Mise en Scène analysis of Downtown Abbey

Why is miss en scene important?
Helps to set the tone, emotion and meaning of the shot

Verisimilitude - The realism or appearance of being true

Continuity - Ensuring that everything is keeps the same eg if someone moves away they need to be shown moving and not teleporting

Set: 

• 1912 - Hicghclere castle

Actors: 

• Hugh Bonneville
• Jim Carter
• Joanne Froggat
• Rob James-Collier
• Elizabeth McGovern
• Sophie McShera
• Lesley Nicol

PART 1

• Use of the ringing bells to get the attention instead of a walkie talkie or a phone call
• Dark lighting to emphasise lower class as the power and more money would be put into the upper class

• Ironing the newspaper to make them dry for the master
• The iron is just a block of metal with a handle, needs to be out on a heater to reheat instead of an electric iron
• Rusty ironing board

• Use of tabloids and not newspapers or magazines
• Delivery boy on a bike

• Communal breakfast for all staff
• Simple colours to show the lower class
• Servants table with typical headmaster for everyone, difference in costume however he still has different costume to the upper classes.
• Men dressed with bow ties, even the serpents to show class of the owners

PART 2

• Difference of colour scheme from the poorer scene inclusive of more colour and gold
• Brighter lighting from natural light from large windows to show the grand nature of the upper class

• Abundance of food, serving equipment and paintings on the wall to show the status of the upper class
• Intricate design on the wooden furniture 

• Hairstyle fitting for the time with 1920's waves

• Use of sending a telegram as opposed to a letter or an electronic message

• Contrast of how the upper class have breakfast in bed, served to them, alone