ABSTRACT
The task of this chapter is to explain how screenwriting techniques are used in classical Hollywood films to provoke dramatic suspense. The more precisely these devices are described and understood, the better the question can be approached: If and how these techniques can be used to create suspense in exhibitions. In other words, by analysing the structure of the works (i.e. their formal quality) as accurately as possible, a feasible framework can be provided for the structuring activity of curators who intend to produce suspense. This chapter describes first the typical features of classical Hollywood films more elaborately and then proceeds to introduce the individual suspense techniques using the screenwriting manuals. It underlines the outstandingly important role protagonists equipped with specific wants play in creating dramatic suspense but also highlights the significance of the other dramaturgical tools.
