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A breif History of the crime film genre presented in a timeline for my A2 Media studies coursework. All work completed by Kev Ishimwe.
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Film Crucial Step for the genre as one of the 1st films to play around with the whole crime idea.
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Sound: "Wise guy" dialogue ("Member of the family"/"Crook), Moody scores, sound effects. Mise en scene: Cigarettes, expensive/high status clothing, weapons, alcohol and drugs, suits. Characters: "Snitch/grass", bent cops, Alienated hero, Henchman, hitman, Femme fatales. Themes: Rivals, Heists, thefts, "asecension killings".
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In a period called the "Roaring 20's", 1920's, Hollywood Gangster films birthed Crime films. This could of happened because it was the prohibition era. Gangs of criminals saw the opportunity to sell illegal alcohol. Al Copone, Edward G. Robinson and Robert De Niro were gangsters that help influence and cerment the genre in history. As the genre continues to develop, it reflects society's crime patterns and fear.
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This film was based upon a play wrote by Maude Fulton in New York in 1923.
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These two films were very important to the development and history of the genre timeline. They highlighted how speakeasies (llicit liquor stores or nightclubs) and crime was a key component of that era. They used dark lighting sets and and basic locations, this implied they did not have advanced technology.
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During this period film noirs adopted the dark lighing and mininal sets but updated the themes to show how society had changed to become more disquieting. Also how representations and gender roles were evolving. E.g. Aleinated heros and femme fatales. Films:
Double indemnity
The maltese falcon
Kiss me deadly
The third man -
Because of the World War 2 British noir reflected the the post war fears and crimes of that era. It continued to follow film noir conventions though.
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This is where British crime capers were born. They blurred the lines between seveal genres such as comedy and heist's, adding a happier side. Also were "cheecky cockney" characters emerged from with like able anti heros. Cliffhangers continued to be used and romantic European settings were incorporated.
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This genre was born from the brutal downturn that the late 1960's took. It showed and represented the infamous criminals that arised, such as Jack D McVitie and the renowned Kray twins. This era put a spotlight on gangsters with films such as, Get Carter.
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This is where British postmodern gangster films really took off and found their feet. It incorporated past british film iconograpghy and the "New laddism" that arised in the 1990's. These postmodern film hybrids gave mixed representation and heavily styled production, using high art styles and hyperreality. E.g. Snatch.
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This decade is without a shadow of a doubt, the one that has governed and shaped how British crime films are now executed. It has stolen (Bricolage) aspects from postmodernism (to create a new genre) but has also used traditional iconography from previous decades like the 1960's/70's which centered around gangsters.
