12019-01-25T22:52:42+00:002.5 Applause1Applause (1929)plain2019-01-25T22:52:42+00:00Director Rouben Mamoulian favored heavy-handed symbolism. The shadow tells us that Hitch is evil; Kitty’s placement in the corner evokes her powerlessness. The film could have cut to this composition, but the dolly-in announces the framing as a deliberate choice. Knowing that the camera could be rolled back a few feet reinforces our awareness that the storyteller has chosen not to do so.