The document analyzes the "robbery" scene from the film Raising Arizona and how its mise-en-scene elements like camerawork, lighting, figure/object positioning, set design, costumes, and performances contribute to the film's visual style as a "live-action cartoon". Elements like exaggerated camera movements, low-key lighting, ridiculous props, and rubbery actor performances are used throughout the scene to create a heightened, cartoonish reality. The analysis argues that all mise-en-scene aspects in the scene work together to visually tell the story in a style reminiscent of Looney Tunes or Hanna-Barbera cartoons.

1. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE ANALYSIS
 Watch the scene on Blackboard and take brief notes on these elements
of MISE EN SCÈNE. Next class we will discuss how they converge to
create a unified sense of visual style and meaning supporting the
analysis that much of RAISING ARIZONA is designed to function as a
“LIVE-ACTION CARTOON” in the style of LOONEY TUNES, HANNA
BARBERA, etc.:
 CAMERA ANGLES & MOVEMENT
 LIGHTING
 FIGURE/OBJECT POSITION
 SET DRESSING/PROPS
 COSTUMES, MAKE-UP, & HAIR
 ACTORS – PERFORMANCE STYLE & PHYSICAL QUALITIES
 WHAT ELSE DO YOU OBSERVE ABOUT THE MISE EN SCÈNE THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO THE “LIVE-ACTION CARTOON” IDEA?

2. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE ANALYSIS
WATCH ROBBERY
SCENE ON
BLACKBOARD

3. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE ANALYSIS
 CAMERAWORK (DISTANCE, ANGLES & MOVEMENT):
 Camerawork (especially camera movement and angles) is a
crucial component of this specific scene as well as Raising
Arizona’s overall MISE-EN-SCÈNE/VISUAL STYLE. In the
robbery scene alone we see…
…the tilted handheld movement and fast push-in of the camera
when Hi exits the convenience store to see that Ed has driven
away.
…the POV of the dog running toward Hi.
…the frantic chase of the police after Hi through a suburban
home.
…Hi and the shopper in the supermarket being pursued by the
pack of dogs.

4. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE ANALYSIS
 CAMERA ANGLES & MOVEMENT:
These and many other sequences in both this scene and
the movie as a whole reinforce the cartoonish quality of
the film and its commitment to over-the-top action that is
anything but realistic.
In fact, the entire scene is one long cartoonish chase with
very little stopping at all; this constant “crazy” movement,
especially coupled with the light-hearted soundtrack, are
key to its stylized cartoonish quality.
This pacing and style is a hallmark feature of cartoons
such as those popularized in in the style of LOONEY
TUNES, HANNA BARBERA, etc.

5. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA “ROBBERY”
SCENE ANALYSIS: Camerawork Example

6. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE ANALYSIS
 LIGHTING:
 Lighting is used throughout this scene to create a sense of heightened
reality and contribute to the film’s overall “cartoonish” visual style. One
clear example is when Hi is menaced by the dog in a backyard; low-key
lighting is used to establish the dog coming out of the pitch blackness.
And then it is also used to great effect when the dog nearly connects with
Hi’s face; low-key lighting is used so there is nothing visible except Hi, the
dog, and the dog’s chain snapping taut; this gives the shot a very
flat/cartoon panel effect.
 LOW-KEY LIGHTING = When the fill light and the back light are much less
intense than the key light; some areas are brightly lit while some are in deep
shadow/blackness
 HIGH-KEY LIGHTING = When the fill light and the back light are nearly as
bright as the key light. Shadows are diminished and the effect is of an evenly
distributed light source in the entire shot

7. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA “ROBBERY”
SCENE ANALYSIS: Lighting Examples

8. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE
 FIGURE/OBJECT POSITION:
 As with lighting, figure/object position is used throughout this
scene to create a sense of heightened reality and contribute to the
film’s overall “cartoonish” visual style. One clear example is when
the convenience store clerk raises his gun so it’s huge in the
foreground; this gives the shot a cartoonish feel because the gun
looks ridiculously long. Another example is Hi going through the
windshield; we see it from inside the truck and his butt is literally in
our faces and then he flies through the window in a ridiculous way.
 FIGURE = A broad term that refers to any object within the film’s
frame, including architectural elements, natural elements (such as
trees or mountains), furniture, people, animals, etc.

9. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA “ROBBERY”
SCENE ANALYSIS: Figure/Object Position Examples

10. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE
 SET DRESSING/PROPS:
 The REPEATING PATTERN/MOTIF of HUGGIES becomes a major
comical “character” in this sequence, being both the literal item Hi wants
and the symbolic item he wants; the very word “HUGGIES” denotes love,
compassion, and family which is what Hi desperately wants to protect
and keep in his life, even if he is breaking the law to do so. He even uses
HUGGIES as a weapon at one point; it’s his defense in this world. Also,
he gets them in the end, but only once he’s reunited with Ed.
 Examples of cartoonish props include the convenience clerk reading
“Juggs”, a pornographic magazine with a ridiculous title, and the grocery
manager also wielding a ridiculously big gun.

11. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA “ROBBERY”
SCENE ANALYSIS: Set Dressing/Props Examples

12. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE
COSTUMES, MAKE-UP, & HAIR:
Costumes and hair play a large part of the “cartoon”
nature of the scene, especially with several women
shopping in the grocery store all wearing big pink
curlers in their hair and “suburban” clothes
(polyester pantsuits, etc.). Another example is how
Hi’s pantyhose mask only makes him look
ridiculous, not scary.

13. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA “ROBBERY”
SCENE ANALYSIS: Costume, Make-Up & Hair Examples

14. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE
 ACTORS – PERFORMANCE STYLE & PHYSICAL
QUALITIES:
 The rubbery faces and over the top performance of all the
actors – especially Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter – are
completely in step with the cartoonish quality of the scene
and film; they simply don’t seem like “real” people but rather
exaggerated ones. Another actor who stands out for his
performance and physical qualities are the babies who play
Nathan Jr.; never once do we see this tiny person scared –
although he’s often in the middle of action that is death-
defying and crazy, we never once feel as though he’s in any
real danger; much like a cartoon, it’s pretend and silly.

15. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA “ROBBERY”
SCENE ANALYSIS: Actors Style & Physicality Examples

16. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE
 WHAT ELSE DO YOU OBSERVE ABOUT THE MISE EN
SCÈNE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE “LIVE-ACTION
CARTOON” ANALYSIS?
 Again, the overall sense of cartoonish visual style of the
scene/film is supported by the various elements of its MISE-
EN-SCÈNE; everything is chosen and decided to contribute
to the film’s visual storytelling. Of course some elements like
the costumes, performances, and, especially, the camera
movements are more prominently “cartoonish” than others,
but they’re all heading in the same direction with the same
storytelling goal.

17. FILM EXAMPLE: RAISING ARIZONA
“ROBBERY” SCENE
FILM ANALYSIS IS ALL ABOUT THREE THINGS:
Examining a film/scene for MISE EN SCÈNE elements
that you determine could be creating additional meaning,
symbolism, significance, etc. for the viewer by using
patterns, motifs, psychological association, etc.
Arriving on an analysis detailing how those elements
give the work a deeper resonance and meaning than
what is simply experienced on the surface
Arguing for and supporting your personal analysis with
examples and reasoning based on solid academic film
scholarship and logic