Rose Hobart Architectural Aspects

Spaces made within the space given set

It is known that films throughout the early 1900s were usually filmed "fixed" on sets. This creates a limited amount of space that a person can use during the shots. While focusing on the film Rose Hobart I found four main locations that were used.

The beginning of the film starts with these sight seers outside in an unknown location looking up at what I later assumed was the lunar eclipse. The scene changes and begins to zoom in on this woman sleeping outside in a shelter that is covered by a mosquito net and three walls, shown in the image below.

 

This area can be described as simple and connected to nature. The film then cuts to another location which is much more elegant and full of ornamentation. The elegant place still has a strong connection to nature. There are large windows and balconies that connect the interior to the exterior.

 

The images below start from the exterior of the room to the entry to the main space. This area appears in many different shots and is separated by a large sculptural piece. The piece makes the room seem as if it is many different spaces because you are never able to see the entire room in one shot.

 

The woman appears by this door multiple times throughout the film. The way the outside entrance frames the ornamented door creates an interest in the door.

 



 

The man hiding behind the door appears in multiple scenes, however, you are unable to see the expression of the man throughout the conversations the focus is always on the woman. During this scene you being to wonder more about where this door goes and the importance increases.

The depth of this room is expressed really well. The large column features on either side so you are able to infer that it is part of the gathering space that is seen throughout the following scenes.

 

This is another portion of the same room, since this large column obstructs the view of the rest of the space you are able to use it in multiple shots and have it appear to be a larger room because you are not seeing the entire area in the same shot.

In the shot above you can see this same pillar in the background, therefore knowing this is again the same room. The various shots within this room give you the idea that it is a public gathering space, mainly because there are numerous people in each shot. During this shot the woman, you assume to be Rose, is having one of her many conversations with this man. In this area of the room there is a strong connection to the exterior.

 

 

 

These three stills are occurring within the same bedroom, in the last shot you are briefly shown the man falling to the ground. It can be inferred that Rose shot him from the view of her with a gun in the earlier scene.

 

 

In the beginning of the movie there was a shot of Rose standing on a balcony and see this ripple effect in the water. This moment repeats its self again when after the eclipse, and Rose is seen in the last scene closing her eyes. This event could have represented renewal or death for Rose, it seems as if her closing her eyes represents sorrow or relief that the man has died. Lunar eclipses have been said to be the time of craziness and increased energy. Since this scene is repeated it leads me to believe that it is crucial to the meaning of the film and will guide me on further analysis.