Gangs of New York begins with an iconic opening scene that works as the foundation of the plot, character development, and message of the film. Beginning with Neeson’s closed eyes and the blade to his throat, the film immediately establishes the zoomed camera angles used throughout the film. By delaying the full depiction of Vallon’s face, figure, and clothing, Scorsese determines the Priest’s role that echoes throughout the events 16 years later, as more of a legend than a man. Vallon dons clothing colored red, white, and blue; furthermore, both his blade and his cross shine in a similar manner. These details highlight violence, religion, and patriotism as the film’s central themes.
“No son. Never. The blood stays on the blade. One day you’ll understand.” In this one line, Priest Vallon transfers the heritage of violence and hatred for Bill Cutting to his son. Amsterdam accepts this burden immediately after his father’s death, drawing his father’s knife and slashing fearlessly. Later, Amsterdam struggles to renounce his heritage to work for Bill Cutting as many of former dead rabbits, because of this unique responsibility his father placed upon him. Making a religious allusion to define the black and white viewpoints of what it means to be American, Priest Vallon questions Amsterdam about Saint Michael. Here, a contrast is drawn between Priest Vallon and Cutting, even before his introduction. Both imagine themselves as Saint Michael, bringing order to paradise by casting out Satan, their counterpart, and both believe they are solely in the right.
The most important line of the movie comes at Priest Vallon’s death: “Oh my son. Don’t ever look away.” Again, Vallon stresses the importance of heritage. However, the camera angle nearly puts the audience in the eyes of Amsterdam, as if Vallon speaks to us. He commands us never to turn our heads from history, and to remember the mass bloodshed and hatred that has led to the civility we live in today.
