Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera

                  I will be analysing how the costume, lighting, acting and settings are presented in the extract of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, I will able be analysing the Mise-en-scene presented in the extract. The extract was the beginning scene of the movie.

The scene is set in a dark and spooky part of a theatre, which one could occupy thousands of spectators for an opera. This theatre is now a showroom, which signifies its age, the setting appears to be classical and sophisticated theatre supposedly rich people would go for entertainment. The fact that it has been re-created into a showroom reflects its importance. Therefore, it could be said that the setting is a key feature in this extract.

Low-key lighting is used in the extract; this created a dark atmosphere and sets a suspenseful mood for the audience. It also engages the audience by only focusing on few elements in the scene, for example the lighting is focused on the old at first, but when the chandelier appears the (high key) lighting divers the audiences’ focus towards the setting. Hence, it can be concluded that the lighting helps to pivot the audience’s attention from one element to another.

  Costumes are used in this scene to highlight the characters’ status and personality; for example the male character was wearing a suit, the suit reflects authority, wealth, formalism and corporate world. The fact that we always relate a suit to the above characteristics, we could assume that the male character is representing the rich upper class people of the time. Another character who also resembles these characteristics is the lady, we can assume that she is also wealthy by her posture and the way she is dressed extremely sophisticated.

The male characters expressions comes across as bold, arrogant and focused; in this scene his main focus was base on the monkey, this showed his arrogance as he was willing to pay so much money to obtain the money. We can also identify that he is bold to place a bet that high to ensure that he will win the doll. We can identify that this is intention of the director as the doll may have an importance in the story, as well as to show that the character has an emotional bond with it