Brighton Rock- How does Mise-en-scene introduce 'Pinky Brown'?

Mise-en-scene gives us many clues about the character Pinky Brown in the film Brighton Rock. Mise-en-scene is made up of 5 different elements- setting, costume/make-up, lighting, figure expression and props. Each of these help to establish the character, and the overall atmosphere in a scene. The film is set in 1964 Brighton, and the sunny tourist setting is juxtaposed with the dark themes of the film.

Pinky often wears long coats with the collar turned up, which adds a sense of mystery as it seems he is trying to hide himself from others. He wears formal dress underneath, and this as well as the slick-back hair, emphasise the smart and business-like nature of their gang warfare. However, his clothes often get scruffy, bringing to light the harsh reality of being in a gang.

Most of the film is barely lit, either with scenes being dark, or when they’re light they still lack colour. It’s almost as if the camera has a dull tint on it. This highlights the themes of crime, which is commonly thought of as a dark industry.

The props very clearly portray the character as a gang member, as he is scene with both a gun and a knife at different parts of the film.

The element of mise-en-scene that helps to establish Pinky the most is his figure expression, which is down to how the actor plays it. Sam Riley, who plays Pinky Brown, portrays his character as a very stiff, serious guy by walking with an upright posture, but also the swagger of gang members. However, at the beginning, he seems slightly fidgety and nervous, especially when he starts biting his nails and looks startled. His facial expressions are often straight and solemn, emphasising his serious nature. He also grimaces a lot, showing that he is cynical to happiness. He is quite awkward, and it seems as if he doesn’t really understand how to interact with those around him; this is shown through his body language.

(Rehana Nurmahi)