Film language elements of a movie - Essay Example

Public Enemy Introduction Public Enemy is a 1931 film directed by William A. Wellman. The film incorporates variouscast including Cagney (Tom Powers), Woods (Matt Doyle), Harlow (Gwen Allen) and Blondell (Mamie). Others include Mercer (Ma Powers), Donald (Mike Powers), Fenton (Samuel "Nails" Nathan), OConnor (Paddy Ryan) and Murray (Putty Nose). Matt and his brother Tom begin their lives as childhood thieves. They develop into a life full of crime. They get into life full of money, women and power when they join “Nails” Nathan and Paddy Ryan.

They take mistresses; eventually, Matt gets married. On the contrary, Tom gets tired of Mamie and starts dating with the flamboyant Gwen. Tom surprises his mother by his wealth. His mother and straight forward brother, Mike, disapprove of his career choices. The battle of moral between the brothers culminates in a dinner table (Greatest Films, n.d.). Because Nathan, Tom, and Matt pursued lives full of crimes, they ended up dying out of crime. The mise-en-scene has been planned well. Tom brings a keg to celebrate Mike’s return from war.

The beer displays Tom’s lifestyle. At dinner, Tom takes the head seat of the table, in his mother’s opposite direction. The mother has to hoist her neck in order to see her son beyond the keg.Cinematography has influenced the believability of the film. In the grapevine scene, Tom shocks his girlfriend by slapping her with the grapes. The development of the movie, including the episode where Tom places a keg of beer on the table and Mike getting infuriated by Tom’s display of illegally acquired wealth as he denounces him helps bring a clear picture of the cinema.

Matt gets shot and dies in front of Tom in stakeout. Tom avenges his friend’s death by going to the opponents’ gang headquarters and opens fire. He overpowers them; however, he sustains injuries from gunshots and gets hospitalized. His mother jubilates upon hearing that her son has reformed and would join them. Later, Mike answers a door knock only to find Tom, murdered and buttressed up in the doorway (Bould 41). Other scenes include Tom and Matt appearing in expensive tailor made clothes and dancing with beautiful women after acquiring a lot of wealth through illegal business.

Several outbursts of violence receive good production attention. They include the shooting of Putty Nose and the scene where Matt and Tom shoot the horse that fell killing Nathan, their crime boss.Sound has been used to bring various effects in the film. Both the human sounds, gunshots and music played in the film have helped make the film more meaningful. The dialogue seen in various episodes, for instance, when Mike and Tom confront each other helps us know the speakers are real persons. Dialogue tells the story, for instance, Nose engages Tome in dialogue when he pleads for his life.

Music has been used to add rhythm and emotion to the film. It provides an emotional attitude to the performance. The background music aids in providing the viewer with a link between scenes. The director has handled the movie with sound talent. Some of the songs played include hesitation blues, I surrender dear, Smiles and I am forever blowing bubbles. Tom talks very fast in the movie; his style lures the audience that they cannot look away when he is in the scenes.ConclusionFor an early era movie, both aspects had been done perfectly to bring the movie into life.

Mise-en-scene, sound and cinematography were mixed well to give the movie the full achievement. Some brilliant episodes include Matt and Tom on their progression to the gang leader. Other thrilling scenes include when they were learning to rob, in the fur factory to the time they were forcing everybody to buy their beer. Additionally, sound effect, including the gunshots heard when Tom avenges his friend’s death help us know what is transpiring inside the building.Works CitedBould, Mark. Film Noir: From Berlin to Sin City.

London: Wallflower, 2005. Print."The Public Enemy (1931) - Greatest Films - The Best Movies in Cinematic History." Filmsite Movie review. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2014 .