2. What style does the film "Tom Jones'" opening sequence adopt that comically introduces us to the circumstance of the abandoned baby and the dismissal of the alleged mother?
From Quiz The Whole World Loves Tom Jones
Answer:
Silent film
"Tom Jones" would adopt a number of comic styles to deliver its message, including having the actors break the "fourth wall" and address the audience directly. Whilst the use of silent film techniques in contemporary films is not new nor unique it doesn't always work. Here, its use is most effective on a number of levels:
- It allows the writers to capture the dumping of the baby Tom, the dismissal of the suspected mother and the adoption of the baby by Squire Allworthy in a brief space of time.
- It provides an avenue to the director to convey a sense of levity to the audience over a scene that could easily have been too serious or, Heaven forbid, maudlin.
- It lets the film literally scream at its audience "prepare yourself to be seriously entertained".
Apart from turning the opening into a black and white film, this sequence has remained true to the silent film era by using such tools as title cards (inter titles) in lieu of sound to convey both dialogue and narrative and, music, particularly the piano and harpsichord, to promote atmosphere and an attitude to not take the film too seriously. In addition to this the actor's use of body language to convey emotion was deliberately campy and overdone and the projection speed was also varied.