Crime Genre Timeline

1. Crime Genre Analysis and
Timeline
By Nabil Schultschik

2. Definition of the Crime Genre
Crime fiction is the genre of fiction that deals
with crimes, their detection, criminals, and their
motives. Most crime novels share a common
structure. First there is the crime, usually a
murder; then there is the investigation; and
finally the outcome or judgment, often in the
shape of the criminal's arrest or death.

3. Crime Sub Genres
• Crime Comedy – A hybrid of crime and comedy films. Humor comes from
the incompetence of the criminals from films such as Lock, Stock and two
smoking barrels.
• Crime Drama – A combination of crime and dramatic films. Examples
include such films as Straight Time.
• Crime Thriller – A thriller in which the central characters are involved in
crime, either in its investigation, as the perpetrator.
• Film noir – A genre popular in the 1940s often fall into the crime and
mystery genres.
• Heist Film – This film deals with a group of criminals attempting to
perform a theft or robbery, as well as the possible consequences that
follow. Heist films that are lighter in tone are called "Caper films”.

4. Crime Sub Genres
• Hood film – Film dealing with African-American urban issues and culture.
They do not always evolve around crime, but often criminal activity
features heavily in the storyline. Examples include Boyz in the Hood.
• Legal Drama – Not usually concerned with the actual crime so much as the
trial in the aftermath. A typical plot would involve a lawyer trying to prove
the innocence of his or her client. Examples include A time to kill.
• Mob film - Film which focuses on characters who are involved seriously
with the Mafia or organized crime. Notable mob films include The
Godfather.
• Mystery Film - Film which focuses on the efforts of the detective, private
investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of a
crime by means of clues, investigation, and clever deduction

5. First Crime film: Bluebeard (1901)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg_nWW-TgFg

6. First Crime film: Bluebeard (1901)
In this silent film, Bluebeard seeks a wife. Later on
into the film, a man gives her daughters hand in
marriage to Bluebeard since he has a large fortune.
Shortly after, Bluebeard leaves giving warning to
her new wife not to enter a room. She does enter
this room to find several ladies hanging. The devil in
the room taunts her in the room and frightens her
to leave. Bluebeard arrived soon after, learning that
she entered the room to find the hanging ladies.
Townspeople the break into Bluebeards courtyard
and stab him learning about the handing ladies.

7. Comparison between Bluebeard and
todays Crime films

8. Comparison between Bluebeard and
todays Crime films
Bluebeard heavily relied on its crime/thriller suspense
through the means of mise-en-scene such as the hanging
ladies in the film.
However, in todays crime films, special effects are heavily
used to bring about its action involved in a crime film to
satisfy its audience.
Another very clear difference is the cinematography of
the films. Bluebeard was recorded in black and white
while films like Oceans 11 was recorded in colour. This
clearly shows how the crime genre and films in general
have evolved from no colour to special effects.

9. Crime Movies from 1950 - 1969
• The Blue Lamp (1950)
• The Big Combo (1955)
• The Killing (1956)
• Touch of Evil (1958)
• Afraid to Die (1960)
• Underworld U.S.A. (1961)
• The Eye of Evil (1962)
• The Brain (1969)

10. The Killing (1956)
After getting out of prison,
Johnny Clay masterminds a
complex race-track heist, but
his scheme is complicated by
the intervention of the wife
of a teller (George Peatty) in
on the scheme, the boyfriend
of the wife, airport
regulations, and a small dog.

11. Crime Movies from 1970 - 2000
• Bloody Mama (1970)
• Cop (1976)
• The American Friend (1977)
• The Godfather (1972)

12. Breakthrough Crime Film: The
Godfather ( 1972)