This post will look at how Get Carter can be recognised as a crime film, with the emphasis being placed on its 'Britishness'. It will consider how the following generic themes are represented throughout the narrative, with examples taken from the film:
Revenge
Family
Honour
Justice
Moral code
Betrayal
Violence
Death
Retribution
Revenge
Carter wants revenge for the death of his brother, Frank
The Fletcher brothers can be seen to be extracting revenge against Jack. He was warned not
to go to Newcastle, and also sent evidence against the porn film gang, which probably include
the Fletcher brothers.
Family
Jack, Frank and Doreen. There is a possibility that Doreen may be Jack's illegitimate daughter
through an affair with Frank's wife.
Honour
Jack wishes to uphold the honour of his innocent brother, who tried to stand up against the
criminal gang - in doing so he will seek revenge
He also protects the honour of his niece, or possible daughter, Doreen, for having been made
to appear in the amateur porn film. The last shot of Doreen in the porn film shows Albert Swift
on top of her, and the facial expression would suggest that it was not a pleasant experience.
Justice
Strongly linked to revenge.
What is delivered by Carter is 'criminal justice' - this is to say that he sorts the problems
himself, rather than go to the police. He does involve the police when sending evidence of the
Fletcher's involvement in the porn film to Scotland Yard (he is planning to leave the country with
Anna, so this would be his 'revenge' on the Fletchers', rather than trying to kill them, perhaps).
He also alerts the police to the whereabouts of Margaret's body aftyer killing her, and in doing
so, sets up Kinnear for her death.
Moral Code
The moral code which Jack follows is dictated by his life as a gangster. His belief is that only
those who deserve punishment should receive it, and the innocent should be left alone, or
protected. This would have been true of gangsters like the Kray Twins, whose lifestyle the
characters of Carter and the Fletcher brothers were modeled on. There is also a sense that if
one to break the accepted moral code (like Paice, for example, in killing Frank) then one
should expect some form of violent retribution as a consequence.
Betrayal
A key generic theme in crime films, betrayal lies at the heart of Get Carter. Margaret betrays
Frank, Margaret betrays Jack, Jack betrays Gerald, Anna betrays Gerald, Jack (possibly)
betrayed Frank (assuming Doreen might actually be his daughter), Jack and Cyril betray each
other (Jack to the hit man, Cyril to the police), Brumby betrays Jack. In a lifestyle built on an
accepted 'moral code of honour' (see previous themes), there is also a strong sense that you
should trust no one should you chose a life a crime, or a life of crime chooses you.
Violence and Death
Get Carter certainly has its share of these two linked generic themes, which are natural by
products of a criminal lifestyle, particularly where men like the Fletcher's and Jack are
concerned.
Throughout the narrative there occurs the following violent incidents:
Carter witnesses a pub brawl between two women, much to his amusement
Carter attacks Thorpe in an attempt to get information
Carter hits Margaret on the bridge for betraying him to Peter and Con
Brumby is attacked by Carter in his own home
Keith is beaten up by Kinnear's gang (the attack is unseen, but the result is not)
Carter stabs Albert twice as he kills him
Glenda is almost drowned by Jack in her bath
The shoot out on the ferry ends with Peter being shot by Carter
Glenda is trapped in the boot of Jack's car as it is pushed into the dock
Brumby is thrown from the roof of the car park by Carter, dying in the process
Margaret is terminally drugged by Carter in order to frame Kinnear
Paice is beaten by Carter at the beach and his body dumped into the sea
Carter is shot by the hit man on the beach as he attempts to get rid of the gun
Retribution
Perhaps the key theme to Get Carter - and for nearly every crime film - retribution is the end
result of a life lived through crime.
For Jack, the retribution he delivers to those involved in the death of Frank and those
responsible for Doreen's appearance in the porn film (who are more often than not, the same
people), is completely justified. His presence in Newcastle is felt the moment he walks into the
bar by the railway station, as he looks and sounds different to all those around him. It is obvious
that he means business, and he will not stop until he has metered out his brand of justice and
retribution.
His own death does, initially appear shocking, as it comes at the very moment
where he has succeeded in avenging all those connected to Frank's death. However, his fate
had been sealed the moment he went against Gerald's orders at the very beginning of the
narrative, by going to Newcastle. The hit man - 'J' - was on the train from London in the same
carriage, and it is his gun which inflicts the ultimate retribution on Jack, not forgetting he was
also having an affair with Anna, Gerald's wife.
Moral Code
The moral code which Jack follows is dictated by his life as a gangster. His belief is that only
those who deserve punishment should receive it, and the innocent should be left alone, or
protected. This would have been true of gangsters like the Kray Twins, whose lifestyle the
characters of Carter and the Fletcher brothers were modeled on. There is also a sense that if
one to break the accepted moral code (like Paice, for example, in killing Frank) then one
should expect some form of violent retribution as a consequence.
Betrayal
A key generic theme in crime films, betrayal lies at the heart of Get Carter. Margaret betrays
Frank, Margaret betrays Jack, Jack betrays Gerald, Anna betrays Gerald, Jack (possibly)
betrayed Frank (assuming Doreen might actually be his daughter), Jack and Cyril betray each
other (Jack to the hit man, Cyril to the police), Brumby betrays Jack. In a lifestyle built on an
accepted 'moral code of honour' (see previous themes), there is also a strong sense that you
should trust no one should you chose a life a crime, or a life of crime chooses you.
Violence and Death
Get Carter certainly has its share of these two linked generic themes, which are natural by
products of a criminal lifestyle, particularly where men like the Fletcher's and Jack are
concerned.
Throughout the narrative there occurs the following violent incidents:
Carter witnesses a pub brawl between two women, much to his amusement
Carter attacks Thorpe in an attempt to get information
Carter hits Margaret on the bridge for betraying him to Peter and Con
Brumby is attacked by Carter in his own home
Keith is beaten up by Kinnear's gang (the attack is unseen, but the result is not)
Carter stabs Albert twice as he kills him
Glenda is almost drowned by Jack in her bath
The shoot out on the ferry ends with Peter being shot by Carter
Glenda is trapped in the boot of Jack's car as it is pushed into the dock
Brumby is thrown from the roof of the car park by Carter, dying in the process
Margaret is terminally drugged by Carter in order to frame Kinnear
Paice is beaten by Carter at the beach and his body dumped into the sea
Carter is shot by the hit man on the beach as he attempts to get rid of the gun
Retribution
Perhaps the key theme to Get Carter - and for nearly every crime film - retribution is the end
result of a life lived through crime.
For Jack, the retribution he delivers to those involved in the death of Frank and those
responsible for Doreen's appearance in the porn film (who are more often than not, the same
people), is completely justified. His presence in Newcastle is felt the moment he walks into the
bar by the railway station, as he looks and sounds different to all those around him. It is obvious
that he means business, and he will not stop until he has metered out his brand of justice and
retribution.
His own death does, initially appear shocking, as it comes at the very moment
where he has succeeded in avenging all those connected to Frank's death. However, his fate
had been sealed the moment he went against Gerald's orders at the very beginning of the
narrative, by going to Newcastle. The hit man - 'J' - was on the train from London in the same
carriage, and it is his gun which inflicts the ultimate retribution on Jack, not forgetting he was
also having an affair with Anna, Gerald's wife.
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