This document analyzes conventions and techniques used in the opening titles and scenes of several British gangster films. It discusses the use of shots like point-of-view, pans, zooms, and close-ups to set scenes and introduce characters. Many of the openings establish settings and potential characters mysteriously through low lighting, pacing, and props before revealing details. Non-diegetic music is also used to set tones and moods. The openings analyzed employ techniques like narration, tracking shots, and editing transitions to draw viewers into the slick and mysterious criminal worlds portrayed.

1. CONVENTIONS OF
GANGSTER FILMS
Joel Griffiths

2. Long shots
Conventions
Betrayal Fierce Ambition
Rivalry
Evil
Key Themes
Materialism
Loyalty
Self destruction
appearance vs reality
Arc movement
Police Women
Key Symbols
Money
Guns
Grimy
Locations
Jail
Sound
Popular songs of
time based
Voice over
Asynchronous sound
Sound Bridge
Contrapuntal
Ambient
Shots
Tracking (in and
out)
Crane Movement
Panning shot
Tilt movement
Extreme close up

3. Get Carter Opening Titles
• Get Carter embodies most of the
stereotypical features of a British-
Gangster film. In the opening 3
minutes we are introduced to the
setting and briefly introduced to
potential characters. They use an
effective POV shot on the train which
initially works as an establishing focal
point. It takes us through a tunnel
and the world of the film opens up to
us. A range of panning movements
take us around the carriage and
allow us to inspect the situation
without giving anything away. Several
zooming in close ups allow us to pick
up on the finer details between titles,
for example a potential character
taking his pills. There is a constant,
simplistic but catchy non-diegetic
backing track which sets the mood
and atmosphere for the rest of the
film

4. Stock, Lock and two Smoking Barrels
Opening Titles
• SLSB is extremely suited to the
British Gangster genre. It introduces
a main quirky character who goes
on to dominate the opening scene.
The addition of multiple close and
extreme close-ups increase the
tempo of the opening and prepares
the audience for the eventual chase
seen. The introduction of the second
character is good because it is
framed as a two-shot with the 1st.
This allows you to appreciate their
working relationship. The non-diegetic
song that kicks in at the
point the chase starts is well chosen
as it directly personifies their
character type and the film to come.
A narrator also gives the watcher a
second focal point and we put our
trust into him to lead the film for us.

5. 44 inch Chest opening
• Throughout the opening there is
heavy use of low-level lighting to
create mystery and suspense
among the audience. From the first
image the non-diegetic,
contrapuntal music is very
misleading, it suggests of tragic
circumstances yet the ending of the
scene doesn’t play up to this. The
frequent panning movement across
the room presence us with a lot of
establishing material to think about,
effectively it gives us a lot of
thinking time before giving us any
real details.The décor of the main
character’s room also suggests
that he is a fairly successful
criminal, allowing us to already
build up an image of his character.

6. Layer Cake Opening Titles
• At first we are greeted by the
non-diegetic narration of
Daniel Craig before following
him into a building. Unlike a
lot of films he speaks as if
we’ve already been watching
the film and puts us right into
the action. Perhaps this is
reflected by the tracking
movement which follows over
his shoulder as we progress
through it. There are quick
camera transitions between
shots and angles which
connote slick characters and
also a slick operation taking
place.

7. Sexy Beast Opening Titles
• The start of the opening is extremely
bright with lost of bright, natural light and
also a diegetic monologue. It then
changes to a shot of the main character
lying on a sunbed. This goes strongly
against typical gangster conventions and
is quite a bold introduction. It also
changes shot to mid shot of him and then
a long establishing shot of the town that
he is in. The editing is slow and pans
similar to 44 Inch Chest. In addition the
props used features sun cream,
sunglasses and a bowl of ice water. This
combined with the gold chain prop
around his neck and the fact he is
spending his time sunbathing could tell
us he is a wealthy criminal. Finally the
costume the main character is wearing
are yellow swimming shorts telling us that
he is laid back and relaxed.