Cape Fear analysis

How does Thompson create an atmosphere of threat in the school yard scene in Cape Fear (1962)?

Thompson uses non-diegetic sounds to create an atmosphere of threat. He does this by using a chromatic piece of music that builds up a quickened pace. This is done in the scene when Cady is walking towards the innocent Nancy. By the use of the chromatic music it allows the audience to feel fear for Nancy and they can easily symbolise the non-diegetic sound with danger and treat. This piece of music gets progressively louder as Cady is walking towards Nancy, therefore emphasising the feel of danger and the fact that Nancy is in a threatening environment. During the scene there is a variety of music pieces being played. One that stands out to me is a discord jarring sound when Cady grabs Nancy and shocks her and the audience at the same time. This sound suggests an atmosphere of threat because the non-diegetic sound is discomforting and discomfort implies danger.

Thompson uses diegetic sounds to progress on the feel of threat. A good example of this is when Cady is walking towards Nancy in the car and is walking past a water fountain. The fountain makes a hissing sound. This hissing sound could be described as a snake with symbolise danger and also in the bible snakes are described as being the devil. The use of the fountain allows the audience to see the danger that Nancy is in before she knows what stands before her. Thompson also uses Nancy’s screams to directly signify the threat of danger that Nancy is in. Even after editing Thompson keeps Cady’s footsteps in the film, it could be suggested that he has done this to create the element of threat, but it could just be to show the progression of him walking. The footsteps are shown as being a key point of the cut. This is because during the scene they symbolise the characters emotions, and this is shown because Cady’s footsteps are passed and consistent. This could show that he is trying to prove a point and also that he know what he is doing and has planned how he is going to go about it. Cady’s footstep is almost robotic; Whereas Nancy’s footsteps are rushed and clumsy suggesting that she is panicked and that she feels threatened. There is no structure to Nancy’s footing. This is seen negative because it show that she is trapped and that it could also symbolise that because her steps are disorganised that maybe she is and that she is panicked.

Thompson uses cinematography in a very active way, he does it extremely well when Cady is progressing towards Nancy, the shot type goes from an extreme longshot showing everyone walking in the opposite direction. This could be suggested as Nancy being abandoned and getting left. Then the shot progresses in to a mid-shot right through to a close up. This also emphasises the fact that Cady is moving towards Nancy putting her in an uncomfortable position symbolising threat and danger. A high majority of the shots on Cady are of his pelvic area. This is particularly evident when he enters the classroom shutting the door behind him. This shot suggests that Nancy is trapped with no escape, the shot is mostly threatening because the shot on the groin area suggest what he is trying to imply what he plans to do to Nancy. This creates a threatening atmosphere because he is doing it to get back at her father and the threatening behaviour is heightened because she has no escape. All the way through the scene there is a slight high angle on Nancy. This shows that she is the vulnerable party in the scene. Also when Cady is progressing towards Nancy, her face is fully shadowed even though the street is fully light by the sun. This could suggest that the shadow implies the danger that is to become, therefore the shadows foreshadow the element of danger.

 Thompson uses mise-en-scene to create a high amount of threat in the scene, an excellent example of this is when Cady is walking towards the can and he has a cigar in his mouth. The cigar is not used as just a cigar it is used to make a sexual threat to Nancy. This is so effective because it uses something that was so common during the time period that the film was made, and turned it into a sexual threat. During the scene you see the school bars that have been designed to have spikes on them and at certain angles it shows Cady looking like he is behind bars and this could be seen as Cady being where he belongs and that is where he should be. This image could be seen as threatening to the viewer as they can see what may happen to Nancy even though she does not.