2. Generic Archetypes Generic Archetypes are a key factor of
thrillers.Especially noir films. These archetypes tend tobe
characteristics, behaviour and trades of thecharacter themselves.
An archetype in this film is the anti-hero.Noodles one of the main
characters in thefilm is presented as this anti-hero stereotypedue
to his actions. For example, the ausdiencesees him for the first
time in an opium den, thisis considered to be a negative aspect,
but lateris further explained.
3. Generic Archetypes The character Eve represents the femme
fatale of the story, this is a femalecharacter, who is usually
quite deceiving and despiteful, resulting in their fatebecoming
usually death. Femme fatales are normally identified by
theirmannerisms and actions. The name Eve itself has a lot of
connotations, causing the audience to create manyassumptions about
her. From the Hebrew name, which was derived from theHebrew word
"to breathe" or the related word "to live". According to the
OldTestament Book of Genesis, Eve and Adam were the first humans.
She gave theforbidden fruit to Adam, causing their expulsion from
the Garden of Eden. Thiscreates the audience to think that Eve
could cause or be trouble, presenting apossibly threatening and
devious character. In the opening, Eve is very quickly introduced
and swiftly cut from the film with herdeath being only 2-5 minutes
into the film itself. Her choice in clothing alsopresents her as a
femme fatale as she wearssome very identifiable items. Instantly
she is seenwearing a pearl necklace which is emphasized bythe
lighting. Pearls can arguably be symbolic torepresent tears, from
this we can prejudge whatmay occur.
4. SoundThere is a sound bridge between the opening credits and
the beginning of theopening scene. This helps to link the scenes
and cause the audience to beanxious and anticipate the next scene.
The song playing is God BlessAmerica which is the non-diegetic
sound, composed by Irving Berlin. SergioLeone used this song for
its ironic reasons. The song takes sounds ratherreligious and
player like for Gods blessing and peace for the nation. Thepurpose
of this was to emphasise to the audience the corruption in
America.Irving Berlin was also a Jewish immigrant, so the useof the
sound bridge helped to show the irony of theAmerican Dream in which
people would travel to livein America and achieve this idea of
freedom andpeace. Sergio Leone presented that the dream doesntexist
and that the idea even if you work hard enoughyou just cant achieve
some things.
5. Locations The use of locations in the opening of Once Upon A
Time In America helped to present thegeneric factors and aspects
that make a thriller film. All the locations used in the film
present the idea of solitude and seemed very claustrophobic,being
very cramped and there seemingly no way out. The apartment in which
Eve, entersat the star of the film, is rather generic, as there are
lots of objects that can obstruct aviewers sight. This can help to
create the idea that there is possibly something hidden, orthat the
presence of another is there but watching from a distance. This
location allowslots frightening aspects to be present, such as
shadows. Due to this when the policemenmake their appearance they
can emerge out of the shadows, therefore being presented asevil and
rather menacing, creating a dramatic entrance. The idea of irony is
continued with location as the apartment is Eves home and one
wouldthink that you would usually associate your own home as
somewhere warm and safe. YetEve is very soon after being introduced
killed in her own home. A significant location used in the film is
the elevator shaft. The use of this location is to helpidentify the
genre as it is a claustrophobic and vary small/confined space,
allowing littlemoment and restricting escape. The elevator shaft
also ascends slowly, this adds to thesuspenseful atmosphere, which
adds aswell to the genre
6. Locations The use of locations in the opening of Once Upon A
Time In America helped to present thegeneric factors and aspects
that make a thriller film. All the locations used in the film
present the idea of solitude and seemed very claustrophobic,being
very cramped and there seemingly no way out. The apartment in which
Eve, entersat the star of the film, is rather generic, as there are
lots of objects that can obstruct aviewers sight. This can help to
create the idea that there is possibly something hidden, orthat the
presence of another is there but watching from a distance. This
location allowslots frightening aspects to be present, such as
shadows. Due to this when the policemenmake their appearance they
can emerge out of the shadows, therefore being presented asevil and
rather menacing, creating a dramatic entrance. The idea of irony is
continued with location as the apartment is Eves home and one
wouldthink that you would usually associate your own home as
somewhere warm and safe. YetEve is very soon after being introduced
killed in her own home. A significant location used in the film is
the elevator shaft. The use of this location is to helpidentify the
genre as it is a claustrophobic and vary small/confined space,
allowing littlemoment and restricting escape. The elevator shaft
also ascends slowly, this adds to thesuspenseful atmosphere, which
adds aswell to the genre