auteur

FILM STUDIES

Auteur Theory and Alfred Hitchcock

‘Auteur’ is the French word for ‘Author’. Auteur theory can be described as the mark of a film director in terms of: thematic or stylistic consistencies, and these can be through personal vision, recurring themes, established technique, a defined view of the world that a director has and the significant degree of control that he has over a production. The works of an auteur director are stamped by the personality and unique artistic vision of its creator, and are as recognisable and distinctive as the creators of any other work of art. In auteur films, it is the director who controls the artistic statement, takes credit for the film and in some cases is responsible for attracting the audience. For example, Quintin Tarantino has a certain artistic style that is recognised and attracts an audience. Whenever he brings out a new film, that same audience is attracted to watch it. Auteur theory was first brought about by film critics who wrote for the ‘Cahiers du Cinéma’, they argued that films that reflect a director's personal vision are more of a developed art form. They payed particular attention to filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks and Jean Renoir, they thought of them as true 'auteurs' of their films. Auteur theory has been around and has features in film criticism since 1954, when it was favoured by the film critic and director François Truffaut. "Auteurism" is the use of auteur theory to analyze films or to understand the characteristics that identify the director as an auteur. An auteur is often recognised by certain signatures that are apparent in his or her film, these signatures can be in the form of themes, scenarios, actors, cinematography, editing, locations etc.

Alfred Hitchcock was one of the first to be acknowledged as a true auteur, any mention of the name Hitchcock immediately produces certain expectations, as he has very recognisable characteristics in the themes and the techniques he uses in his films. Hitchcock is considered a master of suspense, his films tend to shock and grip an audience, leaving them on the edge of their seats, it is because of this that he is recognised for working within the suspense/thriller genre. Hitchcock was one of the first directors who dared to use sex and other risky topics in his films, they even played central and very obvious roles. Hitchcock’s also liked to the use of black comedy in his films, and often exaggerated traditional conventions. Some examples of Hitchcock’s blatant use of forbidden and unconventional content could be: the casual and heated homosexuality of the film “Strangers on a Train,” and the horrific and disturbing flashbacks that occur in the film Marnie. Hitchcock admired German Expressionists and their ability to convey a scenario purely through vision and he done this in his films. It is this visual expression of thought and psychology that Hitchcock achieves and is recognised for throughout his films and is how he can be recognised as an auteur.

The themes that are apparent in Hitchcock‘s films are said to reflect his view of the world. As an example of this, accusation and imprisonment are common psychological barriers that Hitchcock uses to grip an audience and form the Hitchcock signature. Hitchcock also used the recurrence of scary scenarios to promote his themes, that express his vision of the world and that people could recognise. he did this through the use of things like: the sinister house in Psycho, which people could find a connection with, he incorporated things into his films that ordinary people could fear and recognise, like the fear of vertigo and the recognition of National Landmarks, like the United Nations Building and Mount Rushmore.

Another signature of Hitchcock was his cinematic technique which is shown through his use of interesting camera work, his editing and the use of a soundtrack to enhance and build suspense. An iconic example of camera work used by Hitchcock is the incredible zoom-in from a high shot to an extreme close-up to build suspense in the final scene of the film “Notorious.” Hitchcock also uses audio to deliver suspense, he reflects feelings of guilt around the word “knife” using only sound and dialogue In a scene from the film “Blackmail,” and in the film ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’ there is a fade from a woman screaming to a train whistle. Another signature of Hitchcock is his ability to bring symbolic power to an inaminate object, like the knife in “Blackmail” and a key in the film “Notorious.”

However, whether the thriller genre dictates the themes and style of Hitchcock’s films or whether it is his individual doing is arguable. A stereotypical thriller is a film that provides thrills and keeps the audience cliff-hanging at the "edge of their seats" as the plot builds towards a climax. The tension usually arises when the character is placed in a menacing situation, a mystery, or a trap from which escaping seems impossible. Life is threatened, usually because the principal character is unsuspectingly or unknowingly involved in a dangerous or potentially deadly situation. It is true that many of Hitchcock’s films relate to this stereotype, but they are merely part of the thriller genre and Hitchcock’s films also have many attributes that make them unique from a conventional thriller. Many “auteurs” are recognised through the actors they use, like Tim Burton always seems to use Johnny Depp. Throughout his career Hitchcock relied on the performances of his actors to produce successful films. Hitchcock planned everything in advance, he involved himself in all of the production of his films from start to finish. Consequently this formed the way Hitchcock’s films turned out.
Finally, what stands Hitchcock away from most other directors an shows him as a prime example of a successful auteur, is his numerous on screen appearances, which can be interpretated as an artists signature would be at the bottom of a painting.