Film Language and Representation

17:55 - 23:15
This exterior scene is from when Marion Crane exchanges her car and $700 for a different car at California Charlie’s used car dealership. Marion seems to be panicked, anxious and suspicious to the car salesman. The police officer who had stopped Marion earlier in the film followed her to the car dealership. California Charlie was able to tell right off the back that Marion was up to no good from her quick and panicky body language. Throughout this scene, the camera stays at neutral angle but makes quick cuts time to time when the scene starts to get more intense. The quick cutting is to create suspense among the audience and have them wanting to guess what is next. Suspense is increased when dramatic music is played with the quick cuts, which occurs often in this scene specifically. 

Ex. 1

Ex. 2

The first shot is a wide shot of Marion that cuts to a close up of eyeline matches to a California license plate (Ex. 1) and then to her Arizona license plate in the car dealership. She slowly paces past cars in the lot and looking at the license plates on them. After, she purchases a newspaper (Ex. 2) which is a foreshadow to a later event. California Charlie comes up to her and says, “the first customers of the day are always trouble.”

This dialogue is relevant because of it’s double meaning pertaining to Marion’s situation. As Marion and California Charlie negotiate for the car, the camera cuts quickly back and forth to Marion and the police officer. Because of these quick cuts and the fast paced music, the scene seems more intense and creates a build up. California Charlie is suspicious of her behavior and feels pressured by her to make a quick sale. Throughout the scene he continuously catches her looking at the police officer. From Marion’s dialogue, she seems anxious and nervous. She talks quickly, often stutters and cuts off the car salesman in some cases.

Ex. 3

When she makes her mind up to buy the car, she goes to the restroom to get her $700 in cash out in private. In the bathroom, there is a close up with her hands counting out the money for the car. Within the frame is her hands, her purse, and the newspaper she purchased. These are relevant because later on in the film, she goes into her room privately to hide the rest of her money inside of the newspaper. As Charlie walks her over to the bathroom, he looks at her with a confused look and back at the police officer (Ex. 3). This adds to his curious body language to Charlie about his suspicion for why Marion is acting like this. She comes out of the bathroom and Charlie comes straight forward with her about how she is acting apprehensive about the selling her car. Marion continues to rush him and reassures Charlie that nothing is wrong.

Ex. 4

Together they walk into the garage to finalize the exchange and the police officer pulls into the lot (Ex. 4). The scene intensifies more because the audience wonders what the police officer will do next. After, there is a wide shot of Marion walking out of the garage and notices the police officer with Charlie, the police officer and Marion in the frame. She seems to be spooked and gets in the car quickly and tries to speed off. All of a sudden, a voice yells, “Hey!” The shot pans to left and the police officer nor Charlie can be seen in the frame. The audience likely assumes that it is the police officer, but it happens to be the car mechanic with her bags she left in her other car (Ex. 5). Then Marion drives off, leaving the police officer, California Charlie and the Mechanic in confusion.

Ex. 5