Semantics
Syntactics
Pragmatics
History
Movies
100
This common trope in Film Noir casts horizontal shadows on the characters, creating an ominous aesthetic.
What are venetian blinds?
100
This character arc is essential in Gangster films in order to not glorify crime and comply with The Hays Production code.
What is the death of the Gangster?
100
This major, global event led to the development of Film Noir.
What is WWII?
100
This time period is when the original Gangster genre was in full swing.
What is the 1920s- 1940s?
100
This classic gangster film was remade in 1983 and directed by Brian De Palma. It famously includes the line, "Say 'ello to ma little friend" -- delivered by this famous actor.
Who is Al Pacino?
200
This archetype --prevalent in Film Noir-- embodies men's fear of empowered and sexualized women
What is a femme fatale?
200
This theme is often presented in gangster films -- showing the audience the consequences from choosing a life of crime.
What is "crime doesn't pay"?
200
The 18th amendment, and the unforeseen consequences of the amendment passing in 1919, led to the establishment of the gangster film.
What is prohibition?
200
Film Noir was developed and popular during these post-war decades.
What are 1940s - 1950s?
200
This modern Gangster film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Walberg.
What is The Departed?
300
This archetype is the anti-hero of all Gangster Films, meeting their inevitable and fateful demise at the conclusion of most films within the genre.
What is a Gangster (Crime Lord)?
300
This character's name is symbolic of the damage his lifestyle has caused him.
Who is Scarface?
300
The trauma of a world war left post-war America feeling this.
What is nihilistic, disillusioned, and/or depressed.
300
Film Noir uses a lot of sharp angels --like the Dutch angle-- which borrows its stylistic approach from this film movement.
What is German Expressionism?
300
This film is considered one of the first neo-noir films.
What is Chinatown?
400
This iconography, foreshadowing someone's death in a gangster film, is still used today, like in Martin Scorsese's film The Departed.
What is an X?
400
Strangers on a Train defies the traditional character arc of the femme fatale in this way.
What is the femme fatale dying?
400
Prohibition removed the legal sale, purchase, and consumption of alcohol in America, which led to an increase in demand, and in turn led to an increase in this.
What is bootlegging and/or organized crime.
400
Film Noir translates to this and originated by a person hailing from this country.
What is Dark Film and France?
400
This film stars Denzel Washington depicting infamous Harlem drug-trafficker, Frank Lucas.
What is American Gangster?
500
This character archetype is known for being naïve and weak to an attractive woman -- ultimately leading to his downfall in most Film Noirs.
What is a hapless dupe?
500
Film Noirs are often set in these locations in order to show the disillusionment, claustrophobia, and lifelessness of people in post-war America.
What are cities?
500
Post-War America caused tension between men and women because of this.
What are women taking over the workforce while men were deployed?
500
This modern genre spawned from Film Noir and came about in the 1970s with Chinatown.
What is Neo Noir?
500
This 1999 film puts the Neo in Neo-Noir.
What is The Matrix?