the end it is him that betrayed him. But the dog is still doing the right thing.
ChristopherOliver Twist is talk about how an orphan named Oliver Twist after has experienced a series of unfortunate occurrences; finally back to the warm arms of his grandfather. These seemingly misfortune but actually lead an ending of perfection to the protagonist, if you take heed to them, you can find that every misfortune is the component that contribute to the pleasant ending.
Therefore, in this aspect, could we simply judge each of them into good or bad matter? For instance, if Oliver Twist doesn’t meet up the gang, how can his grandfather know the conspiracy from the mouth of one of the gang members? Oliver even don’t know about what’s going on, he just want to be a good boy, and we can see that a good boy is dote on by God.
SelenaThe tilt shot of the orphanage was the first thing that caught my eyes when watching this film. They uses the tilt shot from the woman entering the orphanage to the name of the orphanage, even dramatize it with lightning and thunder. The use of the thunder as a stinger is rare, because most stingers are source music instead of underscore music such as thunder. The tilt shot of a building reminds me of one similar shot inCatch Me if You Can. Tilt shot of a building is often an establishing shot because it tells the audience where the next few shots took place. Tilt shot can also create a feeling of suspense, prolonging the time of letting the viewers know the exact place of the story. For example, a tilt shot from a man’s feet to his face, which finally reveal the man’s real identity, can be a way to create suspense.
AnnaIn this comments on the films, I’d like to mainly talk about two aspects. First is the use of light in different angles; and second are the adaptations of novels into films and different features of the same theme presented by the two forms of literature.
First, in the handouts, professor has made profound explanation on the high-angle shot, which mostly represent disrespect towards the character (Oliver’s misery and need for food, for example). This leads me to rethink about the movie PICNIC, when Hal was looked down upon on the staircase that night; his expression demonstrates a sense of helplessness and hopelessness, whereas the same technique is applied when he had a battle with his rival in love. Under the circumstances, I take this scene to be the equivalent one when Nancy was murdered, where the cinematographer use subjective shots.
Second, different forms of aiming at presenting the same theme could in fact generate different effects beyond people’s expectation. Say films have more vivid images which help people to understand things by both hearing and vision. However, books leave people with more imagination and probably more serious thinking. It’s said that among the 15 top well-adapted movies, JAWS by Peter Benchley was a very successful one. I certainly do agree with it, however I don’t like this adaption (especially when we take the public promotion of classical literature out of consideration), because it simplify the theme of the author and make it into a too explicit one. I’ve always liked the euphemism of novels (especially the Chinese classical grandeur The Dream of the Red Mansion, where even the political struggle and diplomacy are expressed in a beautiful way, like the depiction on Wang Xifeng ogling her grandmother for her favor). However I do believe that in this movie, the acting is so impeccable that it makes up for the lack of enough discussion on inhumanity.
Above is a general understanding of the movie after reading the handouts, it may have been a little childish, but this reflects my true feelings.
HazelIt’s easily to see that many scenes in the film are dark and gloomy. It represents the lower side of a rotten society at that time. For instance, the scenes in the workhouse and the thieves’ den are all murky. The dark sides of humanity are characterized by the unlighted frame. In contrast, those scenes in Mr. Brownlow’s house are much bright and the atmosphere is pretty delightful, just like a paradise for Oliver. Also, it’s a comparison between two social classes.
Furthermore, the scene that Mr. Brownlow plays chess with his friend is not just as it outwardly shows. Actually, it’s the description of their minds. Just like in chess game, both of the old men hold a contrary opinion. Mr. Brownlow believes Oliver and his friend is just the opposite. They bet that Oliver will come back. However, the waiting time became longer, Mr. Brownlow become more uncertain to play.
TigerThis Film has a very aesthetic arrangement of cinematography, and the music is also very powerful and supports the scene well. At the beginning storm scene we can see these two elements work together and have a great impact. The low angle shot to the lightening sky shifting to the high angle shot to the suffering mother with rain water pouring on her face is already a powerful scene, but the sound tract of the storm sounds adds favor to it. The strong sound tract in the storm scene contrasts the following lovely baby cry. In most scene in the film has a mystery atmosphere, and this might come from the lightening and cinematography. For example the scene when Oliver is taught how to pick-pocket is a well balanced scene. Basically shot in low-key light, everyone in the cabin has their face bright by the lightening. The placement of figures is well arranged. While Fagin leads two kids showing how to steal things, others are in the back of the scene sitting at the table as a group, and here they seem serving as the function of a “background.” In the final scene when Oliver is on the roof has a good framing. While Oliver and the bad guy are on the roof, a big crowd of people come to rescue Oliver are down on the ground. Here the roof and the people equally divided the frame into two parts and form a clear oblique line.
IrvingI like this beautiful film. Before watching this movie, I don’t know white and black movies can be so great. I think, maybe, it’s because I grow up, I like to enjoy the contrast white and black, rather than belittling the the low tech. Beside, the story is great. Without much music, the actors’ expression simply charm me into the story.
Vivian LinLow-angle shot empasizes Fagin who is a symbol of the evil that make me feel disgusting. The movie actorss' costumes match the age and the style of the movie. Those kids who steal for Fagin are just kids. One of them is shock by the
death of Nancy. I can not help but think is it a black side in the movie. Those childrens should have happy childhood but they stuck in the dirty world. No family, no friends amd no love. The light is well- used in the movie. At the
beginning, Twist' smother walk under a storm symbolize a dark beginning. Then the sun is out. The light comes back but she dead. I am astonish by the most scenes that light are used in magical way. They are so beautiful. The
compose follow the step of the movie that strong the mouve's structure. When the boy is resecued, the sun is out again. At the end of movie, they can get together again.
MinnieThe most impressive scenes
- “Sir! I want some more, Please.”
This scene was too miserable. And I think this is the all reason that he was casted by the director. In this movie, ‘Oliver twist’ is not only the symbol of his social position (orphan), he is also showing low-class’s life at that time.
- If Professor didn’t mentioned about the effect of light and darkness in this film, I’ll figure out its meaning by this scene.
Sykes killed Nancy after he found out what she did in secret. In next morning, the body of the dead was shined by the light. Only then he noticed what he did. It was the curtains which allow the light come into the room. There is a fine line (curtain) between the good and the bad.
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