The design of a fireplace can be interchangeably linked with the term hearth. Mantelpieces come in many different styles and silhouettes and Hollywood has taught us that mantelpieces can be the most important character in a movie scene.
The placement of a fireplace usually sets the mood by creating an expression of love or building suspense for tragedy. The fireplace ties in as the backdrop for the ideal Hollywood scene.
(1) Pa Bailey stated in It’s a wonderful life that “…satisfying a fundamental urge, it’s deep in the race for a man to want his own roof, walls, and chimney…” If you’ve ever seen this classic, you know full well that the movie is purely Americana and represents the true meaning of the American dream.
(2) Considered one of the best films of all time is that of Orson Welles. Citizen Kane. This movie is a perfect example of how chimneys add an important role to landscape setting. Xanadu’s massive mantelpiece, which appears to reach about 10 feet in height, is placed in various scenes throughout the film, ominously signaling the loss of Kane. There are two scenes in this movie where the fireplace emphasizes the plot and adds meaning to the story. One is when the Rosebud sled is thrown into the fire because he is seen as junk. The second is where you see the immobile image of Kane’s portrait on the cloak dominating all the solitude that he contemplates. These scenes add suspense and agony, perhaps even irony, and not only affect the characters in the film, but also influence the audience watching them.
(3) Mantelpieces can create a romantic feeling in the setting of a particular scene. Many are familiar with the classic episodes of Star Wars. In episode two, Attack of the clones The two main characters in the film, Anakin and Padme, share a forbidden romance. The shared romance between the two comes together in this scene, which becomes an important facet in their love story. The scene illuminates the passion between Leia and Luke. Having the mantelpiece in this scene creates a warm setting for the couple, adding to the plot elements.
(4) In the movie titanic, the appearance of the mantelpiece helps the environment by creating the representation of the upper class. The famous drawing scene is in one of the rooms on the upper level. The fireplace is lit in the background and generates a darker light, which in turn watches over the faces of both characters. This scene is one of the most important because it establishes the connection between Rose and Jack when she asks Jack to paint her wearing only the necklace. Another scene within this movie is towards the end where the ship’s architect stands in front of the fireplace looking at the clock and watching it move from one end to the other, realizing that there is no hope for the ship.
(5) The design of mantelpieces conveys a sense of plot in a movie, whether adding a vintage sentiment decorated with dark mahogany or a spooky vibe with a traditional finish. As illustrated in the movie. The birds nothing compares to the fireplace scene. The feeling of tragedy is lurking and the haunting design of the fireplace makes this scene extremely important to the story. The scene begins quietly with a conversation over tea and escalates to a flock of angry birds swarming around them trying to attack.
(6) Most know the supernatural movie. beetlejuice that brought fear with laughter to young and old alike. The film brings together both the afterlife and life, structuring the location of the story within the home of the main characters. The house has a very quaint feel, showing various points from the film in the living room where there are antique furniture and a country-style fireplace with a grimy mantle, giving off the feeling of a ghostly presence. The importance of the setting adds to the ethereal feeling that the characters are in the company of ghosts.
(7) Along with the paranormal movie mentioned above, there are others that have the same sentiments, such as the movie young frankenstein. Here, the fireplace is more deceptive and opens up a more mystical allusion. The mantelpiece is actually hidden behind a bookcase, which doubles as a fireplace. The secret passages shown in the scenes carry out the strange and spiritual moods that the plot is intended to create.
(8) meet the parents it may be one of the few movies that combines both humor and calamity. One of the most popular scenes featured is the one where Ben Stiller tries to open a bottle of champagne and the cork breaks the cremation urn sitting on the mantelpiece. The urn instantly spills Grandma Brynes’ remains all over the carpeted floor, which instantly becomes the litter box for the family cat.
The mantelpieces have a decoration very different from any other furniture in the home. They add warmth and comfort giving that feeling of security. Mantelpieces can also add a touch of sophistication and elegance if that is your preference. The addition of a mantelpiece can finalize the ideal vision of how one might want their home to look. You can transform a dark and uninviting home into a warm country getaway.
Such an addition also allows for that extra touch of luxury to a home thus creating the perfect environment for family gatherings. It helps create that “finishing touch” and adds emphasis and ambiance to that special room. The sentiment can be romantic, elegant and sophisticated, haunting, or even warm and welcoming. So what kind of atmosphere do you want to create with your mantelpiece?