Daily Dialogue — August 21, 2017

“I want your full attention, Starling. Be very careful with Hannibal Lecter. Dr. Chilton at the asylum will go over all the physical procedures used with him. Do not deviate from them for any reason whatsoever. And you’re to tell him nothing personal, Starling. Believe me, you don’t want Hannibal Lecter inside your head.”

— The Silence of the Lambs (1991), screenplay by Ted Tally, novel by Thomas Harris

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Advice.

Trivia: When characters are talking to Starling, they often talk directly to the camera. When she is talking to them, she is always looking slightly off-camera. Director Jonathan Demme has explained that this was done so as the audience would directly experience her POV, but not theirs, hence encouraged the audience to more readily identify with her.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Although more of an order than advice, this is a setup for a payoff. Not only does Clarice tell Lecter a lot of personal details per their quid pro quo agreement, she definitely lets Lecter get “inside her head,” which enables her to confront her greatest fear.