Inside the Underworld: Exploring the Power of Crime & Gangster Genre

Inside the Underworld: Exploring the Power of Crime & Gangster Genre

Crime & Gangster films have been captivating audiences since The Great Depression when the decay of American society inspired filmmakers to produce stories based on anti-values. This genre introduces the audience to the dark and exciting world of organized crime, either for its scenes filled with action and tension or for its characters' complex relationships and personalities.

About the Genre

1936 Posters about the beginning of Crime & Gangster movie genre

The dangerous underground of crime is usually the center of Crime & Gangster movies genre, which tell stories of gangsters, mob leaders, and their illicit operations. Power struggles, betrayals, and loyalty are frequently featured in these movies. Even though the characters' archetypes are mostly anti-heroes, their ethical dilemmas are fascinating, even those who don't always make the greatest decisions.

According to The Motion Picture Association's film ratings, this genre is for an adult audience, due to the violence, action, and explicit scenes.   Additionally, the target is mostly masculine, as the the leading role is often a man. These movies are especially well-liked for its dramatic, action packed, and moral complex .

Content 

Criminals or mobsters and their roles in illicit activities such as drug trafficking, robbery, and murder are frequently the subject of stories. These films examine issues such as devotion, treachery, and power. The way the genre blends the temptation of riches and power with the unavoidable repercussions of leading a risky life is very interesting.

The audience comes across these major content themes:

• Characters struggle to take or keep control of the criminal organization.
• Loyalty and Betrayal.
• Morality: Because the significant characters are likable and complicated, we find ourselves pulling for them even if they are criminals.

Production Techniques

Crime & Gangster movies are produced to impact viewers. Low lighting is frequently used in these films to create shadows and a tense or dangerous atmosphere. The criminal world is set by urban environments, such as smoky bars, poorly lit streets, industrial zones, or opulent residences. 

The color palettes are usually neutral. For example,  viewers may enjoy "Peaky Blinders," which uses grays, browns, and blacks to capture the industrial and post-World War I atmosphere. The brutality of the criminal underworld and the severity of the working-class environment are reflected in a dirty appearance.

EX: Peaky Blinders Season 1 Trail.

To communicate the depth of characters' feelings, filmmakers also employ camera techniques like close-up views. While slower pace is employed in more dramatic times to heighten suspense and convey the gravity of tough decisions, fast-cut editing is frequently used in action sequences.

Sound design is frequently employed in crime and gangster movies to create tension and suspense. For example, silence may heighten the intensity of a scene, particularly before a violent confrontation. Scenes may become more powerful and emotionally charged when the audience is startled by sudden loud noises, such as gunshots or auto accidents.

Tones, accents, and characters' speech are also important. Sharp, brief conversations and accents depending on the setting give the movie a more realistic depiction of real life.

The Marketing of Crime & Gangster Movies

Action, drama, and power conflicts are the main themes of crime and gangster movies, and their marketing reflects this. With signs of danger like weapons,  big groups of men, or dimly lit city streets, the posters typically feature the main actors looking stylish in suits. Tensive confrontations, treacherous betrayals, and just enough violence to grab the viewer's attention are all in the trailers.

One of the best examples is The Godfather (1972). The promotion of the movie showed Marlon Bando, as Vito corleone, main characther. The image of Brando on the poster, with a black suit and a serious and serene expression, evokes a figure of respect and fear. His solemn pose and use of shadows highlight the mystery and darkness of the character.

At the same time, the poster symbolizes the power structure within the mafia: The Godfather, or leader, represents both protection and danger to those under his influence.

According to Box Mob data, The Godfather grossed between $246 and 287 million at the box office when movie was initially released. However, it was not the end of the story. Its overall profits have increased to almost $1.6 billion (adjusted for inflation) because to re-releases, DVD and Blu-ray sales, and now streaming. This demonstrates how effective marketing and a compelling narrative can sustain a movie's profitability for decades.

The Godfather has earned hundreds of millions through home video sales and merchandising. Its success demonstrates that, even years after its initial release, a well-marketed Crime and Gangster movie can still draw in new viewers.

Examples
The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather is among the first movies people consider the Crime and Gangster genre. In addition to examining loyalty, power, and familial bonds, this movie depicts the tale of the wealthy Corleone family. Its emphasis on Michael Corleone's ascent and decline as the new head of the family's criminal enterprise represents the genre.

This film focuses on striking a balance between the corrosive power of crime and familial devotion. To create drama, the director, Francis Ford Copolla, employs slow, tense situations and uses neutral colors, predominating black, to set most of the scenes. Also, the music of this film has been widely recognized as an icon in the film industry. The famous melody represents the power of the mafia in the Godfather movies.

This movie has been remastered and always catches the audience's attention. It includes everything about the Crime & Gangster genre: characters struggle to take or keep control, action, loyalty, betrayal, and moral ambiguity. Besides, it is obvious the exceptional performances of characters such as 'Don Corleone' starring Marlon Brando, who, with his unique accent and characterization of a family leader, left behind a legacy for the future movie industry. 

EX: The Godfather, 50th anniversary trail and theme song

Scarface (1983)

Scarface focuses on Tony Montana, an immigrant from Cuba who becomes influential in the drug trade in Miami. A recurring subject in the genre, the movie depicts how his ambition and greed finally bring him to ruin. The movie examines the issues of having too much ambition and the fallout from leading a criminal life.

In action sequences, dazzling, colorful surroundings, and quick editing evoke a sense of suspense. Unlike most movies in this genre, Scarface uses more vibrant colors. For example, it uses yellow to represent the lively vibe of Miami and to caution Tony's character. It also uses purple, especially in nightclubs, to represent a vibrant and wealthy atmosphere. Like most gangster movies, it also uses red to represent the power and danger that Tony Montana holds.

Another way Scarface falls into this genre is with its theme. Tony not only is very wealthy, but he built a narco trafficking empire up from the ground, and lives a lavish lifestyle. The common theme of betrayal is also explored, as his good friend Manolo was having a secret relationship with Tony's sister, which led Tony to shoot him in a fit of rage. You can also see many common symbols in these movies like guns, other weapons and entourages.

Another characteristic we can see in Scarface is the rags to riches journey of Tony. Tony came to America by himself with no money, after escaping his impoverished life in Cuba. He then became Miami's biggest drug lord, and lived a life of wealth and power.

Scarface Trailer

Other Crime & Gangster Movies

Goodfellas (1990)

The Departed  (2006)

Casino (1995) 

Gangs of New York (2002) 

The Untouchables (1987) 

Since it goes deeply into the exciting, dangerous, and ethically difficult realm of organized crime, the Crime & Gangster genre has remained popular throughout the years. It is still among the most thrilling cinema genres today because of its dramatic power battles, tremendous action, and intriguing characters

Sources: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangster_film

https://www.ranker.com/list/gangster-movies-and-films/ranker-film

https://www.motionpictures.org/film-ratings/

 https://aithor.com/essay-examples/the-genre-of-crime-and-gangster-movies-essay

https://prezi.com/84mlnnznudwq/the-target-audience-for-crime-thrillers/#:~:text=The%20target%20audience%20for%20a,role%2C%20and%20is%20in%20charge.

https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0068646/?ref_=bo_se_r_1

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dillinger-era-gangster-films/

Representation of Dexter

One of my favorite shows is Dexter, which came out in 2006.  This series has many complex characters, like Dexter Morgan and his sister Debra.  Dexter is a "not so bad" psychopath who works as a blood spatter specialist for the Miami Metro Police Department and uses his intelligence to commit murders based on a code of ethics. He is secretly a serial killer.

 

Dexter's representation is a quiet, strong man who hides his feelings due to his controlled attitude. In fact, he doesn't believe he has any. The show clears up this stereotype by exposing Dexter's internal struggles and concealing his darker tendencies from others around him. The most intriguing part is that he lives by a strict code of conduct his adoptive father taught him, so he only goes after murderers who escaped the law. Dexter has an intense and nonchalant personality that could be interpreted as psychopathic.

Extract from Youtube Dr. Todd Grande  about Dexter's personality

 https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG7OUd-Ew38

However, Dexter doesn't fit into the stereotype of a murderer. Generally speaking, a serial murderer is depicted with othering as a hidden, mysterious, and lonely person, which Dexter does reflect. But he keeps up a regular life while hiding his sinister secret, where he has a career, a family, and friendships. This representation confronts the idea that killers tend to be visible or stand out in some way, making viewers question their conceptions.

Another complex character is Dexter's sister, Debra Morgan.  She is shown as a strong, determined police officer who is working to establish herself in a field that is dominated by men. Her slim figure, short hair, and functional clothing reflect her no-nonsense attitude. At first glance, Debra can appear to be a tomboy or a masculine woman, but the show digs deeper and shows her inner fragility. 

Her frequent use of foul language and ongoing sense of inferiority, especially when compared to Dexter, which also comes from her experience with her father who always favorited Dexter, enhances her character and show that even powerful women have vulnerabilities. 

In general, the show Dexter shows some stereotypes, such as the tough female cop and the quiet, silent, strong man, but it also defies them by giving these characters complexity. Dexter's struggles with who he is and Debra's emotional battle make them seem more real and show that people are not just one thing. It's one of the points that keeps the audience interested and makes the show so fascinating.

Sound Project

Sound Project

 This past week, we completed a Sound project. For this project, we had to create a 1-2 minute video with only sounds and no visuals. We had to download sounds from online websites, and four other sounds had to be done as foley. We may only use seven words.

My partner and I worked together on our chosen story, about a knight's sword fight in the woods that ended in the death of one of the characters. 

Planning

To begin this project, we completed a planning outline on Word. We used it to make a timeline of the scenes and the order of the sounds. We shared the document so we could each add our own details on our own time and discussed what we would keep and what would get removed when we were together in class. 

After we finished the Outline, we began to work independently. I chose Imovie to complete the project. I used the sites Freesound and Pixabay to download the sounds I needed, and I also got some from the Imovie sound collection. Of course, I created foleys in different places to use this sound technique in my final project. 

Outline:

What Was Done Well and What Could Be Done Better

One of the best things about my project was the foleys. I did four foley sounds, all of which fit perfectly with the sounds around them. 

1.- Striking the swords with a knife and fork.  

2.- When the character is slammed into a wooden structure, I hit a wooden window and some trees. 

3.  For the walking sounds, I recorded them on different surfaces to produce a variety of movements: slow walking over stones, on the grass, more quickly in the woods, and over a rug to simulate the sounds of the fighting clip. 

4.- I did the sink's faucet water for the heavy rain sound. 

However, I wish I could've done one thing better: more rain layering. It was raining during the entire scene, so I had to upload another rain clip several times and use the foley because it wasnt long enough to cover the whole video. And while I did my best to make it seem smooth, in some parts, it sounds chopped when one rain clip changes to another.  Also, I wish that the tone of the phrase: "This didn't have to end like this," was more dramatic because it was the end of the knights' fight that finished with the death of one of the characters. 

Link to foley sounds:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WXlRt3_BqBoEzZM6q9IG2t4qm57Wg8dM/view?usp=sharing

What I Learnt

Before this project, I had yet to learn how to layer sounds or even what a foley was. But thanks to the assigned videos and the notes taken during the sound lesson, I managed to do this project well, layer my sounds properly, and even create my own foley sounds.  

Foley is the art of sound, and it is amazing how artists can create unique sound effects using everyday materials or ingredients. For example, the artists made the sounds of the aliens in the movie "A Quiet Place." You can never imagine that they were recorded using grapes. 

Link to our project:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VF1pX5wRFvD-eNjrpmlSjh0qwpEKBrDW/view?usp=sharing