Strangers on a Train Motifs
Alfred Hitchcock's, Strangers on a Train reinforces the duality of human nature and effectively transforms a highly improbable situation into a series of logical events, which lead to murder. Hitchcock has constructed most of the events in this particular movie around the idea of twos in regard to his film technique (crosscutting/match cuts) as well as a number of references to doubles (shoes in the opening scene) throughout Strangers on a Train. A great deal occurs in pairs in this film. These twos act as an integral part of the films plot. Furthermore, there are a number of reoccurring symbols or motifs in the film that go hand in hand with the idea of duality. In my section of this web project I am going to elaborate on a number of scenes from the film and provide evidence to support my various arguments regarding the idea of pairs. "You'd like your wife killed, wouldn't you? Ill do it for you if you'll kill someone for me, and since we're strangers we'll be free of suspicion." The film, Strangers on a Train is an extremely slick, psychological thriller that succeeds in tackling blackmail, murder and issues of taboo sexuality. This film is definitely one of Alfred Hitch
Furthermore, when Bruno orders a pair of drinks on the train he orders one for Guy. When Guy declines Bruno's offer he decides to drink the other one himself. These drinks symbolize Bruno's failed attempt at friendship. There is definitely a contrast between the two men in that Guy is a very successful tennis player and Bruno could be described as a loser. The drinks are meant to level the playing field if you will. Guy and Bruno would be on even ground in that they would each be living for that moment alone. Professions and lifestyles aside, in the end they would just be two men enjoying a drink together. However, throughout the film Bruno can't gain Guys friendship for the life of him, both literally and figuratively. The scene in the train is only an indicator of things to come. The one thing these two women have in common is a pair of glasses. When Bruno strangles Miriam at the carnival the last thing that the viewer sees is a full shot of his reflection through the lens of the glasses. This act symbolizes how Bruno feels a certain power by taking Miriam's life. He is larger than life in the respect that he can take it with his very hands. When Bruno strangles the woman at the party he watches Barbara intently and gets the same rush of power and control again when he spies the glasses on Barbara's face. Hitchcock has constructed most of the events in this particular movie around the idea of twos in regard to his film technique (cross-cutting/match cuts) as well as the number of references to double
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Approximate Word count = 1022
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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