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Abstract
The goal of this research study was to examine Alfred Hitchcocks use of costuming as a storytelling tool in his films. Two of his films of the 1950s were selected, Stage Fright (1950) and Strangers on a Train (1951). Instances of costuming related to the story in each film were recorded chronologically, decoded, and various types of usage were assessed. The study found the same types of usages in both films, primarily the use of costume to aide in plot advancement, to describe, conceal, or reveal information about a character, and to create contrast. All of these usages contribute to the world created in the films. The primary difference between the two films lies in the use of costuming primarily to conceal characters motives and identities in Stage Fright, while in Strangers, costume is used to reveal the motives and identities of the characters. The study found that costuming was an essential aspect of the storytelling in the two films.