Film Clip Analysis - The Untouchables

The Untouchables

This scene from The Untouchables uses lots of point of view shots to show the scene through the main character's perspective. For example, the camera repeatedly cuts to a long shot of the clock to show that Ness is waiting for something to happen. The main theme throughout the scene is time, shown by the constant emphasis of the clock. This makes the scene feel very tense, as you can tell that Ness is waiting for something, but you don't know what. Given by how anxious he looks, it can be assumed what he is waiting for is not good, which made me curious as to what could be about to happen.

At the start of the scene, the camera tilts down, tracking Stone as he walks down the stairs. Both he and Ness are dressed as different types of detectives from the time and Ness's blue coat, and Stone's brown jacket stand out from the rest of the shot which is grey. This makes you focus on the two of them, and shows that they are important characters in the scene, as well as the ‘good guys’. Also, the camera angle is low, which gives us the impression that they have more power than the others, that are soon to come into the scene.

Early in the scene, the shots are in a repeated order of Ness, woman and child, Ness, clock. This point of view editing, so it shows Ness's reaction and then what he is seeing. He appears very nervous, which makes me know that he is anxious about time, and about the women being there. This repeats, with the shot length getting shorter, to create a sense of urgency for the audience as this builds tension. The frequent shots of Ness's face give the audience a sense of how to feel, such as how he looks slightly panicked when he looks at the clock after seeing the woman. 

In this scene, the baby in the pram seems to have some significance, as there are lots of shots focusing on it’s face. Also, whenever the baby is stationary it cries, but when it’s moving it is happy, even if it’s being shot at. This suggests that he is oblivious to the chaos around him. Also, when he’s not moving there is the sound of a  music box. This, coupled with the high angle shots, presents a feeling of innocence which contrast the violent nature of the scene.

This scene is based on a scene from the 1925 silent film Battleship Potempkin, where the baby falls down the Odessa Steps in the middle of a massacre. Both scenes contain high angle shots of the baby in the carriage, and cut to someone looking horrified that the baby is rolling down the stairs. The high angle shots in both films show how helpless the baby is, and both show the stairs, which gives the viewers a feeling of helplessness. Also, it made me feel kind of guilty, because it is like you are watching the baby fall, but aren't doing anything to stop it.