From Russia With Love Analyses

Film Analysis of a Thriller Sequence: From Russia With Love (1963)

Mise en Scene 

Lighting:

Low key lighting used. This creates a more expressing effect as long shadows are cast by characters creating silhouettes.

Identities are hidden due to the lighting.

 

Location/set:

The whole sequence is set on the streets of Istanbul, Turkey.

The sequence then progresses to the Hagia Sofia, which is dark, old and has historic features.

 

Props:

Suitcase – creates an enigma into why Bond is holding the suitcase.

Gold Bangle – Creates an enigma into why Tatiana has laid the bangle for Bond to collect

Gun – Creates suspense as danger is established through this prop.

 

Performance:

Bond is looking for Tatiana, show she can give him a map that will unlock further parts of the story to the audience.

Tatiana must travel to the mosque unseen showing that the passing of the message must go unhindered.

 

Costume/Hair make up:

Tatiana the woman protagonist is wearing a light blue suit. Bright colours are represented with good characters so the use of blue illustrates that Tatiana is a protagonist. Tatiana’s innocence is seen through her young face and blonde hair.

Bond is the main protagonist and is wearing his trademark suit making him look sophisticated and intelligent. The audience are accustomed to Bond’s suit making him the intentional protagonist.

 

Actor Appearance:

Sean Connery was athletic and agile when he made the Bond series in the early 60’s and 70’s. As he grew older he started to play more intellectual roles. This shows that Connery was able to play more versatile roles throughout his career.

Cinematography 

Camera Shots:

Establishing shot of the Middle Eastern Setting.

 

Very wide shot showing the inside of the mosque – with the use of lighting the dark scenery creates tension within the sequence.

 The use of very wide shots show Tatiana’s journey to the mosque.

 After the transition of a fade a new extreme long shot is applied to show Tatiana and the antagonist.

 A medium shot of the antagonist and his expression, which sets the atmosphere of the sequence.

 A medium close up is applied after the tilt to show the true identity of the new antagonist.

Camera Movements:

The camera pans to follow Bond’s walking pattern – allowing the audience to witness the caution in Bond’s step.

 

The tilts used in the sequence add tension and suspense as they are long and make the audience wait for the final shot. E.g. the tilt from the dead antagonist to the new antagonist standing above him.

 

Camera Angles:

A long shot and low angle is merged to make Bond seem powerful and in control of the actions he is taking in the mosque surroundings. 

Sound 

Ambient sounds are generally used in the opening sequence.

Score is quite low to replicate the building of action on the screen.

Sound of Bond and Tatiana’s footsteps in the mosque.

Sudden change of score from calm to dramatic. Key change adds tension to the sequence.

No dialogue used in the scene.

Sound synchronised with important actions.

The use of layering sounds and ambient score as the tour guide’s voice in the mosque gradually transforms from synchronous to asynchronous in sound. 

Editing  

Transition of a fade to show an ellipses of time.

Cross Cutting to link the characters of Bond and Tatiana together, which suggests there may be a link between them. This builds tension, as they have decided to choose visual communication over verbal.

More Cross Cutting between Tatiana and the first antagonist expanding the triangle.

Narrative Structure

The use of dramatic irony is linked to the thriller genre, as we know that Tatiana is being followed, but she doesn’t “stalker complex”

The use of  Red Herring as we believe that Bond killed the antagonist, however he didn’t

Ranges of enigma codes have been used in the sequence, which relates to the thriller genre.

Examples in the sequence include: What is in the suitcase? Why does Bond need a gun in the mosque? Who is the new antagonist? 

Influence for our thriller sequence  

The use of a Red Herring and the deception used towards the audience.

The use of unanswered enigmas in the sequence, which can create tension and suspense.

The manipulation of dramatic irony and how it can be related to the thriller genre. In “From Russia With Love” the dramatic irony comes from Tatiana being stalked by the first male antagonist. 

Analyses:

After watching a sequence from “From Russia With Love” a thriller movie it was clearly evident that there were aspects within the sequence that can be used in other thriller related sequences. Examples come from all aspects from Mise en Scene to Cinematography and even sound techniques used. Once these skills are applied to the sequence, other codes and conventions help to establish that the opening sequence of “From Russia With Love” can be classified in the contemporary thriller genre.

Firstly in regards to Mise en Scene the use of key props such as Bond’s suitcase, Tatiana’s gold bangle and a gun all help to contribute to the tension and suspense found in the thriller genre. Furthermore, the location used in the sequence of “From Russia With Love” also contribute to the thriller genre. The use of a dark, mysterious and historic building creates an enigma for the audience as they are compelled into why two protagonists would meet in such a location. Suspense is alleviated in this sequence because the dark shadows from the use of low key lighting create silhouettes, which cast big shadows over the mosque. This creates suspense as the audience are never aware of the shadows that pass throughout the sequence.

Moreover, in relation to cinematography the use of camera shots was crucial in illustrating that the opening sequence was part of the thriller genre. The sequence uses a variety of camera tilts to create suspense and make the audience wait to find out the true identity of antagonists and the answering of enigmas. The main camera tilt used to create suspense is the revealing of the new antagonist after a mystery character killed the original antagonist in the sequence. This tilt slowly builds tension in the sequence and allows the audience to receive the answered enigma as the audience are now aware that a new character has killed the antagonist in the sequence. The use of a camera tilt in “From Russia With Love” sets up a Red Herring another crucial aspect in regards to the conventions of the thriller genre.

Sound is an important part of building tension and suspense in the thriller genre. The sequence of “From Russia With Love” is no exception. At the beginning of the sequence, ambient sounds are used to present the atmosphere of the Istanbul through character conversations and movements. However, as the sequence unfolds in the mosque a score is slowly applied. The score in the sequence uses key changes as the score begins in a calm factor and then dramatically changed in relation to actions on screen. The key changes create suspense, which boosts the validity of this sequence in the thriller genre. The sound in “From Russia With Love” allow the audience to atmosphere the suspense caused by sounds whilst all the characters are situated in the mosque.

The use of editing helps to establish tension and suspense in the sequence. The sequence “From Russia With Love” uses cross cutting between James Bond and Tatiana to create tension, as the audience are shown that the characters cannot be seen together as it may be dangerous. However, once the sequence develops from the antagonist’s death the editing style changes to slow editing. This creates further suspense within the sequence as longer cuts mean greater tension and suspense.

Finally, to make a successful thriller sequence narrative structure is crucial. In the sequence of “From Russia With Love” the narrative structure begins with dramatic irony. The sequence uses a typical thriller aspect of a “stalker complex.” This creates tension within the sequence. This is illustrated when the original antagonist follows Tatiana. Furthermore, the sequence plays on enigmas whilst events unfold in the mosque. This is a classical trait in thriller movies and in this sequence the audience ponder upon questions like: Who is the man following Tatiana? What is the significance of the Gold Bangle Tatiana placed on the floor for Bond to collect? Who killed the original antagonist in the mosque? And finally Who is the new antagonist who has emerged from the murder. These narrative structures help to set up the rest of the movie as it gradually unfolds.