Orson Welles applied the Hitchcock Rule to the famous three-minute opening shot for his 1958 film "Touch of Evil" (video link). The first frame is filled with a ticking time bomb. Then the camera pulls way back to set the scene, and closes in on the main characters as they kiss...and then...well check it out.
Movie posters (and lobby cards) often follow the same basic rule, but in a poster the single image has to encompass the entire movie. The poster image needs to tell the viewer who are the main characters, and how much action, romance, or spectacle there's likely to be.
Milton Caniff, like all comic artists, was influenced by film. He used the same principle Hitchcock was talking about when he planned the size of each character and element in this panel breakdown.
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More about Milton Caniff and other comic artists
Blain Brown explains Hitchcock's rule and much more in his excellent book: Cinematography: Theory and Practice: Image Making for Cinematographers and Directors
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ReplyDeleteThanks for the post--I hadn't heard Hitchcock's rule articulated this way and its interesting to see how other artists apply the rule --Touch of Evil was directed by Orson Welles.
ReplyDeleteD'oh -- you credited Orson Welles-- I read the post thru twice and didn't see him mentioned -- I need more sleep. Thanks again for the post
ReplyDeleteYes, Touch of Evil was by Welles. I had given the wrong credit in the first draft. Fixed now--thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat example. An an impressive undertaking by Hitchcock... that entire scene leading up to the moment is one take, no cuts — dramatically intensifying the suspense.
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