Intruder In The Dust Film Analysis
Evan Pierce
English 3640
Intruder In the Dust Film Analysis Clarence Brown’s 1949 film, Intruder In the Dust, explores the path of a 16 year old and his coming to understand racism in his world. The motion picture makes use of its mysterious plotline, and its highlighted scenes that depict the relationship between Chick and Lucas. Chick being a white 16 year old boy, and Lucas, a proud black man in his late 40’s. Set in 1940’s
Mississippi, the feelings of post war racism towards blacks are accentuated. The director makes use of not using a score in his film to emphasize the serious nature of the situations, and miseenshot to emphasize individual and overall moods during the film.
The story begins with a wailing siren and a large crowd of adult white men gathering around the sheriffs office to see what is going on. As Sheriff Hampton pulls Lucas out of the back of his car, the crowd becomes silent and the camera switches to Lucas’ point of view and pans across this crowd of white men and their faces. The slow moving camera shows the look of disgust on all of their faces. This scene emphasizes the universal feeling of white supremacy in this time. How did all of these people already hear about what he did? Furthermore, why do they all look so infuriated and full of hate for this man? It is because of the Jim Crow laws, and the fact that in this time blacks were considered second rate citizens.
Lucas calls out to Chick and asks him to get his uncle, who is a lawyer, to take his case.
Chick seems to become distraught over the fact that he was asked for help. The dinner table scene begins as a full shot of Chick’s mother, father, and Uncle John but his back is turned.
Chicks father is very matter of fact with Chick when he tells him to keep his nose clear of Lucas and the dilemma itself all while ordering his african american house servant to bring food and drink to the table.. Showing the instilled racism that is the source of Chicks
English 3640
Intruder In the Dust Film Analysis Clarence Brown’s 1949 film, Intruder In the Dust, explores the path of a 16 year old and his coming to understand racism in his world. The motion picture makes use of its mysterious plotline, and its highlighted scenes that depict the relationship between Chick and Lucas. Chick being a white 16 year old boy, and Lucas, a proud black man in his late 40’s. Set in 1940’s
Mississippi, the feelings of post war racism towards blacks are accentuated. The director makes use of not using a score in his film to emphasize the serious nature of the situations, and miseenshot to emphasize individual and overall moods during the film.
The story begins with a wailing siren and a large crowd of adult white men gathering around the sheriffs office to see what is going on. As Sheriff Hampton pulls Lucas out of the back of his car, the crowd becomes silent and the camera switches to Lucas’ point of view and pans across this crowd of white men and their faces. The slow moving camera shows the look of disgust on all of their faces. This scene emphasizes the universal feeling of white supremacy in this time. How did all of these people already hear about what he did? Furthermore, why do they all look so infuriated and full of hate for this man? It is because of the Jim Crow laws, and the fact that in this time blacks were considered second rate citizens.
Lucas calls out to Chick and asks him to get his uncle, who is a lawyer, to take his case.
Chick seems to become distraught over the fact that he was asked for help. The dinner table scene begins as a full shot of Chick’s mother, father, and Uncle John but his back is turned.
Chicks father is very matter of fact with Chick when he tells him to keep his nose clear of Lucas and the dilemma itself all while ordering his african american house servant to bring food and drink to the table.. Showing the instilled racism that is the source of Chicks