The document discusses the Auteur Theory, which originated in post-World War II Europe and argues that the director is the primary creative force behind a film. It examines the theory's origins at the French film magazine Cahiers du Cinema and identifies several European directors considered auteurs, like Fritz Lang and Jean Renoir. The document also explores the concept of mise-en-scene and how elements like setting, costume, lighting, and actor movements come together to create a believable fictional world according to the director's vision.

1. The Auteur Theory and
mise-en-scene

2. •What does the french word
“auteur” mean?

3. •author

4. •Who began the auteur
theory?

5. •European film critics

6. •When did the auteur theory
come into being?

7. •After World War II

8. •What is Cahiers du Cinema?

9. •A popular film magazine

10. •Who wrote the essay entitled
“A Certain Tendency in the
French Cinema” in Cahiers
du Cinema?

11. •Francois Truffaut

12. •According to the auteur
theory, who is the most
important creative figure
behind a film?

13. •The director is the “author”
or artist” of his/her film.

14. •Name some European
auteurs.

15. •Fritz Lang (Germany)
•Jean Renoir (France)
•Robert Bresson (France)
•Ingmar Bergman (Sweden)
•Luis Bunuel (Spain)
•Alfred Hitchcock (Great
Britain)

16. •Why had Europeans not seen
any American films since the
1930’s?

17. •They were banned after
Hitler conquered much of
Europe.

18. •What is a “metteurs en
scene”?

19. •Literally a “master of the
scene,” but it means
contracted Hollywood
director who is not
concerned with artistry.

20. •What did European film
critics think of Hollywood
films?

21. •Under the Studio System,
Hollywood churned out films
with only money in mind, not
for artistic quality.

22. •After looking back at some
American films from the
1930’s to the 1950’s, which
directors did the European
film critics then see as
auteurs?

23. •Howard Hawks
•Charles Chaplin
•John Ford
•Preston Sturges
•Orson Welles
•Alfred Hitchcock (who
moved to Hollywood in 1939)

24. •When looking at an auteur’s
body of work, what two
elements are considered in
the auteur theory?

25. •Thematic motifs
•Construction of mise-en-scene

26. •What do the words mise-en-
scene mean?

27. •Literally “what’s put into the
scene,” or how the director
creates a fully believable
fictional environment

28. •What are the four
components of mise-en-scene?

29. •Setting
•Costume and Make-up
•Lighting
•Actor’s Movements

30. •What two types of setting can
a director use?

31. •Actual location
•Artificial scenery on a studio
sound stage

32. •What three things can
costume/make-up do to
create believable mise-en-
scene?

33. •Indicate time period
•Indicate social status of a
character
•Create realism

34. •What two qualities of
lighting affect the
atmosphere of a scene?

35. •Hard lighting
•Soft lighting

36. •When well-coached by a
director, what can an actor’s
movements portray?

37. •Strength and confidence
•Weakness or a quirky nature

38. •What was Charlie Chaplin’s
signature character called? It
is said that this character
alone created his mise-en-
scene.

39. •The little tramp