The Silence of the Lambs - Dissecting a Scene 

What movies would you like to see us cover in a future video?! Also, keep an eye out for podcast episode on The Silence of the Lambs-you can check out the podcast here: bit.ly/beyondthescreenplay

Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins are absolutely magnificent in this masterpiece. It’s so strange being threatened so deeply by Lecter when he’s behind bars, the scripting of his psychological manipulation was fantastic. Edit: Behind reinforced glass sorry- adding even more intimidation to the scene.

Hey Screenplay, Michael here

...And now I'm reminded that Every Frame A Painting's still dead :( Fingers crossed that Michael and this channel sticks around a lot longer.

That thing Hopkins does sucking air in through chattering teeth (at 20 seconds) stuck with me for years. One day I saw my cat do that, which came as a bit of shock. He was stalking a bird. He looked up at it and did a perfect Antony Hopkins impression. Lecter is a cat in a cage. Clarice is a starling. In a similar vein, I was researching how to sculpt an amputated arm and went to the medical library to get some idea of what it should look like. The books were full of images I'd seen in horror movies like Hellraiser. (Body bloated from being in water, for example) Our monsters are based on real things

I would be interested in seeing a video on 12 Angry Men or Schindler's list.

Clarice: *existed* Hannibal: *aggressive ksksksksks*

Christopher Nolan tends to use a technique where he'll cut back and forth frequently between two or three different scenes, all of which slowly escalating in action, to build up tension. Maybe it would be interesting to analyze how this technique is first written on the screenplay?

Bloody brilliant. It is rare to find a RU-vid channel that stimulates the brain cells. Cheers!

Please make a video about blade runner 2049 or hereditary

The books are amazing and this movie in particular was a joy and I happily use it as an example of a good adaptation of a novel, it doesn't follow the same and exact story line of the book yet the feelings that the characters create while reading and the tension and interest in the main three figures stays in the movie thanks to good writing and good acting. Btw. You could talk about the movies based upon novels, I find it fascinating for it is not as easy as it seems.

Those feelings you arise when you watch this movie....is incredible. And now dissecting a single scene is reliving again those emotions.

Now I've come to a realization: Screenwriting, creative writing, or let's just say... story-telling is so DIFFICULT. I left the field of Biology because I am so done with math, Chemistry, Physics, and other stuff with formulas. God, I didn't know storytelling is almost the same.

I think also, we see that Hannibal's arc in the scene is parallel to Clarice's. We see too what he is willing to do to get what he wants and it reveals things about him as well. He is willing to be frank with Clarice and stop playing his mind games for a moment, showing how much respect he has for her. I think also a piece of Clarice is inside his head too. A true quid pro quo.

I just got the novel yesterday! Can’t wait to read it

Oh man you have no idea how happy I am that you made this!

Could you take a look and or perhaps make a video about the movie 'You were never really here' ? While I love watching movies especially ones like Ex Machina where its quite artsy and thought provoking, I could never really full understand 'You were never really here'. The movie has very minimal dialogue and focuses more on the actor(Joaquin Phoenix) to convey emotions and the scene which is why I found it difficult. But what surprised me was that I realised was that even though I couldnt fully comprehend the movie, I was never bored but enchanted with the visuals, message, cinematography, score. Love your videos! You were one of the few youtubers that got me to start analyzing films that I watch and appreciate them more

In case you do not know it, there is a screenwriting book called “The story grid” based on a thorough analysis of “The silence of the lambs”. Great video as always.

Still not as chilling or expository as Brian Cox's "Dream much, Will?" from _Manhunter_ . That scene told us everything we needed to know about our protagonist.

I would really enjoy a script analysis of a few independent/old films to see how they function (and may differ from "conventional" Hollywood formulas) Just to give some examples: Films by: - Lars Von Trier - Nicholas Winding Refn - Carl Theodor Dreyer - Gaspar Noe - Michael Haneke - etc.

Michael thank you for this wonderful video essay. Silence of the lambs has been one of my favorite movies and I do have to say that most of the movies today cannot compare to the films made then. I hope you continue to feature amazing films, both mainstream and underrated ones. I do love your passion; much like the same way I have for films. Keep it up!

I know the Audible thing is great for a lot of books for a lot of people, but I'd personally suggest if you're going to read Silence of the Lambs, to read it rather than listening to it. At least for me anyway, being able to read each character in their voices from the film (or your own imagination, if you prefer, I guess, but to me, Hopkins IS Hannibal and his voice can't really be any other way, for example) - it just, really would have taken away some of the magic of the book if it was all spoken in one voice. For me, anyway. It's a fantastic book though, I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you already liked the movie.

I would’ve loved to hear more of your character study and overall analysis of Silence of the Lambs but I’m glad you did a video on such a fantastic movie.

Don’t know if you’ll see this but maybe do Wall Street. My favorite movie of all time and Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko is exceptional. Everyone remembers “Greed is Good” but the best scene is near the end when Bud finds out Gekko played him and then confronts him.

I was today years old when I found out that Silence of the Lambs was a book first.

My favourite film. Every scene is a fucking masterpiece. Before this, this was my second least favourite of the Clarice and Hannibal interactions but this really put it up near the top.

You'll probably hit 1 million by this week

Tu canal es de los mejores del tema. Soy tu fan. Eres grande, Saludos desde Aguascalientes, México. Inspiras a los que tenemos proyectos.

Dr. Lecter is one of my favorite characters in fiction, that accounts for movies, books, videogames, ect.

Please, Michael, never leave us.

This scene is so great bc each character has a conflicting goal each want to achieve. Clarice is to find Catherine lecter's is to get out of that prison to a less secure one. They conflict when he now wants her to earn it & she hesitantly does after we are warned by Crawford dont " let hannibal in ur head " also lecter solved the case by telling them to check all the hospitals & getting records on who was rejected. That's how Jack found out Billy's identity. They deleted the scene where crawford goes to John's hopkins & threatens the dr to give him a list of all the people rejected. Also lecter in his very first lines tells clarice where jame gumb is " belvedere " so clever that took me some viewings to realize. Foster is great but u know hopkins makes the movie & franchise that came bc when he exits the last act the movie loses its specialness.

Haven’t watched the whole vid yet (but I’m sure it’s great as always!) but I REALLY wanted to say that I love the podcast! It’s both enjoyable and educational! 😊

Hi Michael, please make a video for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri !!!

You make great stuff man, please keep making more!

Interesting, but what I think you fail to note in this scene, is that it's great in setting out the motivation of the protagonist, which is also, the title of the book/film. That is, she left because she wanted to save lambs from slaughter, because they were crying out. We learn THAT is why she is willing to engage with Hannibal in this way that is dangerous, because saving innocents is her motivating factor. It's why she tried to save those lambs, it's why she is in the FBI, and ultimately, why she wants to save Catherine Martin, and all the Catherine Martins of the world. So that by saving them, she has...(wait for it) the Silence Of The Lambs. Your not mentioning that at all I feel, and sorry dude, takes away some of exactly what you're trying to lay-out. Why this scene works. Why it adds to the movie as a whole. Why this is such a great scene, in such a great screenplay. Also, I would like to add having read the book, I feel this is one of those instances where the movie is FAR superior to the book. It made some critical choices, some small, some not to small, that make it better. First and foremost I felt, the movie had a much better handle on how women actually think/react. This was one of the first books I read where I remember actively thinking, 'this dude doesn't actually know how women feel/act, does he?' Jonathan Demme is also a dude, but he did a much better job of conveying that. To little things, in the book her father is a security guard, not an actual cop, and she like lies about it?( I want to say, I read the book once years ago, and was so disappointed I never read it again), whereas his being an actual cop is, I feel, important as a character trait, because it's part of why she wants to be the ultimate cop --an FBI agent.

Ted Tally is a great guy. He came in to talk to my AP Literature class when I was in high school to talk about his screenplays and answer questions.

What about a video of an animated film? It would be great!

09:03 That fly walking on Lecter's temple deserves an Oscar.

I LOVE THIS CHANNEL SO MUCH

Another great essay. Thanks!

My new favorite channel, analysis and cinema, better than cake and ice cream

I'd be interested in seeing you analyze how Diablo Cody crafted the dialogue in Juno.

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT T H A N K Y O U

This scene reminds me a lot of the interrogation scene between the Batman and the Joker in the dark knight

Great analysis.

One of my favorite movies...EVER

Omw I thought this was an old video but then I realised I was in my sub feed! Hype!

Great Work Michael and I will ask u to watch Mr. Robot and decide urself if it is Worth analysing

Remember folks, writing is also an art. And the best art often breaks all these rules. Don't just write-by-numbers.

You have a magnificent voice...thanks for the essay

Great video. Would love to see a video about Carol (2015).

Me encanta que solo tiene horas y ya está subtitulado. I love this channel

Yesssss thank you! One of my all time fav movies

Me and my friends have a list of movies I haven’t seen that they think everyone has to see. Movies include: Zootopia, any horror movie, Forrest Gump, and even more. Looks like I have one more to add to the list

1 million subs HYPE!

Masterpiece

You could probably do a video about when we first meet Quint in the original Jaws.

Wait, i have just watched a 10 min video? It seemed like i was watching it for 2 min and learned something nobody could have explained to me within 2 hours.

It would be cool to review cut scenes from video games!

Mind blown 💣 💥

Do Gravity starring Sandra Bullock and that old guy.

I could've sworn you made this video before.

can you do Her next pls?

can u plz do one for casablanca too plz plz plz plz mate

Yo flipo el vídeo bronson

Lessons from the Screenplay vs. Every Frame a Painting - fight! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5V-k-p4wzxg.html

I've bought the In to the woods book. What other book would people recomend along the same lines? Im thinking about getting "the seven basic plots"

*Sees a reference to John Yorke Into the woods* Marry me.

This is the greatest view count ever

so... should I think every beat in 3-act structure?

2.

Please do Hereditary

How I would like to see an episode on the evolution of script writing for Game of Thrones: from complexe dialogues with purpose, to a final season full of lazy scripts and cliché fan service.

Okay this is the definition of horror

Please do Good Night Mommy :D

Would you do a video on BBC's Sherlock?

Why did he wanted to learn about Clarice???

The one thing no one has the balls to admit is how Hannibal is actually really charming at times. I'd love to have dinner with him... kinda.

I love how even though Michael has nearly a million subscribers he still checks the comments to reply to so many people, just shows how much he cares for his audience and brings us quality content that highlights how much of an expert he is in his work.

There is only one moment in the film that still sends literal shivers down my otherwise unbothered spine with heart racing. That is Hannibal's finger stroking Clarice's when handing over the file. It was shocking. It was brilliant. That moment captured on film at once, the change from standard tension of potential danger for Clarice to an actual personal promise/threat. What that promise was, I didn't know. Was it a declaration of love or admiration? Was it the menacing stroking of the lamb before slaughter? Or was it another clue for her that he was about to enter the world of actual physical contact that he had been so closely secluded from? We find one of the answers in a later film, some in this one, but in that brief moment, we are given the key without knowing which door it would lead to. SPOILER: It was all three.

“dissecting” haha i see what you did there

How to be a serial killer.... brought to you by skillshare.

*Fun Fact:* Hannibal Lector and Clarice Starling never met each during the behind-the-scenes. After the scene is finished, they went back to their private rooms and never interacted each other.

I always enjoy LFTS with some liver, some fava beans and a nice chianti.

Every frame a painting also made a video about the first interaction with Clarice and Dr. Lector

Great dissection, Silence May be my favourite film. Not sure what that says about me, but eh what can ya do?

Awesome to see a video talking about Silence which DOESN'T focus on the first meeting between Clarice & Lecter. That scene has been so over-analyzed. It's great, but it's over-analyzed. Kudos for realizing that every scene between them is worth close examination.

I just recently found out that the famous "Chianti" line is not actually Chianti in the book (since that wine would not work well with the fava beans) A man with a palate like Lector's would know that. The director, however, had to dumb down the specific sort of wine for the audience.

My favourite part in The Silence of the Lambs is when Barney says to Clarice before the first interaction; "He's past the others in the last cell. I put a chair out for you." Gives me the chills every time

I know this is a little vague, but I would really love to see a video on Harry Potter and/or The lord of the rings that maybe goes more in deth in what conscious decisions should be made in order to adapt a book into a screenplay. Or, you know, a thousand other themes from those movies.

Silence of the lambs is one of my favorite movies and I’m so happy your looking at it

I just recently watched Silence of the Lambs for the first time and almost immediately searched the LFTS channel to see if it had been covered. So glad you did this video, Michael!

I have a weird feeling that I've already watched this essay. That, or... there is way too many essays out there for The Silence of the Lambs 😂

This video hurts me. I really miss Every frame a painting. This seems like an equivalent to who wins this scene

so happy to be here before you hit 1 mill subscribers!!

The day Every frame a painting died, A star was born. Now we know that star as Lessons from Screenplay. :D

9:22 No no no. You were doing fine. You had me interested and made some interesting points about script writing, and now this ham-handed segue into your product placement. Tut-tut-tut it won't do...

“I don’t imagine the answer is on those second rate shoes Clarice.” Hannibal is savage! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I must say, I love how you add the original script for these scenes. It's really cool to see what things the actors adlibbed. Like when Lecter says "Quid pro quo, yes or no". That's clever as hell and knowing it was an adlib is great

All the scenes between Clarice-Hannibal were so amazingly fraught with tension- one could feel that they could cut it with a knife! It makes you curl up in defence or sit at the edge of your seat as if you're gonna jump any moment to warn Clarice to back off. And Hopkins' pale blue eyes did the rest. Thank you for yet another amazing video! If I might ask, can you do one on the Loki-Natasha Romanoff scene in "The Avengers". Idk why, but this scene reminds me of that one and vice-versa. Not to mention, Hopkins plays Loki's adoptive father (so like father, like son? lol).