7.3 The city as a site of crime and corruption in New Hollywood

New Hollywood films of the late '60s and '70s painted cities as hotbeds of crime and corruption. Directors like Scorsese and Coppola used gritty realism to reflect societal anxieties, blurring lines between criminals and cops in complex urban landscapes.

These films drew on film noir influences but modernized them with color, expanded settings, and deeper characters. They critically examined law enforcement, using urban decay as a metaphor for moral decline and exploring themes of alienation in crowded cities.

Crime and Corruption in New Hollywood Cities

Urban Realism and Societal Anxieties

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• New Hollywood emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s marked by realistic and gritty portrayals of urban life
• Films depicted cities as breeding grounds for crime and corruption reflecting societal anxieties and disillusionment
• Urban landscape served as a character itself with architecture and atmosphere contributing to moral ambiguity and danger
• Key directors shaping urban crime representation included Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Sidney Lumet
• Films blurred lines between criminals and law enforcement presenting complex web of corruption permeating all levels of urban society
• Location shooting and naturalistic lighting techniques contributed to authenticity and immediacy of urban crime depictions
• Notable examples exploring urban crime and corruption
  • "The French Connection" (1971)
  • "Chinatown" (1974)
  • "Taxi Driver" (1976)

Cinematic Techniques and Themes

• Use of handheld cameras created sense of immediacy and documentary-like realism in urban scenes
• Gritty color palettes and desaturated tones emphasized urban decay and moral ambiguity
• Soundtrack choices often incorporated urban soundscapes and contemporary music to enhance authenticity
• Exploration of urban subcultures and marginalized communities added depth to crime narratives
• Themes of alienation and isolation in crowded urban environments frequently addressed
• Depiction of urban spaces as labyrinthine and disorienting mirrored characters' moral confusion
• Visual motifs of urban decay
  • Graffiti-covered walls
  • Abandoned buildings
  • Litter-strewn streets

Film Noir Influence on Urban Depiction

Visual Aesthetics and Narrative Elements

• Film noir heavily influenced New Hollywood's visual aesthetics and thematic concerns in urban crime films
• Hard-boiled detective fiction provided narrative templates and character archetypes for urban crime stories
• Cynical, morally ambiguous protagonists adapted and updated for New Hollywood's anti-heroes reflecting era's disillusionment
• Chiaroscuro lighting techniques and unconventional camera angles reinterpreted to create unease and moral ambiguity
• "City as a trap" concept expanded to encompass broader social and political critiques of urban life
• New Hollywood filmmakers often subverted or deconstructed noir tropes exploring more complex contemporary urban issues
• Femme fatale archetype evolved to reflect changing gender dynamics and social norms of the 1960s and 1970s

Modernized Noir Elements

• Color cinematography used to create neo-noir aesthetic while maintaining shadowy atmosphere
• Urban settings expanded beyond traditional noir locales (dark alleys, seedy bars) to include modern cityscapes
• Psychological complexity of characters deepened reflecting influence of contemporary psychology and counterculture
• Narrative structures became more fragmented and non-linear compared to classic noir
• Social commentary more explicit addressing issues like racism, political corruption, and urban decay
• Technology portrayed as both tool for surveillance and means of alienation in urban environments
• Examples of neo-noir influence in New Hollywood
  • "Klute" (1971)
  • "The Long Goodbye" (1973)

Law Enforcement in Urban Crime Films

Corruption and Moral Ambiguity

• Law enforcement often depicted as corrupt or ineffective institution challenging earlier idealized portrayals
• Criminal justice system portrayed as complex and flawed entity exploring systemic issues
  • Racism in policing
  • Police brutality
  • Institutional corruption
• Morally ambiguous police officers featured as protagonists blurring lines between law enforcement and criminality
• Vigilantism and extrajudicial justice explored reflecting public frustration with perceived legal system failures
• Political dimensions of law enforcement examined highlighting relationship between police departments and city governments
• Undercover police work and its psychological toll became recurring theme
• Notable examples critically examining law enforcement
  • "Serpico" (1973)
  • "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975)
  • "The French Connection" (1971)

Procedural Elements and Social Commentary

• Detailed depictions of police procedures and bureaucracy highlighted systemic flaws and inefficiencies
• Exploration of tension between "by-the-book" officers and those willing to bend rules for results
• Portrayal of police informants and their complex relationships with law enforcement
• Examination of racial and ethnic tensions within police departments and communities
• Media's role in shaping public perception of law enforcement and crime addressed
• Impact of political pressure and corruption on police investigations explored
• Depiction of specialized police units (narcotics, homicide) and their unique challenges in urban environments

The City as Moral Decay Metaphor

Visual and Thematic Representations

• Urban environments used as representations of broader societal issues
  • Political corruption
  • Economic inequality
  • Social unrest
• Physical decay of urban infrastructure served as metaphor for perceived moral and social deterioration
• Juxtaposition of urban poverty and decay with symbols of wealth and power highlighted social inequalities
• Anonymity and alienation of city life explored as factors contributing to moral decay and social bond breakdown
• Urban spaces reflected psychological states of characters mirroring internal conflicts
• Urban renewal impact on communities used as metaphor for broader social changes of 1960s and 1970s
• Films exemplifying New York City as metaphor for moral decay and societal breakdown
  • "Taxi Driver" (1976)
  • "Mean Streets" (1973)

Symbolic Urban Elements

• Subways and public transportation depicted as underworld of urban life and site of moral transgression
• Neon lights and billboards used to symbolize false promises and hollow materialism of urban existence
• Contrasts between towering skyscrapers and street-level poverty highlighted social stratification
• Urban parks portrayed as sites of danger rather than respite reflecting loss of urban innocence
• Depiction of urban crowds as dehumanizing force contributing to individual moral decay
• Night-time cityscapes used to emphasize beauty and danger coexisting in urban environments
• Representation of urban institutions (government buildings, churches) as facades hiding corruption and hypocrisy