Conventions of Gangster films

By Ashley Danbury

Conventions of Gangster

films

The Storyline

Opening

Sound

Shot Types

Historical

1940’s/1950’s

Modern

Family

Business

Personal

Power

To maintain To obtain

Dialogue

Character introductions

Two characters The

“Boss”

Establishes storyEstablishes

character

Diegetic

Non-diegeticDialogue

Gunshots, punches, footsteps, etc

Music

Contrapuntal sound

Narration

Two shots

Power triangles

Quick cuts

Mid shots

Mise En

Scene

Setting

Colour

CostumeOften dark – Blacks and grey

Also red – represents lots of themes

Urban / City

Industrial/ housing estates

Formal attire

Men = suit + tie

Women = dresses

The Godfather – Opening sceneThe Godfather really sets the bar when it comes to the Mob or Film-Noir genre and carries a lot of conventions we see in gangster films today. It starts with non-diegetic music playing in the background, suggestive of the known Prohibition era of gangsters led by the infamous Al Capone who is of Italian decent. We then see the title of the film centred on a black background and as we will see in some of the other films, this seems to be used often in films of this type. The first shot we see a man pleading for help from the Corleone family, another convention, typically most gangster organisations will be started within a family and then branch out. This is common in gangster films as well. Our main character seen below wears a suit and is very well kept. Typically in gangster films especially mob and film-noir gangsters will be seen wearing suits or very formal attire. In the real-world gangs did this to present professionalism to show they were to be respected and to demonstrate that, to them, their gang is like a business to them.

Background with title in the centre.Non-diegetic music in the background.

The man pleading for help from the Corleone family.He is well-dressed, in formal attire. The audience should take the side of the family because of the over the shoulder shot shows him as weak.

The main character who is the head of the family.Again, is well-dressed, demanding respect by all but also representative of his and his families professionalism.

44 Inch Chest – Opening scene• The opening to 44 Inch Chest uses low level lighting and slow establishing shots to create mystery and

intrigue the audience as to what is happening on the screen. It also does this by using lots of props such as broken glass, smashed pots and a broken TV to also put across mystery. As mentioned before, the clip uses slow close ups to begin with focusing on isolated objects and then cuts to long shots showing the whole room including the individual objects within them. The editing unlike the other clips is slow and pans across the objects and rooms. In the clip Ray Winston is wearing an untied shirt and braces so he looks undone and shocked. Throughout the whole scene non-diegetic music is playing which is also contrapuntal sound. Finally the setting takes place within what looks like Ray Winston's room which is expensive suggesting that Ray Winston is a successful criminal.

Costume: Shirt & Braces.

Shot:Close up.

Props:Pillow Case.

Lighting: Low Level.

Shot: Long shot.

Props: Broken TV.

Rocknrolla – Opening scene• The opening to Rocknrolla begins with a man stood in a room shot with low-level lighting. Non-diegetic

music starts playing in the background along with a non-diegetic voiceover providing a backstory to the film. The man has drugs and a gun, two of the most commonly seen and traditional props in gangster films. This, along with the voiceover, gives us the idea that the man is a gangster and, as the voiceover suggests, a ‘rocknrolla’. The clip then briefly cuts to some other scenes representing gangster behaviour, before the opening credits begin. The opening credits consist of sketches depicting several things relating to the film and the non-diegetic music, now much louder and faster. When the credits end, a new scene begins; this time, there are multiple men, all in suits. This very traditional costume suggests the convention that they are part of an organisation or ‘family’ as often seen in gangster films. The man in the middle is most likely the person in charge, suggested by the power triangle the characters are arranged in.

Low level lighting.

Power Triangle.

Pulp Fiction – Opening scene• In Pulp Fiction the gangsters don’t actually appear in the opening scene though we do see themes that are

in a lot of gangster films and some other interesting things to note. We start in an American café, two characters a man and women sitting in a booth eating and drinking coffee. Smoking ,a common convention in the genre, is used but we also see this two-shot establishing a clear relationship between these two characters than continues with other relationships throughout the film. They are in conversation about the crimes they have committed and then decide to rob the restaurant they are in. The man slams a gun on the table presenting the convention of violence and particularly the use of guns that is possibly the most common convention in gangster films. Before they the carry out their plan though they kiss, although overlooked this follows a convention of gangster films: motive. In a lot of gangster films the gangsters do what they do with a certain motive, often money, pride or in this case love. Also to note, Pulp Fiction doesn’t use non-diegetic music only diegetic music like the typical hustle and bustle expected in a crowded café.

Two shot of the main characters, eating and drinking in café. One is smoking and the other is listening to him speak.

Gun use shows the theme of crime and violence. As well as the characters deciding to rob the restaurant they are in.

Displaying the motive of their crimes done and crimes to commit, they’re in love. Common motives in gangster films are pride or love.

The Departed – Opening scene• The opening starts with subtitles giving the audience a sense of time and setting, before cutting to a voice

over of one character over clips of violence in America. Some non-diegetic music is playing in the background as we see a pan of the city of Columbus that gives the conventional setting of America. The next clip is of character who is doing the voice over, walking through a garage, silhouetted by the light. The scene then cuts to a shot of the urban city, which is very common in more modern gangster and crime films. The character takes money from a local business, promoting the convention of power of criminals over civilians. It then cuts to a clip of a religious ceremony. Not seen so clearly in other previous opening sequences, but religion tends to be a very common convention in gangster and crime films. Next shown is a two shot of an execution taking place on a beach. This shows the common convention of violence and gun. Finally a shot of the main character stepping out the silhouetted darkness reveals his identity.

Subtitles – Displaying time and setting.

Money changing hands – shows criminal power over citizens.

Execution on a beach – shows the convention of guns and violence.