Non-Verbal Messages

Non-verbal messages are understood as the process of communicating messages through conveying messages without the use of words. These messages are usually visual and can be conveyed using touch and gestures, dress, through body language and postures, eye contact, silence, space and facial expression. It has been suggested that non-verbal cues are just as effective as verbal expressions in terms of conveying messages. This can be qualified by analyzing the movie “Victor Victoria” by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer in which the characters involved consistently use an array of verbal cues. From the film, it is evident that non-verbal messages are effective in conveying several messages. The audience can still tell what a character is feeling or is hoping to achieve without verbally expressing emotion.

Victoria Grant is a budding artiste who hopes to become a musical sensation in Paris. Her initial attempts to become an artiste do not bear fruit. It is until she meets Carroll Todd also known as Toddy that her career takes off. Toddy suggests that Victoria pretends to be a man with the capability to sing like a man. In the film, here have been various instances of non-verbal cues. For, example, when Richard comes back to get his clothes from Toddy’s place, he find that Victoria has worn them. Victoria chases him out of Toddy’s apartment and Richard later describes that a man had attacked him. In this sense, the non-verbal cue was dressing (Edwards). Richard assumed Victoria was a man just by looking at how she was dressed. The night before, Victoria auditioned and broke a glass; the breaking of glass signifies that she is a very good singer (Edwards).

Another non-verbal message is an instance where Victoria performs on stage and later reveals that she is actually a man. In this performance, the audience is astonished when Victoria assumes a male posture and reveals her hair that has been cut in a fashion attributed to males (Edwards). Among the members of the Audience is King Marchand, who owns multiple clubs in the city of Chicago. King is pleased with Victoria’s performance and his companion Norma Cassidy realizes that he is smitten. His face betrays smiles throughout the performance (Edwards). The short frequent glances she gives him shows that she is not comfortable with the effect Victoria has on King (Edwards). When Victoria reveals that she is actually a man, the expression on King’s face is that of disbelief, disappointment and surprise (Edwards). Norma’s face on the other hand shows delight and when she stands, one is convinced that she is not happy because of her performance, but relief from realizing Victoria is actually Victor Grazinski (Edwards).

After the shocking performance, Norma and King go back to their hotel room where she tries to make King notice her. She dresses up and takes up a posture that is assumed seductive (Edwards). However, king is not interested because he is taken by Victor and is convinced that she is a woman. King Marchand invites Victor, Toddy and Cassell to Chez Lui for dinner. He now knows that Victor is a woman. When Victor performs with Toddy at the Chez Lui, one gets the sense that a couple is performing. They exchange looks to suggest that they are in a relationship (Edwards). However, King betrays a knowing smile that shows he is aware of the fraud perpetrated by Victoria (Edwards). Just before Victoria performs in the same occasion, she is introduced to the revelers of the club. To maintain her male identity, she picks up male mannerisms. For example, brushing her hair back and holding her chin, as men of the time were accustomed to (Edwards). The aim of the film is based on the lead actor’s efforts to portray herself both s a man and a woman. This has been effectively brought out by the use of non-verbal communication. It is therefore evident that non-vernal communication is just as effective as verbal communication.

Work Cited

Edwards, Blake, Tony Adams, Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley A. Warren, Alex Karras, John Rhys-Davies, Henry Mancini, Leslie Bricusse, and Paddy Stone. Victor Victoria. Burbank, CA: Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, 1982.