Welcome to a world inspired by crime and greed. A place where the senses are overwhelmed by aura of extravagance. Welcome to the Roaring Twenties. The Great Gatsby, the 2013 film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel of the same name, directed by Baz Luhrmann, is a contemporary film overlaid on the 1920’s allowing for a more connectable, yet historical film. The film is narrated by Nick Carraway (Tobey McGuire), who is a bond salesman living on Long Island and is the closest thing Jay Gatsby (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) has to a friend. Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man who throws extravagant parties, is the embodiment of doing anything for a noble cause and lives in the mansion next to Nick’s small cottage. Jay lives in this world where successes and monetary wealth can cause anyone to give everything up for you, as evidenced in his courting of Daisy Buchanan (played by Carey Mulligan). In one scene, Jay is taking Nick into town to meet Meyer Wolfshiem, the man who fixed the 1919 World Series. Once Nick and Meyer are introduced, they then proceed to enter a speakeasy, as this is during the era of Prohibition. This scene in particular masterfully displays many aspects of visual design. The creative liberties and contemporary interpretation of the wardrobe and the set create an understandable image of the dark beneath the shiny surface.
Something that really sticks out in this scene is the attire of the characters. Catherine Martin, the most awarded Australian in Oscar history took a unique approach to the wardrobe used for the characters in the film. Martin took clothing similar to what would have been available in the 1920’s and added a more contemporary appearance to them. Using tighter fitted pants for men and more provocative dresses for the women. This modern flair to the wardrobe allows for a more relatable appearance of flair and flamboyance that would not have been as available had the film been completely a period piece. The colours worn by Meyer, Jay and Nick contrast very well with the people in the barber shop front for the speakeasy. As they are in more midtone beige, blue-grey suits where the employees are in plain vibrant white. This shows a contrast in the lifestyle as the three are in the more gray area of society and the barber shop front business maintains a sense of normalcy and innocence. This is a subtle difference that is brought into more focus once Jay, Meyer and Nick enter the speakeasy and are surrounded by people in the greyed/beige coloured suits being as they are in an illegally operated facility. This contemporary approach helps to make the film feel like it could almost be occurring in modern time, until the focus is broadened and shows 1920’s New York..
Set in a speakeasy, the fine points of the setting captures the socioeconomic structure of the 20’s as well as the optimism of a high point in American history. The scene begins with Jay and Nick driving into town, to which Nick says, “The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world.” This remark speaks to the feelings of the time as the Roaring Twenties were in full bloom. Bringing with them a sense of a mysterious but highly intriguing view of the world as it opened up. As they enter the speakeasy, Nick is very tense and tentative as he enters a world he has not before been privy to. As an outsider, Nick gives us a unique perspective of just how the social structure of the time is set, with those in power and in wealth being privy to things that the typical individual would not be able to. The replication of the care free attitude, the feeling of invincibility and excessive amounts of extravagance, creates this world that is best understood through the historical context, but it is also made easier by the more contemporary feeling attire worn. This allows the viewer to feel more connected with the characters and does not take away from the story in any way.
The most interesting aspect in terms of visual design might be how “un-1920’s” the film appears. Luhrmann opted for filming in the highest resolution and the smoothest stock available. This created a pristine image which left an angelic-like sheen on the characters faces. This creates a sense that the characters see themselves as above the world. As Nick is looking up at the sky, his face radiates with the sun's bright rays. The level of visual perfection that is achieved serves as a way to cover up the darkness beneath the surface. As the clarity allows for an overlooking with the fact that Jay and Nick are in a speakeasy, an illegal place of business, along with several other high ranking officials. The use of lighting in the scene along with the clarity of the image is masterful. Only Jay, Nick and Meyer have their face illuminated once they enter the speakeasy. This effect allows for quick identification as well as showing that they are in some sense “higher than the rest”. This could be that Wolfsheim is higher in the ring of crime, Nick is wiser than the others due to his perspective and Jay is higher in terms of monetary value and has higher aspirations for his life.
The culmination of the period piece elements and the contemporary feel of this film adaptation of a world renowned novel create a truly telling scene of not only what is in front of the camera but also what should be picked up by the viewer. The use of the high resolution and smooth film stock create a serene overoptimistic sense of superiority that was ever prevalent in the time period. Yet adding a contemporary feel to create an easier transition from reality to film.
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