Alfred Hitchcock and The 39 Steps

            In the film "The 39 Steps," Hannay, the protagonist, goes on the run from the police, who suspect him of committing murder. On his way to the Scottish Highlands, he chose a remote crofter's cottage to be his temporary hiding place. As Hannay worries about the exposure of his identity on the newspaper, he constantly distracts the crofter's wife but the wife seems to find him attractive, while the crofter despises the intimacy between them. In the scene where these three characters pray before dinner, they all have some serious matters in their minds and the couple begins to be suspicious of Hannay because of the paper. In this highly character-driven scene with limited setting, elements of mise-en-scene are presented by various suitable point-of-view shots to showcase each character's emotion and personality. .
             The deliberate placements of characters and the subtle performance given by the three actors highlight the potential tension without creating dramatic conflict, which gives this scene a sense of itchy anxiety. The scene begins with a medium shot that shows the settings and characters from the waist up. The background is simple with curtains, windows and few decorations. The characters are placed in the center of the frame, suggesting that it is a character-focused scene. This particularly simple setting not only portrays the mundane life of the crofter family but also encourages viewers to intensely focus on the foreground and the characters without other distractions. On the dining table, besides a few utensils and an oil lamp, a newspaper takes most of the space. The newspaper is one of the most crucial props throughout the film because it has the potential to expose Hannay's identity and put him in danger. .
             The existence of the newspaper not only reminds of both Hannay and the audience the danger he is constantly in but also increases the possibility of Hannay getting exposed, adding a sense of anxiety and thrill in this scene.