Annie's Behavior

Annie's mannerisms clearly mark her trespasses into masculine spheres. These masculine characteristics become particularly apparent when Melanie returns from dinner at the Brenner's. Not only does the presence of substitute diegetic music code the scene as masculine, but some of Melanie's mannerisms can be considered masculine as well. The most blaring example of this occurs in a shot referenced in the image above. In the scene, Annie offers Melanie a glass of brandy, a task exclusively ascribed to men in every other Hitchcock film. For example, in Vertigo, Scotty offers Madeleine a glass of brandy after he pulls her from the bay. This activity even dates all the way back to Hitchcock's first film, The Lodger, in which the lodger offers Daisy a glass of brandy when they meet in the cafe during his escape from the police. Annie's actions are a clear trespass into a traditionally male role. She also takes on the role of protector in the scene when she asks Melanie if she can get her a blanket or a sweater. Her own clothing also codes her as masculine. She wears a robe and sits smoking a cigarette, greatly resembling a man who has retired to his parlor after dinner for a smoke and a brandy.

The furnishings in Annie's house also work to code the space as masculine. When Melanie returns from dinner at the Brenner's, the viewer is presented with a clear picture of the inside of Annie's house. While it appears to be a typical and very traditional house in Bodega Bay on the outside (much like Annie might appear a normal, traditional woman in the context of her job as a schoolteacher), Annie's house contains numerous works of modern art and trendy furnishings on the inside. Although none of the art on the inside of the house is actually famous, it all resembles the works of high-modern masters like Picasso and Kandinsky. By having such works in her house, Annie gives off the aura that she is independently wealthy and has the capability to buy famous works of art and support herself. The presence of the art and the numerous books on her shelves in addition to the recording of Tristan und Isolde signify that Annie has been highly educated like many men would be.