Third Man - Mise-en-Scene

This is a still from the beginning of the film. It uses mise-en-scene to show the setting of where the film is taking place. This place is seen to be destroyed and demolished, as the location Vienna has been bombed. This highlights how there is possibly a war going on that is causing disruption to life and how corrupt the location is. It fits in with the thriller conventions as it leaves the audience questioning what has gone on there and why? It already gives them the hint that something destructive is going to happen there as it already has, which is known as a red herring.

  




The lighting in this still is used to show a shadow on the wall. This kind of makes it look like he is being followed by someone, even though it is only his shadow. It creates a sense of mystery about the scene and makes it quite eerie. The shadow also makes the character seem ominous and like there is many parts/sides to him.

The woman seen in this still is wearing traditional men's pyjamas. This helps highlight to the audience that although she is a female - who are stereotypically seen as weak and in need of rescuing - she is actually powerful as she is wearing men's clothes which depict her to have strong manly qualities. This could possibly link to the fact that she may be the femme fatale later on in the film as she has a powerful and strong side to her.