1. Strangers on a Train
(1951)
Film-Noir
Alfred Hitchcock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bjA-4no1ZY
In the opening to
“Strangers on a Train” the
camera slowly pans down
as the Taxi drives towards
a halt, the non diegetic
soundtrack is orchestral
and appropriate to the
50’s. There is an
establishing shot of the
taxi, which is purposely
visualized in black and
white to show the contrast
between both colours.
There is also a medium shot of the characters shoes
(which are also black and white) this deliberately in
comparison to the taxi he just stepped out of. The camera
pans to him dressed in what we assume is a pin-stripe
suit, this shows that he is dressed classy and ready to
impress (the conventional 50’s style).
Continuity editing shows another man exiting a similar
taxi, a high angle shot only shows the lower body of the
character’s shoes, this distinctively shows the style,
creativity of noir, and deliberately disguises the enigma
of the characters. Jump cuts show the tracking of each
character as they walk. The camera then remains at a low
angle as it shows people entering the train station, this
shows the audience the setting and placement of the film.
The camera then fades over to a moving shot of the train
tracks, this is covered by an orchestral synchronous
sound, the non-diegetic
sound becomes quieter
as the shot fades to a low
angle view on the train
of the carriage, it then
continues to show the
introducing of both

2. characters, this is cleverly shown by showing only their
bottom half and not their direct face.