“Once upon a time in America”

“Once upon a time in America” (opening scene)

 

·         Directed by Sergio Leone (auteur director) in 1984

·         Set in 1930’s end of alcohol prohibition (1920-1933) in America

·         Loop narrative

·         Pays tribute to classic film noir thrillers such as; “Gilda”

How Sergio Leone establishes thriller genre?

 

·         Music “God bless America” (non diegetic sound) in opening credits continues into first scene. This is ironic as film made by Italian and played in a relatively dark scene in which the woman gets shot. Intertextual reference: “Deer hunter” (1978) same kind of message about ironic America (also Italian director). Robert De Niro plays in both films.

·         Establishes a fem fatale in opening scene who is killed off in the same scene establishing genre and adding interest and suspense over sudden death whilst paying tribute to classic fem fatale in film noir thrillers. (costume: pearls, lipstick, pearl ring, nail varnish, glamorous clothing.)

·         Generic costume/characters: fem fatale, criminals, underworld, gang.

·         Noir lighting (chiaroscuro lighting): connoting surrealism whilst adding aesthetic pleasure to the mise en scene

·         Shot from eve (fem fatale) to man being beaten up further establishing genre.

·         Sound bridge ( when sound anticipates the next scene):

·         Pearls on Eve’s costume representing bad luck and tears

Opening scene:

·         Non ambient lighting: spot light on Eve. Lamp creating smooth light tone possibly suggesting the light is part of her/location.

·         The men all wearing generic costume for classic thriller gangster.

·         Long shadows

 

Cut two:

·         Diegetic sound

·         Close up ion guy being beaten up engaging audience with character

 

Cut three:

·         Non diegetic sound of phone (sound bridge within his mind): sound adds suspense, mystery, creating an enigma making audience tense.

Cut four:

·         wet shiny streets

·         noir lighting

·         flashback

·         sound bridge continues

·         Unglamorous decaying location