(OK it irritates me that they always had to include someone singing in the early talkies, even though it did not fit at all in to the story. Don't misunderstand, I love musical, but there the music is for a reason. Having the rapist play and sing did nothing for me. It was just silly).
I understand where you're coming from re some of the superfluous sounds in the film. I found the pet bird singing as Alice was getting up to be super-annoying, particularly as I had my speakers
cranked way up so as to better hear the soundtrack. And the bird didn't really need to be there: it didn't seem to play any part in the plot at all (or, at least, not an immediately obvious one).
But from a storytelling perspective, the artist (or rapist, if you like, although I think his attack was entirely thwarted) bursting into song and accompanying himself on the piano makes sense: he's trying to put Alice at her ease, isn't he? And what better way to do that than with a good old-fashioned sing-song?
(Especially when she's undressing behind the screen and she can no longer see him: he's trying to keep her cheerful and entertained with the singing, you see, so that she doesn't stop to think about what she's doing [taking off her dress in a near-stranger's home].)
So the scene not only allowed Hitch to show off some of the new "talking picture" technology, but it also helped to advance the storyline a bit by showing us the artist singing to Alice in order to try to lull her into a false sense of security and catch her off-guard.
And I think the cheery singing (and the false smile that accompanies it) helps serve as a stark contrast to the aggression and brutality he displays just a few moments later, when he's trying to overpower her. One minute the artist is Mr. Nice guy; the next, it's obvious he's willing to do
whatever it takes to get what he wants, even if it means hurting her.
you are here with me
you are here with me
you have been here
and you are everything
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Ddhandarah
16 years ago
Well, also Hitchcock liked to use the mechanism of unusual things happening in comfortable or normal places. Until Hitchcock, no one expected a murderer to come barging through your shower curtain. Hitchcock tends to put his viewers at ease before he surprises or shocks them. The Artist entertaining her puts not only Anny Ondra at ease but puts the viewers at ease also.
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