Repertoire of Elements

War Films

Planes - signify what war the film is set in e.g. spitfire (World War 2).
Uniform – again signifying what era the film is set in.
Camps
Trenches
Machinery
Explosions
Scenery – Cities, Landscapes


Stock Characters:

Hero – generally a combatant
Villain – usually the enemy
Donor – someone who might give him information e.g. person of military intelligence/other experienced soldier etc.
Helper – close colleague/person in higher position
Princess – usually the partner who represents home
Dispatcher – could be the General/Lieutenant
False Hero – good friend


Love Films:

The narrative would include a love story mixed with some drama – something to disrupt it but usually ending in their love ‘overcoming’ the problem

The setting for a love film could be any location, it could range from everyday modern life e.g. P.S I love you, the moors like in Wuthering Heights. There isn’t a specific Mise En Scene for love stories as love can happen anywhere but typical mise en scene for modern love films could include, restaurants, cinema, candles, flowers etc. We are focusing on a 1940’s romance which was less about materialistic things but more about the actual relationship, the Mise En Scene could include romantic scenery to emphasise their relationship such as beaches, the country side, castles etc.


Wartime Romance:

We are merging war film with romance and taking different elements from both genres. Although we have slightly challenged typical 1940’s love stories by having an ‘affair’ in the equation which would mostly be unheard of back then, we have mostly stuck to the love/war genre but slightly crossing the boundaries. By setting a love story during a war, it challenges the common things you would expect from their relationship as the husband would usually go off to war.