British Crime Cinema

What is the course about?

This course looks at the British crime film from the 1930s to the 1990s. It will consider the British crime film as a realist form, one that locates its action in recognisable and familiar spaces, explores psychologically realistic characters and organises itself around the idea of a national cinema and identity. As such, we will approach it as a branch of British cinema, its insistence on realism linking it with both other forms of popular British cinema and, at times, with British social realism, e.g., the British new wave of the 1960s. We will note that it eschews the stylisation of American crime cinema and its tendency to mythologise the figure of the criminal, and, instead, offers a differentiated form of the genre, one addressed primarily, though not exclusively, to a British audience. Finally, as British cinema, the British crime film tends not to have international appeal but rather a 'local' and 'domestic' appeal.

We will consider the British crime film's development against various developments in British cinema, including 'quota quickies' of the 1930s, the British film noir of the 1940s, and, crucially, a numerous group of low budget 'B' movies of the 1950s and 1960s, designed to support bigger films (often American films), many of which were crime films. While noting later, key films such as Get Carter (1970), we will also be thinking about subsequent crime film production, often featuring 'low level crime' against the backdrop of modern Britain. We will be looking at a wide range of films, including among others, Brighton Rock (1947), The Blue Lamp (1950), Night and the City (1950), Hell Drivers (1957), The League of Gentlemen (1960), The Frightened City (1961), Payroll (1961), Strongroom (1962), The Italian Job (1969), Get Carter (1970), Performance (1970), Sweeney! (1977), The Long Good Friday (1980), Mona Lisa (1986), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998); Sexy Beast (2000), and others.

What will we cover?

• Genre and the British crime film (including, the gangster film, the 'caper' film and the 'low level' crime film etc.)
• The British film noir
• Categories of production (e.g., 'A' films and 'B' films, and 'quota quickies' of the 1930s)
• Realism and the British crime film
• Masculinity in British crime cinema
• Society and the British crime film
• British crime cinema as a 'national' cinema
• Critical accounts of British crime cinema

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Describe and evaluate the function of genre and the British crime film
• Evaluate the role of film noir in British crime cinema
• Identify a range of production categories
• Describe and evaluate the use of realism in the British crime film
• Describe and evaluate the function of representation of masculinity in British crime cinema
• Evaluate the relationship between British society and the British crime film
• Evaluate British crime cinema as a 'national' cinema
• Evaluate a range of Critical accounts of British crime cinema

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills - just an enthusiasm for film and discussing film. The course will provide an introduction to the subject but will also be useful for those wishing to build on existing knowledge in the subject area.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Screenings of extracts from films, talks by the tutor, reading materials, small and large group discussions. It might also be a good idea to see what you can find out about the subject in advance of the class but this is not essential.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will require a pen and paper (or laptop/device) but the tutor will provide all other materials such as handouts. The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Please look also for other Film Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Film Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.