British film Flashcards
Society & Background info
60s seen as new dawn for rebellion and sexual liberation since 1945.
Almost all films to this point was made in London stuff b4
Ealing comedies in the 1950s and the New wave films of the 1960s evoked imagery pertaining to the Victorian era, Get Carter was rooted in its own time
Based upon Ted Lewis Novel, Jack’s Return Home
The movie was re-made with Sylvester Stallone in the lead role re-locating it to New York
Get Carter a break in history break from American Tradition a completely different kind of British gangster movie with realism
Violence and comedy & Music
Carter Humour: “That must be very interesting”
Few melancholic notes on the keys. Introduced at beginning deaths and at end with wind. Used for viewer to chart progress of film.
Setting & Theme
The gloomy Newcastle setting is far opposite to exciting London. More desolate and unsettling backdrop. No space for 60s optimism.
Lack of morality.
Pornography, handguns, murders, absence of police. But Jack is doing this in honor of Doreen. Is it really immoral? Already disclosed that he had plans to flee to South A with her. He aims to throw shot gun in the sea before he got shot, he was giving up
Without localized film like get carter it would be hard to imagine Trainspotting 1997
Representation
Jack Carter (Michael Caine): Tough man Walks naked down the street with a shotgun outside of the house he is staying in.
Jack Carter: High up, esteemed,
Kinnear (John Osborne) says to mistress “you don’t offer a man like jack a drink in a paddy little glass like that, give him the bloody bottle.
Classic gangster appearance, mostly black, neat attention to how he looks, like American gangster movie
Jack Carter: complex, with his incessant pill- taking and curious nasal drops
Glenda (Geraldine Moffat)- Kept woman, weak and corruptible Doreen – No future powerless
Margaret (Dorothy White) – Scheming but men control
Edna (Rosemarie Dunham) owns property but still submissive Anna in love triangle, boss mutilates her face
Casting & Acting
Michael Caine has inherent charisma passed on from Alfie/Alfie Elkins (1966) & Italian Job (1969) Charlie Croker. So the film was anchored in negative view of humanity
Subtle acting, film isn’t very visually acting, most of the violence in Carters contortions of the face. When Carter stabs con in the back of the book makers.
Opportunity to shed type cast skin of nice guy from Alfie and The Ipcress guy.
Get Carter
1971
Directed by Mike Hodges
Budget 750k
