FILM ANALYSIS: Pretty In Pink (1986)

 FILM ANALYSIS: PRETTY IN PINK (1986)

dir. Howard Deutch 

BBFC 15 , MPAA PG-13 

Opening Length: 6 minutes

Budget: $9 million 

Box Office: $40 million

Theatrical Distribution: Internationally, 26 territories

Production Company: Paramount Pictures

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Synopsis: A poor girl must choose between the affections of dating her childhood sweetheart or a rich but sensitive playboy. (IMDB) 

LINKS: wikipedia , IMDB , Box Office Mojo 

Trailer: 

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Possible Influences For My Film: The opening narrative enigma and build up to the female protagonist, the setting of a feminine bedroom.                

Companies/Idents: 

This was the only ident shown, as the producer and distributor. The ident lasted 12 seconds, which is conventional for a main ident in a film. 

The use of a single ident is unusual, but not in this case as it was produced and distributed by the same company. 

Titles:

The titles before the opening shot show the production/distribution company. The font is sans-serif to denote a non-serious film, but the elongated and thin lettering excludes it from simply being a comedy. The linking words are in the same capitalised font, but are much smaller. 

The name shown is of the writer John  Hughes, who was well-known for the teen rom-com genre at the time, he also directed films such as 16 Candles (1984), and The Breakfast Club (1985). 

The first named title that appears is of the main star, in the same font as before and in the lower third centre in large lettering. In this film, the actress is the star vehicle (Dyre), as she was an A-List star of the time, and popular within this genre of film, 16 Candles (1984), and The Breakfast Club (1985). 

The main title of the film, is in the same sans-serif, simple white font. The placement of the title is in the central lower third of the frame, denoting its importance. It also appears in the first few opening shots, which is conventional for a teen rom-com of the time. 

Opening Shot: 

The opening shot is an (ELS) zooming out of a black part of the truck and creating a transition from the previously black screen. The mise-en-scene presents a run down area, seen through the cracked streets and pavements, and cramped, old houses. 

Mise-En-Scene/ First Five Shots: 

The shot cross-fades from the truck and pans over train tracks. This is a signifier for the remainder of the film and symbolises how the protagonist was born on the "wrong side of the tracks". This further presents the mise-en-scene of a working class community.

 

The camera continues panning and zooms into a house. It is denoted as the protagonists house as the camera remains on the house for a long time, before internal shots are seen. The use of a pink car outside also denotes this, due to the films name. The car itself is run down and old, further anchoring the preferred reading of a working class area.

This is the first shot seen of the protagonist. She is caucasian, which is a hegemonic representation, and conventional of the time. Narrative enigma is built up as there are only shots of her body seen, which arguably also caters to Mulvey's male gaze. The use of tights connotes wealth or a higher class, as this is a more elegant way of dressing, which goes against the initial mise-en-scene of the area. The ring on her finger could be seen as a signifier of a marriage, but as this is a teen rom-com it is unlikely. 

There is another shot of her body, but this time of her hand. The protagonist is seen grabbing a pink belt, another symbol tying to the films title. She does not have painted or long nails, which is unconventional for a stereotypical portrayal of a female. Once she takes the belt, the mise-en-scene of her messy room is revealed, which is relatable for the primarily targeted teen audience. 

This is the final shot of the sequence, and narrative enigma is still prevalent with the cryptic shots of the protagonists body. The shot of her bum is catering to the male gaze, as she is seen zipping up her dress. There is also a voyeuristic aspect as someone getting dressed is not typically seen by others, and the manner in which she is dressing seems unnatural and related to Berger's ways of seeing, "men act and women appear". Her overall portrayal is part of Butler's gender performativity, as she is presented as stereotypically feminine. The reoccurring shots of her getting dressed also symbolise the protagonists interest in fashion. 

Sound: 

There is an audio-bridge over the final named ident of upbeat rock music. This continues through the opening, and the lyrics begin once the protagonist is revealed. The song is "Pretty in Pink" by the Psychedelic Furs, which the film is named after.