PORTRAIT OF A MOBSTER
US, 1961, 108 minutes, Black and white.
Vic Morrow, Leslie Parrish.
Directed by Joseph Pevney.
Portrait of a Mobster is another gangster film. The conventions were established in the 30s, during the gangster period, with tough melodrama especially from Warner Bros, Scarface and Little Caesar. In the 40s the gangster films moved more into fictional material and the gangster thriller. This continued into the 50s. There was a revival of interest in the gangster films in the 70s with nostalgic evoking the past as well discussion on the effect of gangsters on American history.
1. The success of this film, its interest in the person of Schults? Its creation of the gangster period, a presentation of America and its social history, a portrait of a mobster?
2. The style of American gangster films of the fifties? The particular conventions of the genre, the comparison with the tough thirties, the style of the forties? A comparison with the gangster films about the same people in the seventies? Black and white photography, note and authenticity, atmosphere? The distance between the fifties and the time of these mobsters? The purpose of making this file?
3. Morrow's style and personality as Schults? How well did he delineate the character of the gangster? The kind of portrait it presented? What type was Schultz? His background, psychotic attitudes, intensity? His motivation in his work, relationship with his associates, with other people? Ambitions? Could the audience identify with him in any way? With his victims?
4. How well did the film present the background of Schultz, the explanation of his life, why he was as he was? His hard life, his involvement in race questions? How did he become involved in the gangs? His wanting this?
5. The importance of showing his violence and brutality, his killing people, using them, wanting to be in the big time and being a boss? The importance of his relationship with the girl, especially insofar as he killed her father? Audience response to his brash duplicity in approaching her, seducing her? His relationship with Frank and taking the girl from him? The people that he worked against? The enemies that he created?
6. How plausible was the character of the girl? Her character, her home background, religion, her fascination with Schultz, her falling in love with him, her blinding herself to the truth? The details of her life with him and her going downhill? Her drinking, her shame, her hatred? How did this show what greed and selfishness can do A credible portrait?
7. How did Frank fit into this picture? His disgust at the girl and with Schults, his willingness to be used, his growing involvement with Schults and his shady deals, questions of money? What did this lead to an regards his own view of himself and others?
8. A portrait of those associated with Schultz? The others that he used, gangsters, police? The picture of his power and empire, the reason that he held it together? His hostility and hostility towards him?
9. Was the reaction inevitable on the part of the girl, Frank, the others?
10. What is the end of a mobster? What does it profit him? How was the film a record of this man's life and doings? Did it glorify him? Did it moralise on his career?
