According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, gentrification is a process of renewing and rebuilding deteriorating areas that is accompanied by the influx of middle class people and the displacement of poorer residents. Considering this definition, one can see that The Landlord (1970) touches only on the slightest of the preliminary steps of gentrification but leaves the concept midway in preference to assimilation. Elgar Enders (Beau Bridges) embodies the very concept of gentrification as he buys property in the impoverished neighborhood of Park Slope, Brooklyn in hopes of driving the tenants out to make a luxurious abode for himself. Establishing shots of the neighborhood leave no doubt in believing that the area is home to poor people. The small houses are built and clumped right next to each other, streets are vandalized with graffiti, and garbage lies everywhere. The poverty is highlighted many times in the movie when shots of the spacious Enders household reveal the striking contrast between the mansion itself and the cramped apartments of Park Slope residents. Furthermore, the film uses racial socioeconomic statuses in the 1970s to demonstrate its divisions of wealth vs. poverty. It plays on the idea of poor black people living in Park Slope and the rich white Enders family living in luxury. Hence, Elgar coming from an affluent family to replace a portion of Park Slope with renovation and luxury shows how gentrification is slowly infiltrating the area. At the beginning of the film, the real estate agent talks to Elgar about the “urban renewal” and “restored landmarks” of Park Slope. Elgar enthusiastically tells Lanie about the drastic changes he plans on bringing to his new home. The film presents an aerial shot of the dirty backyard as Elgar explains he’ll place bird fountains or statues there. A low angle shot of the apartment’s staircase is used when Elgar shows Lanie where he plans to hang his chandelier. Whether it may be for personal reasons or for the betterment of the neighborhood (which we know isn’t the case; Elgar just wants a nice space for himself), Elgar does embody the spirit of gentrification that necessitates urban renewal and displacement of poorer residents. This embodiment of gentrification however, is no longer visible by the end of the film. Elgar does not actually manage to gentrify the apartment building, let alone the neighborhood. Elgar assimilates into the community rather than displacing it. Although he decides to leave the apartment building eventually, signs of integration are still visible. He leaves the building in the hands of Lanie and Copee, visits Professor DuBois’ class, keeps his racially mixed baby and goes to live with his mulatto girlfriend. On a broader level, we see that in addition to the failure of Elgar’s efforts of gentrifying the apartment, Park Slope itself is not completely renewed or displaced. Gentrification is a time consuming process that affects an entire neighborhood rather than a single apartment building. It is for this reason that I chose to say that The Landlord leaves gentrification midway to pursue the concept of assimilation.
Park Slope or even the apartment building don’t drastically change enough to be labeled under gentrification. However, Park Slope does go under a slight change over the course of the movie. I would like to argue that the residents of Park Slope slightly change and seem to become a little more accepting. Elgar is no longer seen as the white villain, and this is exemplified in his positive relationship with his tenants and the joyous atmosphere of the party that Marge throws. Part of this can be because he chose not to drive away the tenants and dealt with their problems as much as he could. He is seen fixing their toilets and doorknobs. This brings me to my second point, which is the acceptance and assimilation of Elgar into the poor community. He begins to communicate and relate with women like Marge, Lanie, and Fanny with ease. Instead of renovating the entire building and driving tenants out, Elgar choses to live in the basement and decorate his own little space. So although he walked into Park Slope as a one-man army of gentrification, he walked out having mixed into the community. The preliminary step of gentrification that might’ve attracted tons more middle class people, was stopped right at its roots as Elgar chose to keep one (yet significant) apartment building just the way it was.
