The thriller genre became staple of 1940s cinema, usually low budget productions which resulted in the focus of raw film making techniques in order to build suspense and emphasis character action in the films. The use of modest locations, the specific use of lighting and camera angles then formed the iconic thriller genre which still holds premise in todays cinema. Thriller adaptations then led to a subculture of thriller noir. Seeking to promote intense excitement for an ultra-heightened experience through high levels of anticipation, anxiety and suspense which made the genre a unique force. Once Upon a Time in America is part of subgenre called Gangster and Crime Thriller. This genre is moulded around the sinister actions of criminals, mobsters and underworld figures who operate outside the law. Criminal and gangster films are often categorized as film noir and often have the iconic mise-en-scène such as chiaroscuro lighting and a distinct sense of elegance and glamour.

The Thriller Genre

Once Upon a Time in America, released at the Cannes Film Festival on the 23 May 1984 and a total domestic release on the 1 June, is an American noir thriller film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone. The film is based on the novel ‘The Hoods’ by Harry Grey written in 1952. The plot follows the lives of Jewish ghetto youths who become prominent in New York City organized crime society, exploring themes such as; childhood friendships, love, lust, greed, betrayal, loss, broken relationships, and the rise of mobsters in American society.The film boasts a 89% critical score on the infamous film review database ‘Rotten Tomato’. Adam Smith of Empire Magazine says:‘While The Godfather delivers certainty and a comforting dramatic resolution, Once Upon

A Time In America delivers a profound kind of mystery.’Further highlighting the thriller themes to be found in this film, a gripping and suspenseful picture. The unique pathway this film has blazed for the thriller genre was one of the reasons that led the film to receive award recognition, nominated for two Golden Globes and five BAFTAs of which the film won ‘Best Costume Design’ for Gabriella Pescucci and ‘Best Score’ for Ennio Morricone.

Once Upon a Time in America

An analysis of how Sergio Leone establishes and develops the thriller genre in the opening to Once

Upon a Time in America

In the first moments of the film we are introduced to Eve, the femme fatal. The femme fatal is a classic thriller convention, this character is often beautiful but deviant which may also bring the downfall of herself and a male counterpart. Eve is implied as a relatively innocent character. She is seen to be startled when finding the bullet holes in the bed which suggests she is often one to stay away from trouble such as this, not often seeing bullet holes. In this film, the femme fatal has connotations to religion, being called Eve. In the bible Eve is corrupted by the snake and then persuades Adam to eat the forbidden fruit and portray God. This then leads to their downfall, much like a femme fatal. Therefore, Leone seeks to establish strong thriller conventions by the hyper adaptation of his femme fatal, Eve.

CharactersLeone establishes key features of the thriller genre throughout the film, many of which are first introduced in the opening sequence.

Leone also creates the mystery and corruption of the thriller genre through the entrance and actions of the police officers. The officers emerge from the shadows which suggests that they may often lurk in the shadows, enforcing the idea of corruption. One officer breaks the photo frame which suggests he has no reservations and will cause any destruction he please. This reveals how powerful he feels he is as he does not need to be conspicuous or worry about the consequences. This is a staple thriller convention which gives the audience a sense of no hope as those who are meant to protect are the ones who are actual the evil in the film.

CostumesCostume is also a very important factor in the thriller genre and helps to establish themes such as wealth, period, time and location. In this scene, Eve is well dressed in classic 1940s fashion. Leone does this to introduce us to the era of the film, this furthermore introduces the thriller genre as 1940s New York was notorious for being full of corruption and mobsters. This is often a setting for numerous crime thrillers such as Gangsters in New York and the famous Godfather films, this therefore alerts the audience of the thriller connotations and they will then know just what to expect from this thriller. Eve is also seen to be wearing red lipstick with red painted nails. This was popular in the 1940s as being a colour of glamourous movie stars, something which would have started to pick up in this era with may young women feeling continues about their beauty and often even dreaming to be like one of their many famous idols. This is another familiar characterise of a femme fatal which Leone uses to establish the thriller genre. The colour red is also significant as it suggest danger and may also foreshadow the events to come as Eve will soon be shot and covered in red. The use of foreshadowing and symbolism is also a popular devise in thrillers. The famous shot in Essex Boys of a car going into a tunnel has been said to symbolise the barrel of a gun and the lights forming lines on the widescreen which look like prison bars are just more example of how symbolism is used to establish the thriller genre.

LightingThe use of specific lightening techniques is probably one of the most recognisable thriller techniques, also probable one of the most popularly used. One of those lightening techniques often used is chiaroscuro lighting. Chiaroscuro lighting is often created by one light source to create a stark contrast between light and shadow on an object or person. This lighting creates a minimal but dramatic effect to suggest something sinister or evil, perfect for creating tension and introduction someone immoral or wicked characters which are also extremely prominent in the thriller genre. In the scene the chiaroscuro lighting is used to dramatic effect. Eve is actual seen to physically lighten the room by turning on the tiffany lamp, this may suggest her purity as compared to the Police officers that the emerge from the shadows.

To emphasis the symbolism of the lamp, after Eve is shot dead, one of the officers then reaches over to turn off the lamp. This is significant as it highlights the idea that the lamp represents Eve, suggesting she is pure which opposed to the contrast of evil and secrets that darkness has connotations to. It is also relevant that the lamp was turned off by one of the officers as they were responsible for Eves death and therefore responsible for taking the light and good from the room. This reveals the power and motives of the officers, contrasting from their traditional roles of protecting the good, they are doing the exact opposite by taking it from the room. Leone uses this lighting to introduce the thriller genre from the classic chiaroscuro lighting, as well as introducing themes through the characters as the officers are insured to enforce more darkness later in the film and ‘turn off other lights’ which, in this case, is very literal.