RM - Dracula Deconstruction

Theatrical release poster

Name: Dracula
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Year Released: 1992
Budget: $40,000,000
Takings: $82,522,790 (USA)

Columbia Tristar Home Video
Sony Pictures DVD Center
Dolby digital
Columbia Pictures


Music starts as titles start. Similar to others with the black background however text is in white – signifying blood and what is to come.

Binary opposite Church ve Evil
(signified by the black smoke)

An example of multiple layering
in one shot.

Eerie music builds- First shot shown 0:26, has a cross on binary opposite to protagonist. Object seems to be at an angle. Dutch angle used? Second shot fades in showing a cross. Anchoring the binary opposites and further more signifying what is to come. Black smoke used to allow for a change of shot (covers the screen). Subsequent shot is of a cross falling. Church vs evil battle comes into play more. Non-diegetic narration with shots setting the scene, panning shot over a map with an over-layered shot of a close-up on a knight holding a sword.

Two shot, first shot of the protagonist
audience views.

Two shot, protagonist with his bride
(adds Male Gaze theory)

When narrator says Dracula anchorage is provided by the protagonist turning around and is in focus where as the back-ground has been slightly blurred, audience attention is fully on the protagonist. Two shot becomes a three shot as the camera pans to allow his lover (bride) (Male gaze theory) to come into the shot. Long takes used but has been a wide variation of shots used, again 180 degree rule hasn’t been broken. Binary opposite between his bride whom is worried and doesn’t want him to leave and this army whom cheer and support him when the gates have been opened followed by another binary opposite from being quite to a battle.

Side shot, re sky signifies blood
and death.

Focus is always upon Dracula, tracking shots are used throughout this sequence. All the same type of shot as well – side shot. Sky is red – signifies blood. Characters which are on screen all appear as black figures, only black and red are on screen. Fade in of the battle ground to show time has passed and how many have been killed. More fade ins have been used to get the focus upon the protagonist whom takes off his helmet. Still only shades of red and black are used. Music is increasing in volume, further dictates audiences’ heart rate. Subtitles used to signify what the protagonist is saying as he is speaking another language. Over layering used in the top right to show his bride, binary opposite of her being calm but sad and the protagonist whom is worried but proud at being victorious. Shot changes to an establishing shot.

Tracking shot of Bride committing
suicide.

Jump cut to where is pride is located and a panning shot upwards from an arrow with a message announcing her fiancée’s death (anchorage is provided through narration) which tracks her moves from behind as she commits suicide. Although stopping quickly to let her body fade into the distance.

Music picked up further more. Reaction-shot-reaction (Shot-reaction-shot) is used to show the emotion of the protagonist. Shot used to her his bride to be dead pans to show her layer next to an alter. Shots repeated. Narration plus more layering used on the letter showing her falling. Music increasing suspense. More subtitles to anchor what is being said. Protagonists groan changes the music, quickens in speed. Shot taken from above panning backwards would normally signify weakness however when this is done it signifies his anger (towards god). Match on Action used as altar throw to the floor, as water flows out of the altar this allows for another change in shot. Music increases in speed more and fits with the protagonist’s passion and anger. After the protagonist has stabbed the cross shots of angles are crying, candles are filling/over flowing, goblets are filling all with blood. Panning shot up of dead bride lying on the floor whilst blood covers the floor. Examples are pictured below.

All shots showing binary opposition between good and evil (God vs Devil) and life vs death

Volume of music has increased. End of the scene is a shot-reaction-shot of the protagonist realising what he has done as blood surrounds his bride. Roaring adds to the build up of the music. Scene ends with the title of the film. Shot fades out with music.






Open scene length: 5:36

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103874/
Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula_(1992_film)