“You’re Tearing Me Apart”: Deconstructing Mise-en-Scène in Rebel Without A Cause

Mise-en-scène describes the placement of all characters and objects within the scope of the camera’s lens. Stylistically, it can be used to describe the director’s “eye,” all that they choose to reveal, or conceal, within a shot. It refers to such specific elements as props, position, posture, pointof-view, camera angle, color, and lighting. When skillfully employed the effect can be dramatic, intensely emotional, captivating, and even iconic. Director Nicholas Ray’s Rebel Without A Cause (1955) is considered to be a preeminent example of exceptional mise-en-scène. As one of the truly iconic American films of its era, Rebel relies heavily on character development, superb acting, and storytelling to further its plot. Much of the storytelling is done through the use of mise-en-scène. A deconstruction of this technique is useful for both theoretical and pedagogical applications in the study of film.