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Topic: Movies filmed in first person perspective
Dylan
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Hello,I was thinking that some fans of older films (Lou, John, Graham, Joan, etc.) may be able to inform me on some films that were photographed in the unique method of first person perspective, in which the camera is utilized as the eyes of the main character. I know of a few films that utilize this filmmaking technique (none of which I have seen yet, though I immensely want to). The films are:
Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde (1932). I've heard that only the first 5 minutes use this, as we see through the eyes of Hyde.
The Lady in the Lake (1946, I believe). This film starred Robert Montgomery and is filmed almost entirely in first person perspective (we only glipse Montgomery's face when he looks in a mirror)...there are scenes of his girl friend leaning over and kissing the lense, and things like that. I have heard that it's not as imaginative with it's use of first person, but that it is kind of fun.
Dark Passage (1947, I believe). This was with Humphrey Boggart. The first half hour of this film is filmed in first person perspective. He is having plastic surgery, and when the plastic surgery is completed, I believe it switches over to traditional photography (and I'm sure it is not without it's marvelous black and white lighting/shots..something the old film noirs always had...love those films).
This method greatly intrigues me, as I have been interested in this technique for many years, but this was even before I found out that it was utilized to great effect in older films. Before that, I had always believed it would be a brilliant and fascinating way to shoot a film. I prefer black and white over color films (always will, as I live and breath black and white), so I'm primarily interested in older films which utilized this technique, but if there have been any color films, of course I'd love to hear about them as well). Thank you very much.Best Regards,
DylanPS- I also know that an Alfred Hitchcock Presents or Hour episode was filmed in first person perspective...don't know the title though, I've only heard about it. Thanks again.
[Message edited by Dylan on 08-28-2002]
posted 08-23-2002 09:46 PM PT (US) Marian Schedenig
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There's a Brian De Palma movie that starts with an FPP sequence...was it Dead Again? Or Body Double? Or perhaps Blow Out... I haven't watched it for too long.I think Mute Witness (I want that on DVD!) has a similar sequence at the beginning.
posted 08-24-2002 06:42 AM PT (US) Gae
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I can only think of the opening few minutes of "Halloween" where the young Michael puts the mask on and walks through the house before he stabs his sister. I'm sure there are quite a few films that use the first person angle for part of the movie but I dont think I've ever seen one that uses it for the whole film...I think it would be a bit limiting after a while wouldn't it? After all, it would be difficult to cut from one scene to the next...it would also have to be a continous shot which would cause problems of shooting and narrative. You'd have to have some cuts to link transitions from one scene to the next or to show the passage of time.
posted 08-24-2002 10:00 AM PT (US) Marian Schedenig
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Well, Blair Witch Project uses it in the whole film, more or less.NP: For a Few Dollars More (Ennio Morricone)
posted 08-24-2002 10:54 AM PT (US) Dylan
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Blair Witch wasn't filmed in first person perspective, it's just somebody with a shakey hand held camera.
posted 08-24-2002 11:13 AM PT (US) Marian Schedenig
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Yes, but the image is always from that camera, which exists in the film. The camera isn't a person, but basically it's the same technique.
posted 08-24-2002 11:46 AM PT (US) Dylan
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Marian,I agree with you that it is the same technique, like having the entire movie from the point of view of a rock, but it isn't the protagonist of the story, or a living being...we are following the object around, but it's not doing anything. Same technique, but it isn't a character in the story, or a being of flesh and blood. I guess I'm referring to more things like this (when a character is drinking a glass of water, filmed in first person perspective): a hand holding a glass of water rise from the bottom of the lens and the glass tips toward the camera...having it drain a little bit every second. Odd, unique perspectives like that, that we all view in everyday life.
Dylan
[Message edited by Dylan on 08-24-2002]
posted 08-24-2002 06:24 PM PT (US) Dylan
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Oh, and that shot I described (with the glass of water being consumed by a character in the film, in first person perspective...actually, it was a glass of milk I believe) is from Alfred Hitchcock's "Spellbound," which also features a few other marvelous first person perspective shots.Dylan
[Message edited by Dylan on 08-24-2002]
posted 08-24-2002 06:30 PM PT (US) Marian Schedenig
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quote:
Originally posted by Dylan:
Same technique, but it isn't a character in the story, or a being of flesh and blood. I guess I'm referring to more things like thisOk, agree with that.
Another one comes to my mind, though it's only a short sequence from a pseudo-old movie: When Branagh finds out who he really is in Dead Again, it's shown in first perspective. And it wouldn't work any other way, either. Very effective sequence.
posted 08-24-2002 08:28 PM PT (US) Pete M
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There's a very similar shot to that with the glass in Suspiria. If there's first person perspective you're after, there's quite a bit in Cat O'Nine Tails, & also in Tenebre, which has an awesome scene as the killer posts a note under the door of the protagonist, shot from his perspective & getting tension as to whether or not we are going to be discovered. In fact, quite a few Argento films feature this device at some point as well as lots of other cool devices & angles. If you like that kind of thing, you should see some of his films - Deep Red springs to mind particularly.NP Nirvana- Nevermind
posted 08-25-2002 02:33 AM PT (US) joan hue
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I just can't think of a movie that utilizes fully a first person point of view. I'm sure there are a few, but I can't recall any. Sometimes movies like LAURA tell the story at first from one character's perspective to keep the audience in the dark for a while. Later in that movie, a third person point of view comes in. In The Spiral Staircase, we do see victims from the killer's point of view when he stalks them, but it isn't a consistent point of view. I'll have to keep pondering.
posted 08-28-2002 03:29 PM PT (US) Pete M
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Lady in the Lake was the only one that sprung into my mind, & he's already gone & got that. Typical.
posted 08-30-2002 10:18 AM PT (US) Old Infopop Software by UBB