Tools of Characterization

Characterization in Spellbound

Direct Characterization

Constance is an ice queen. How do you know she's an ice queen? Because the film makes sure someone tells you she's an ice queen right out of the gate. Practically the first conversation in the film is the creepy Dr. Fleurot telling Constance that she has a "lack of human and emotional experience." He then hugs her and says, "it's rather like embracing a textbook."

Dr. Fleurot is supposed to be a jerk… but he's also a psychiatrist, and he seems to have at least some insight into Constance. She is very reserved and emotionally distant—at least until "Edwardes" comes along. (Personally, we think she's reserved and emotionally distant because all her colleagues are sexist jerks like Dr. Fleurot. The film doesn't really seem to consider that idea, though.)

Speech and Dialogue

John Ballantyne is a big ol' conflicted mess of neuroses. You can tell he is because of his dialogue. Most of the time he's charming and nice as pie, just exactly what you'd expect from someone who looks as dashing and suave as Gregory Peck.

But then sometimes he freaks out. When Constance is trying to analyze him, he suddenly snaps,

BALLANTYNE: Do you have to sit there smiling at me like some smug know-it-all schoolteacher?

That's not a very nice thing to say. It shows that Ballantyne isn't in control of himself. His subconscious is "putting up a fight." It also shows you he's divided; he's (literally) not himself.

Occupation

Dr. Brulov is an analyst—and that's a big part of his character. He's wise and smart and perceptive; he knows that Ballantyne is a neurotic mess just by looking at him.

'Cause that's the sort of smarts you expect from an analyst. Especially if the analyst has a beard.