The Voice in Cinema by Michel Chion (9780231108225)

Description - The Voice in Cinema by Michel Chion

How can a voice whose source is never seen - such as Norman Bates's mother in "Psycho" or Hal in "2001: A Space Odyssey" - have such a powerful hold over an audience? This text examines how directors have used the "being heard but not seen" to build suspense in films since the advent of the "talkies" in 1927. The book examines the power of the human voice, particularly the disembodied voice, as deployed in cinema, and considers the hidden, faceless voice, using "Testament of Dr Mabuse" as a template. Areas examined include entrapment by telephone, voice-thieves, screams of terror, siren calls and the silence of mute characters. Finally, the author looks at the marriage of the film voice and body, as figured in "Psycho's" Norman Bates.

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