Auteur Forman and Hitchcock

Directors auteur traits. how they compare and contrast. 

Forman and Hitchcock can both be considered auteurs due to their distinguishable traits. however their styles are very different due to the period they were active in. 

Forman’s signature traits

-       Casual informality of camera framing and angles, suggestive of documentary- contrasts to Hitchcock's style, where he plans every shot. 

-       Seemingly spontaneous ‘candid camera’ style- catches actors off-guard- contrasts with Hitchcock's style, where he tells the actors exactly what to do and say in a particular scene.  

-       Social analysis – strong critiques of bureaucracy (The Fireman’s Ball)

-       Allegory (symbolic narrative) or satire (mockery) strongly underpinned by ‘realism’

-       Earlier works made use of non-professional actors and semi-improvised dialogue to present a view of working-class life free from the stereotypes of social realism.- However Hitchcock would hire well known stars for his films in order to attract as many viewers as possible. 

-       Stories of ordinary people whose individuality becomes apparent in group scenes



-Comparison between Forman and Hitchcock as an auteur- however in introduction make clear that Nicolson can also be seen as the auteur. 
- In many of his films, he has played the "eternal outsider, the sardonic drifter," someone who rebels against the social structure.

Hitchcock:

 - In Vertigo and other Hitchcock films, there are recurring images of mirrors. this portrays the idea of duel identities, which can represent Madeleine's change of identity throughout the film. this can also convey the lack of self identity that Americans were feeling at this point in history. after the war, when men returned from fighting, society became a lot less stable and secure. people lost much of their self identity due to these insecurities.