“Dialogue should simply be a sound among other sounds, just something that comes out of the mouths of people whose eyes tell the story in visual terms.” - Alfred Hitchcock
In 100% of Alfred Hitchcock's films, the facial expressions of the actors, especially their eyes, communicate emotions to the audience. With experience in silent films, Hitchcock is a master of emotion. Like he said, people's "eyes tell the story in visual terms" (Hitchcock). Music, dialogue, sound, are just extra layers of brilliance Hitchcock adds to his movies. The eyes say it all.
While watching Psycho, Marion Crane's eyes struck me the most. When she is driving in the rain, you could turn off the sound yet still hear the tension and anxiety of Marion. You can also notice the moment she realizes she has gotten away with stealing the money. Watch the clip below and turn off the sound. It is uncomfortable yet brilliant acting by Janet Leigh.
While watching Psycho, Marion Crane's eyes struck me the most. When she is driving in the rain, you could turn off the sound yet still hear the tension and anxiety of Marion. You can also notice the moment she realizes she has gotten away with stealing the money. Watch the clip below and turn off the sound. It is uncomfortable yet brilliant acting by Janet Leigh.
Whether he is peering into Room One or breaking the fourth wall at the end of the movie, Norman Bates's eyes also contribute to the intensity of, Psycho. In one of Hitchcock's most famous ending shots, Hitchcock has Norman's eyes as the focus of the scene.
In Vertigo, more than any Hitchcock film, eyes are a key to understanding the film. Hitchcock emphasizes their importance in the movie's introduction. In a blog by Alan Vanneman on brightlightsfilm.com, he discusses the introduction, " Vertigo begins with a close-up of Kim Novak's eyes, which suggest a sort of frightened helplessness. However, as the camera narrows its gaze to one eye, we get the sense of a loss of control." Already, he is using eyes to communicate with the audience. See it for yourself:
Vertigo, is heavily based upon vision. Scottie looks down to see his fellow policemen dead as he is hanging from the roof of the building, which is the cause of his vertigo. Scottie is hired to keep an eye on Madeleine. Scottie sees the real Madeline fall to her death from the church tower. But, most importantly eyes are creepy and intensify the dramatic effect Hitchcock is working towards. In the scene below, notice the combination of music and eyes. I love this scene because it includes almost all of the themes of Vertigo (spirals, EYES, colors, flowers, vertigo and fear of heights, mistaken identity, etc.) , and is the scariest scene of the movie.
Eyes add to the intensity of Hitchcock's films, and are a key component to his mastery of terror and suspense.