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"1. Using specific examples, describe how Hitchcock opens The Lady Vanishes. What tone, mood, or atmosphere is Hitchcock establishing for the audience very early on in this picture? Pay particular attention to the music. An extremely lighthearted opening scene with an establishing shot showing lots of characters and a POV moving into set (lobby of the inn).  To me, the scene has definite German Expressionist influence with the shadows and the obtuse and oblique angles of the interior design.  Accordingly, the indigenous folk music seems to establish the scene as being somewhere in continental Europe instead of England. \n2. Discuss the characters of Caldicott and Charters in this scene. What do the performances of Caldicott and Charters add to this scene. To extend from observation above, Hitchcock hints at the location early with the music, whereas Caldicott and Charters more or less confirm the location/setting (context) with their dialogue.  They seem to be articulating what the audience is likely thinking. \n3. From their doorway entrance to their staircase exit, describe how Hitchcock uses dialogue, camera movement, and the placement of characters in the frame to establish Iris (Margaret Lockwood) as the star of this scene. Iris is usually shown in the lead, when walking across the lobby, and isolated from the other two female characters in medium close ups with the innkeeper.  She has a confident air, especially when placing and giving orders.  Interestingly, she is a brunette, while her companions are blondes...a bit of a diversion from expectations of Hitchcock, however, brunettes do re-surface on later Hitchcock as strong yet under appreciated (and sometimes tragic) characters (Suzanne Pleshette, The Birds). "
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