Characterisation
·
Detective Compton Ward
o Detective also seen as the anti-hero he is a protagonist but
with opposite characteristics and attributes of a traditional hero, he is
bewildered, deluded, often succumbing to his demons.
o Wants get revenge for his brother’s name as well as clearing
it and find out what happened to Evie the love of his life.
o Depending on the circumstances the anti- hero will struggle
with doing the right thing and becoming overwhelmed with the underbelly of the
city, facing morally ambiguous decisions and battles as the world is out to get
him he suffers fast-talking his way out of trouble.
o Raised by a single mother, has an affinity for helping those
in need especially women – his urge to protect and nurture the weak is strong
demonstrated in his love for Evie.
·
Dixon Ward
o Dixon Ward is a low level crook often coming to his older
brother for money and help. As a minor character he has a small part to play
except for the effect his death has on his brother.
o When Dixon dies a pessimistic tone starts to develop in the
film, with a bleak and defeatist edge.
·
Evie
o Evie is a conflicted character she is both the epitome of
innocence and sexual object at the same time. Evie works as a singer at a speak
easy that Detective Ward frequents; he falls in love with her and offers to
take her away from the life.
o Dressed in light colours she will represent her innocent
side, but dressed in black holding a long cigarette she will become
manipulative and sexualised.
o Evie will become cold and hard when they meet again only
softening when faced with death she will show her love.
o
With a hard life as a
child originally an orphan she learnt early on not to trust others as they will
always leave and let you down- therefore she is constantly testing everyone.
Her relationship with Compton is complicated because she is torn between her
love for him and the habits he has become accustomed too to stay alive.
·
Bruno
o Communist from Soviet Russia is the link between “The Smoke”
and the Russian drug supply.
o
By making the
character Bruno Russian this helps enable the ideals of Russians being Evil,
calling on the fear of the cold war in the early 50s and 60s America. A
seemingly silent part , a sinister character who looming and evil.
Scene Breakdown
Scene One
·
Film opens with an establishing shot of messy
dressing room and a couple arguing. Scene then cuts to the man sitting at home
reading the paper when his brother pushes through the door and dies in his arms
holding the scrap of paper. Then cut to the man running to his girls dressing
room not finding her then falling to the ground in anguish clutching her
bloodied coat- fade to black.
Scene Two
·
Montage footage of the detective confronting
differing bar owners wanting answers, mixed in with footage of the damp streets
of the city and suburbia at night- fade to black when confronted with Bruno. Bruno
and the Detective confront each other ending in Bruno giving up his bosses
location.
Scene Three
·
Fade to the Detective sneaking up behind a crate
with a gun then taking out three henchmen. A fight ensues with the femme fatale
Evie appearing and telling them to stop. They circle each other slowly and
quickly they shoot the detective thinks he is hit but really Evie dies slowly
and whispers that she always loved him- and she is sorry.
No comments:
Post a Comment