AS Film Studies Rachael Elphick

How cinematography and performance creates tension in ‘The Great Gatsby’

The Great Gatsby was produced in 2013 and was directed by Baz Luhrmann. It is

set in America in the fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the

summer of 1922. It uses many of F Scott Fitzgerald’s original descriptions and

dialogue from the novel of ‘The great Gatsby’ (published in 1925).

The film focuses on Bond-seller Nick Carraway, who is telling the story of his past in

a sanatorium for depression and alcoholism, to his doctor to write a therapeutic

account of what put him there. We get insight into his world, which reveals to us he

was a neighbour to a well-known and magnificent millionaire – Jay Gatsby. After

attending one of Gatsby's legendary parties Nick is asked by Gatsby to arrange a

meeting with his cousin, Daisy, now married to the brutish and philandering Tom

Buchanan, whom Gatsby is in love with. As Nick complies he comes to see that

Gatsby, once a poor boy, has recreated himself as a fascinating millionaire purely to

win Daisy back but the events of a drunken afternoon conspire to bring about an

ending which is anything but happy.

In the sequence I am analysing at 2:00:17-2:03:02, we see Gatsby’s last moments

of the film, as he is unexpectedly murdered within his own home. He is waiting for a

call from Daisy, and when his butler answers a phone call, he thinks that it is her;

however it is only Nick asking why Gatsby had not rung him. Gatsby is then

murdered at this exact moment, therefore he is left only with the idea that he missed

the call from the love of his life, and that he will never see her again, which increases

the emotion in this end sequence. Furthermore, It also leaves the audience with

some dramatic irony in the fact that we know It never was Daisy who called,

however, it could be suggested that Gatsby is left to think this.

AS Film Studies Rachael Elphick

The whole sequence uses very naturalistic colours with glowing and golden tones,

with the lighting having quite an orange tint at times. This suggests the scene is lit by

a natural light source of the sun set. This is

significant and could imply the end of a

chapter for Gatsby as the sun sets down or

perhaps a future sense of warmth and

happiness, as Gatsby is being freed from his

noeuve riche fake lifestyle, which he has to live up to. The naturalistic colours may

represent the positive and innocent character he is portraying in his final moments.

This is in fact dramatic irony for the audience as we know that he is innocent and

was not the one driving the car which murdered myrtle, however it is believed by the

media he did – which is why he is murdered.

At the beginning of the sequence there is a high angle shot looking down on Nick

from Gatsby’s perspective, switching to a low angle shot pointing up to Gatsby on his

balcony (This can be seen in figure 1). This can be suggested that Nick is looking up

to Gatsby in complete awe as he is his only real trustworthy friend, and reflects his

feelings for how incredible he thinks Gatsby is. Gatsby is of course of higher status

than Nick, therefore is higher above him and looking down on him, which could imply

his much greater wealth and status he has over Nick.

What is particularly interesting is the

performance by both actors. Nick says to

Gatsby “you’re worth the whole damn bunch

put together”. Nick’s facial expression at this

point shows admiration and respect to Gatsby, Figure 2

Figure 1

AS Film Studies Rachael Elphick

it’s at this moment he seems to realise the influence Gatsby has had on him, and

how he values the friendship they have. We have also become to understand Gatsby

as a character who is kind and in some respect lonely, therefore we can feel quite

sympathetic at this point towards him, as we become to love him as a character. I

also think that these last words are of great significance to the film as it concludes

the feelings he has towards him, and how far their relationship has come. Gatsby

smiles back (figure 2) but says nothing, then lifts his hand and waves slightly to Nick.

I think this is very effective that there is no dialogue exchanged back to Nick, as it

suggests Gatsby believes there is nothing more to say, which also seems as he also

values their bond. His expression shows faith in Nick and it’s at this moment the

audience can reflect and understand the closeness of their relationship. Gatsby is

also standing upright with his head held high, and with hands in his pockets. This

suggests the proud nature Gatsby has of himself, and shows his status of wealth and

power. However, straight after this when Nick walks away, Gatsby turns with his

head down and shoulders slouched. This could now be interpreted that perhaps he

isn’t as proud of himself as an individual and may suggest that he is actually quite a

lonely character, who plays along with confidence, when in reality it’s all a cover up.

Nick narrates at this point saying “that was the only compliment I ever paid him”. This

is interesting as Nick almost seems regretful he had never expressed any feelings to

him before, which is very unlike the novel by which Nick regularly narrates how

‘beautiful’ he thinks Gatsby is. It seems not only Nick has a deep friendship with

Gatsby, but however can be viewed as in love with the representation of Gatsby, and

the special connection he believes he had with him. It also suggests to the audience

that Nick and Gatsby won’t be meeting again, as Nick narrates looking back on his

past retrospective.

AS Film Studies Rachael Elphick

At 2:01:17, (figure 3) the camera is filming in a

fixed position with it coming narrowing closer

into Daisy’s telephone. The fact it comes close

in to the phone indicates that this prop is of

significance to this part in the film, as it

determines whether Daisy is going to ring Gatsby or not. The phone plays a huge

part in the sense that the phone call that Gatsby’s home eventually gets is not what

he expected and is he left only hoping that it was her, when in fact it was Nick

phoning to ask why Gatsby had not called him. From this we can suggest that Nick is

the only loyal friend Gatsby has, however Gatsby died not only thinking it was Daisy,

but also not being able to fully appreciate just how much respect Nick has for him. It

is important to also understand that Nick was there prior, during (on the phone) and

after Gatsby’s death, meaning he was always there for him, when Daisy who Gatsby

never gave up on was not. “Telefoni Bianchi” (white telephone) films were made in

Italy in the 1930’s in imitation of American comedies of the time. For example, there

would be expensive Art Deco sets featuring white telephones as a status symbol of

bourgeois wealth and generally unavailable to the movie-going public. This idea of

them being a status of wealth could well be indicating the wealth and fortune of

Daisy, and it also relates to the time the film was set in the 1930’s, which is the time

these films were made.

A close up shot of daisy (figure 4) shows her to be looking in deep thought, and quite

fearful. This suggests that Gatsby may be on her mind, and could indicate she is

deciding whether or not to contact him after the

tragic accident that happened regarding the car

crash. However, it may also be expressing

Figure 4

Figure 3

AS Film Studies Rachael Elphick

many feelings she has, perhaps her unhappy marriage she has with her husband,

and could suggest her contemplating whether she wants to stay with him. The

lighting is high contrast, low key on her face hiding half of her face in darkness. I

believe this is to suggest the innocent character she tries to portray, however in

reality she has become a murderer, and disloyal to Gatsby who she claimed she

once loved.

As soon as the phone rings Gatsby is quick to turn around, and has a relived and

anticipatory expression. All his emotions are captured in this moment as the editing

cuts from a mid shot to a close up shot of his face. His quick action turning around

suggests that he is lost without his lover and feels complete that she has rung. This

makes him seem quite reliant and needy of Daisy, and is a character that is easily

controlled by love and his emotions.

Against a golden coloured wall outside Gatsby’s house shows a silhouette of a man

holding a gun walking and increasing as he gets closer. This is a delay code which

foreshadows Gatsby’s death. This is significant as to what is about to happen and

provides some dramatic irony for the audience, as they may be aware by the

increase and intensity of the music building up, that Gatsby may fall victim. I believe

this was done to create an emotional and dramatic end for the protagonist Gatsby,

as his death is sudden and of some surprise.

The editing cuts from a long shot of Gatsby’s

mansion, to close up shots of his face. The

camera then cuts again to the mansion but at

a midshot. Here we have a sense of

predatory, as though the audience have

Figure 5

AS Film Studies Rachael Elphick

privelleged viewing of Gatsby and his home, invading his personal space. It is

focusing all the audience’s attention into this precise moment which for me I find very

emotional and intense. It’s also giving the audience a feeling of peering into a

glimpse of Gatsby’s life, and it also gives quite threatening impression when the

camera films at a close up, enabling us to appreciate Dicaprio’s performance.

When Gatsby is shot at 2:01:58 his facial

expression of reacting to being shot (figure 6) explains a lot about him as a

character. It doesn’t seem just a surprised reaction, however more of a deep thought

that he will die not being able to say any last words to his lover Daisy, and will die

never being able to have his life complete without her. It’s important to realise that

Gatsby has everything he could ever want with fame and fortune, however never

quite got to spend the rest of his love with the person he is most fond of. However,

the dramatic irony is that it was never Daisy who did ring in the first place, therefore

only the audience know that she was not at all loyal to him.

Figure 6