Over the past five weeks we have been working in pairs with a graphic design student on a project where we were given a classic film to watch and then research all aspects of it including the general themes, director, actors, social context, etc.
Our film was ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’. From our initial research we had to create a mood board which detailed our findings, then make a 3D model to represent the film which was then made into a poster for the movie. Within this model we had to try and incorporate the title, names of actors/directors into it.
‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’ is a black comedy by Ealing studios made in 1949. It’s set in England during the Edwardian times and pokes fun at murder and the different social class systems of the time.
The story follows Louis, who is narrating the story as he writes his memoirs in prison, awaiting his death for a murder he didn’t commit. Throughout the film Louis goes on a humorous murder campaign to kill off 8 members of his family, all played by Alec Guinness, who stand in his way to inheriting the Dukedom and lots of money! He sees murder as a game.
The twist in the tale shows Louis being put on death row for a murder he was framed for, none of the ones he actually committed, but writes his memoirs as he waits to be executed. At the last minute his name is cleared, but accidentally leaves his memoirs behind in his cell, detailing how he murdered 8 members of his family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYTxIw6kjZ0
For our model we decided we would create our own cluedo type game board as Louis viewed murder as a game. We modelled 8 different game pieces representing the 8 different types of death featured in the film, eg, caviar bomb, rifle and hot air balloon. We also created 8 counters to represent the 8 members of the family played by Alec Guinness.
rachel nesbitt 
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