Sound Review: The Hudsucker Proxy

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
Directors: The Coen Brothers

In this screwball comedy, the sudden suicide of Waring Hudsucker shocks the city of New York. A naïve Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) fresh out of college finds himself seated as CEO of Hudsucker Industries only to be manipulated by the greedy board led by Sidney J. Mussburger (Paul Newman). By placing an inexperienced “imbecile” as CEO, they can obtain and buy the stock shares of the company for dirt-cheap and gain complete control over the presiding Industry. During this scheme, the fast-talking, ambitious reporter, Amy Archer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) catches wind of their fishy business and goes undercover to reveal the scam of Hudsucker Industries.

The Hudsucker Proxy is scored by Carter Burwell, who composed thematic melodies of classical ballet music inspired by “Adagio.” The smooth orchestrated score helps to keep the transition from scene to scene flow without a hitch. The Coen Brothers use a diegetic voice over from a character, the clock cleaner in which he is the personification of time in the movie. He is the first voice heard on the film, introducing the setting and time the story takes place. His voice is wise and old, to give the audience a sense of this being a moral tale—power and money can’t buy happiness.
Within the beginning of the film, there’s a scene of Barnes, fresh out of Muncie Business School standing in front of a flipping board with job titles. The naïve Barnes is excited to see so many job openings but soon realizes to his dismay that all of them required vast experience. The increasing sound of the plastic titles flipping rapidly creates an anguished chaotic environment for Barnes’ to see the apparent reality of the work force.
The written dialogue for the characters has a farce style to it—quick and curt (1950’s type of jabber). For instance the notorious Archer reporter talks fast and uses plenty of volume and pitch to add to her rambunctious and tom-boyish character.

-Star