Viddler

Figure behavior plays a large role once again with the character of Cynthia Darrington. In the opening scene of the film, we are able to see Cynthia's desire to transgress the realm of male discourse. She stands in a relaxed pose resting on her elbows up against the piano with her hand in her pocket, suggesting a confidant and perhaps reckless tomboy attitude. This attitude is what defines her character and the unconventions lifestyle that she chooses to lead.

Cinematography is an apparent aspect in the opening scene of the film as the camera pans in on a medium close-up shot of Christopher Strong, showing his figure from his midsection to the top of his head. The effect of this highlighting shot of Chris is that we see him address an entire audience with the advice of a noble and faithful husband. As we see mainly Chris is this frame, he is spotlighted as the epitome of all that is considered good and rightous in a man, while the man who stands behind him is depicted as a representation of the sentiment of the rest of the dishonorable party as he is positioned behind Chris and off to the side while he exchanges remarks and reactions with another party guest.

In this instance, figure behavior becomes a prominant means of foreshadowing the remaining plot of the film. Chris stands with his hands together in front of his body showing his sincerity in his speech. He then shifts his body at the reaction of his audience to fold his hands behind his back. In this shift he stands in a more confident posture with his chest out and his chin up parallel to the floor, as if to defend his words of wisdom. The man behind Chris gawks at his speech and turns to another party guest in an exchange of cynicism. The figure behavior that is expressed by Chris and the man behind him foreshadow the remaining plot in the film as Chris struggles with the themes of love and fidelity that he formerly preached as synonymouse.

Chris and Cynthia's relationship begins from the moment they meet. The element of figure behavior is once again used to foreshasow the film's plot, and is a key to understanding the relationship between Chris and Cynthia. Chris stands in a reserved and confident stance with his arms at his sides. He gazes at Cynthia, not with an objectifyng look however, but with a gaze of interest in her unconventional character. Chris's daughter links on to his arm in possession and trust of her faithful father and ironcially serves as the catalyst to the entire affair between Chris and Cynthia, since she is the one who drags her father to the party in the first place where she invites Cynthia to play tennis at a later date, an invitation that unintentionally functions as an incitement to have an affair with the man who initially promotes fidelity.

Before Cynthia even begins her speech, she sits on the piano bench in a medium shot. The lighting in this moment highlights her face and figure behavior before she even utters a word. The effect brought about by the key, fill, and backlight is the high-key lighting that seems to introduce us to the film's female protagonist. We are nearly able to see Cynthia's entire body from her masculine posture of a slouched resting position with one leg crossed over her other knee at her ankle. Due to her posture, the lighting seems to spotlight her figure and draw the spectator's attention to her gaze. It is ironic that Cynthia is the one who holds the seemingly objectifying gaze directed at Chris since although she initially acts as the more masculine and carefree character, she ultimately succumbs to the conventional female desire for love. She even sacrifices the masculine tendecies she once possesses, like the typically "male gaze" that she exudes in this scene, in order to pursue her love for Chris.

There exists an ironic presence in the opening scene from "Christopher Strong". This sense of irony can be extracted from the cinematography, lighting, and most prominantly from the figure behavior that is exuded by the main characters in the scene. I have selected this clip since it gives an interesting take on the foreshadowing of what is to occur in the relationships among characters in the remainder of the film's plot.

The techniques of cinematography, lighting, and figure behavior found in the opening scene of the film ultimately contribute to the overall plot of the film. The most outstanding element of mise-en-scene in this clip that I believe contributed to the rest of the film is the figure behavior. The figure behavior in the opening scene of the film assists in establishing a sense of irony that recurs throughout the film. In this scene we are introduced to a man who is loyal to his wife and has no intentions of becoming unfaithful, and we meet a woman who acts with the mannerisms of masculine discourse as she does as she pleases and regards love with skepticism. The narrative shift is marked in this very scene in which it is established, as the two characters of Chris and Cynthia both establish who they are in their soliloquies, and then upon meeting, a relationship sparks between them that contradicts their former speeches.