How Leone Establishes Genre in Opening Scene to Once Upon a Time in America

How Leone Establishes Genre in Once Upon a Time in America

Once Upon a Time in America (directed by Sergio Leone in 1984) is film set in New York between the 1920s and mid 1930s during the end of the alcohol prohibition (1920-1933) in 1984. The film pays tribute to classic 1940s films such as 'The Deer Hunter'.

Characters

As soon as the scene opens it begins with non-diagetic/diegetic background music of 'God Bless America' and as soon as the non-ambient light is drawn the femme fatale character is suddenly exposed. We can tell that she is the film's femme fatale straight away from her pearls, heavy make-up (red lipstick especiall), rings and red nails. Not only do pearls symbolise bad luck and tears but the use of red lipstick and bright red nails suggests blood or danger. As soon as the femme fatale if shot and murdered it suddenly makes the intro song of 'God Bless America' convey ironey as the film is about gang life and corruption at the time.

All the men wore Trilby hats and overcoats which suggest that they are most likely going to be policemen or gangsters. They also carry guns which suggest they're very serious and dangerous.

Lighting

 

The beginning of scene starts off with very dim and dark lighting until the noir lighting is broken with the turning on of the bedside lamp which is a similar shade of colour to the femme fatale's complexion. As the non-ambient lighting is adjusted it makes her face more clearer and the fear in her face is suddenly expressed as she can sense that something is not quite right. As she turns to look around the room the lighting glistens on her pearls and acts as an indicater of tears.

Camera Angles

 

Close ups and extreme close ups are used mainly throughout the first section of the first scene in 'Once Upon a Time in America' as it indicates tension and suspense. You can feel the suspense during the close ups of the femme fatale as you can see and feel her emotions and you know from her facial expressions that there is not something right. Further on into the opening scene there is a use of worm's eye viewed from the man who had been shot. This angle creates disorientation and gives a stunning view of the killer aiming his gun at another character which makes the scene much more dramatic.

Locations

 

The film 'Once Upon a Time in America' uses locations such as liftshafts and outdoor space in the rain creating gleaming streets which gives off a gloomy and noir feel. At one point there is a shot of the femme fatale and all three policemen/gangsters standing in the doorway. The door frame is very grand and stylish and it creates a frame of the three characters in the middle of a dispute.

Sounds

As the phone starts to ring this starts inigma and a 'mystery feel' triggered. 'God Bless America' is the intro soundtrack to the opening scene of the film which is non-diegetic and also is used referencing to another film 'The Deer Hunter' where 'God Bless America' is played towards the end of the film, to make the audience feel slightly clever if they identify this also. The background noise of people talking is a natural sound (diegetic) within the mise-en-scene.