SUNRISE

1927

SOME TERMS

Silent film: not really silent. A film lacking syhchronized sound.
Intertitle cards: text inserted in a "silent" film between shots to give the viewer information
Titles: (usually opening and closing titles). The textual material that appears at the beginning and/or end of the film. Often called "credits" when referring to the lists of who did what in the production.
Subtitles: words appearing (usually) at the bottom of the screen which are translations of what people are saying in a language not likely to be understood by the audience.
Superimposition: A double exposure. A way of having two or more images taken at different times but shown simultaneously.
Flashback: A device in a narrative which appears out of it normal chronological sequence

Sunrise is considered by many a classic silent film and perhaps one of the greatest films ever made.

Superimpositions

Water over the bed
Change from city to country as couple walks through the city.

Flashbacks

Flashbacks are often placed between two of the same intertitle cards. This is a "marker" that let's the audience know that what follows (and/or) proceeded is not in linear sequence.

Camera Movement

Two great tracking shots.

Dark scenes vs. light scenes
Changes in light on the trolley ride

Use of music

Cultural knowledge. Many artists have wide knowledge of other arts which they "reference".

Music

There is a score for the film which is composed for the film, but other music also occurs:

Les Preludes is a musical "translation" of a poem that starts "What is our life, but a series of preludes". It talks about people going to the country after the storms of life to "recuperate". The film opens with this music. The film shows the train station and the train (and then many other forms of transportation) leaving the city.

Siegfried Idyll was written by Wagner for his wife. He lined up musicians on the stairway of this house and had them play it in the morning. Although he said he wouldn't use it commercially, it winds up in his opera Siegfried.

Funeral March of a Marionette is used when the statue falls and the couple believe they have broken the head off. Notice the way the music imitates the sound of the Man calling his wife. This would be less impressive if she had a name we knew.

What is the importance of the "Peasant Dance"? We get to see the information on the music as to what the title is, and that it is a peasant dance.

Anonymity of the place and characters No names for the man and women (no name in cast) Place is non descript - both the town and the city. Don't really look American. Don't really look like Europe. Language on signs is English.