The document discusses conventions commonly found in gangster film openings. It provides examples from films like The Godfather, 44 Inch Chest, Rocknrolla, Pulp Fiction, and The Departed. Key conventions discussed include the use of non-diegetic music, titles centered on a black background, characters in formal attire/suits, themes of family/crime organizations, props like guns, settings in urban areas, motifs of power and violence through actions like executions.

1. Conventions of Gangster films
By Ashley Danbury

2. Conventions
of Gangster
films
The
Storyline
Establishes story
character
Opening
Sound
Shot
Types
Historical
1940’s/
1950’s
Modern
Business
Family
Personal
Power
To maintain To obtain
Establishes
Dialogue
Character
introductions
Two
characters
The
“Boss”
Diegetic
Also red –
represents lots
of themes
Urban / City
Gunshots, punches,
footsteps, etc
Dialogue Non-diegetic
Music
Contrapuntal
sound
Narration
Two
shots
Power
triangles
Quick cuts
Mid shots
Mise
En
Scene
Setting
Colour
Often dark – Costume
Blacks and grey
Industrial/
housing
estates
Formal
attire
Men =
suit + tie
Women =
dresses

3. The Godfather – Opening scene
The 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.