Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York tells the story of a young Irish immigrant in the 1860s named Amsterdam Vallon who returns to the Five Points seeking revenge against the man who killed his father, William Cutting, who is also known as Bill the Butcher. In order to get his revenge, Amsterdam infiltrates the Butcher’s inner circle. Throughout the movie, the audience further learns the true struggle for the Irish people during this time.
Scorsese uses various film techniques and elements in order to advance the narrative and demonstrate characterization. During the scene where the house is on fire in the Five Points and multiple different fire fighter gangs come to put it out, the story is further deepened through various actions of the characters. In this scene, the viewer watches as the citizens of the Five Points get enjoyment out of the disaster. Various dialogue occurs between the people including the fire fighters as they nonchalantly watch the house burn down. The music is of an upbeat folk song that never stops throughout the whole scene and some people even risk their lives to loot the house of its valuables while they can. The camera pans in from an aerial view as the audience sees the top of the violence that is occurring below them. The elements of background music and camera technique help characterize the nature of the Five Points.
Throughout this scene, we learn more about the different characters. When Amsterdam’s friend Johnny sees the burning house, he takes the opportunity to go loot it because his friend was getting hungry. This exposes the caring side of the Irish people and questions the typical stereotype placed on the Irish during this time. We see Johnny running into the burning house from the point of view of Amsterdam and are transported from the dark street to the bright house engulfed in fire. Immediately, the two look for any valuables they could find. In the house, Amsterdam finds some expensive watches while Johnny finds a beautiful music box. When a beam falls and traps him in the fire, Johnny calls for Amsterdam’s help. Instead of leaving his friend behind to die in the fire, he jumps over the beam and saves Johnny. This adds to Amsterdam’s character as it shows his courage and love for his friend over money. At this point in the scene, the music is at it’s highest point with a harmonica solo blaring. When Bill the Butcher comes in riding a train, he automatically assumes the leading role of all the fire fighters and commands them to stop trying to put the fire out. He sits on a single luxurious chair amidst all the chaos around him which tells the viewers that he is the boss around those parts and no one can best him. When Amsterdam comes out of the burning house, Bill eyes him skeptically foreshadowing later events in the movie. This all furthers the characterization of Bill.
Overall, this scene helps characterize the characters and furthers the narrative early on in the movie so the audience can understand the growth of the characters and of the Five Point area.
