1. Key Aspect: Narrative Stock Characters & Narrative Structure
The Untouchables
Key Aspect: Narrative
Stock Characters
&
Narrative Structure

2. The Untouchables - Narrative
Stock Characters
Stock characters are types of character who appear in most stories
For the audience to suspend disbelief, a credible fictional world must be established.
One of the tasks of a narrative is to create believable characters and assert their function in the story.
The Russian theorist, Vladimir Propp, identified the relationship between characters and narrative. He recognised that the chain of events in a story is governed by characters’ actions
The Untouchables - Narrative

3. The Untouchables - Narrative
Propp identified 7 main character types/roles which appear in most stories in one form or another:
The hero : who is seeking something
The villain: who is in opposition to the hero
The donor: who provides an object with (magic) power
The helper: who assists the hero
The princess: who acts as a reward for the hero
The dispatcher: who sends the hero on his way
The false hero: who disrupts the hero’s hope for reward
The Untouchables - Narrative

4. The Untouchables - Narrative
Propp states that several roles may well be filled by one character
Also, that some roles may be filled by more than one character
An excellent example of a straight forward use of these stock characters is the original Star Wars trilogy
The Untouchables - Narrative

5. The Untouchables - Narrative
Looking at The Untouchables we can see that it is a typical ‘Hollywood’ film, with elements such as main and supporting characters helping the viewer understand what the story is about. The narrative is focused on a goal-oriented protagonist: a hero who is drawn into a situation which he must resolve in some way. Since the plot is focused solely on the goals of the protagonist, supporting characters are introduced into the plot to fulfil a certain function. They all have a single specialty or trait that gives them a function in the plot. These are as follows: 
The Untouchables - Narrative

6. The Untouchables - Narrative
The Hero
Eliot Ness (the goal-orientated protagonist)
Is seeking to bring Capone to justice
This is a goal that is clearly and explicitly delineated from the start (the bombing of the innocent girl), and most scenes follow the protagonist's actions from that point on.
That and the protection of his family are his only motives in life (according to what we learn in the film)
The Untouchables - Narrative

7. The Untouchables - Narrative
The Villain
The structural entity of the ‘bad guy' is divided into two characters in the plot:
Al Capone (the main character, seen as the vindictive and remorseless yet amusing and sophisticated antagonist)
Sets out to conspire against Ness and will use any means, including murder, to maintain his position of power
Frank Nitti (the embodiment of evil , the angel of death)
Carries out every unforgivable act in the film
is executed by the hero in the film's finale. Since the story was based on actual figures and the audience knows Capone will survive to go to prison, the creation of this supporting evil character was necessary to fulfil the genre demand of having the hero actually be driven to kill the bad guy at the end of the film.
The Untouchables - Narrative

8. The Untouchables - Narrative
Dispatcher / Donor
Jimmy Malone (the cynical yet wise tutor)
He shares (donates) his expert knowledge on Chicago, in general, and police work, in particular, with Ness
Malone tutors Ness about Capone and police work throughout the picture, until he delivers (donates) the last clue on catching Capone to Ness, at which point he is killed off.
His final, dying words, “What are you prepared to do, now?” sends (dispatches) Ness off with renewed determination to fulfil his goal.
The death of Malone not only has the plot function of strengthening Ness's resolve to catch Capone, it also functions structurally as reinforcement of the audience's sympathy for his quest.
The Untouchables - Narrative

9. The Untouchables - Narrative
Helper
George Stone (handsome young gunslinger)
is recruited from the police academy, where he is introduced as an excellent marksman. This quality will serve its purpose in a key sequence at the train station where he has to shoot an assailant with great accuracy. His other character traits are either underplayed or simply not included: the only information on Stone is that he is of Italian descent, he is not married and he is an excellent marksman.
Oscar Wallace (baby-faced astonished fuddy-duddy)
Is a helper and donor
provides comic relief for the audience as well as providing (donating) Ness with the solution for convicting Capone. Once these two elements have been exhausted, the character is logically the first one to be killed off. His death, like Malone's, strengthens both Ness's resolve and audience support.
The Untouchables - Narrative

10. The Untouchables - Narrative
False Hero
Police Captain (Corrupt Cop)
Provides Malone with information about the illegal activities of Capone’s organisation
Ultimately, betrays his friend by providing Capone with insider information which leads to the death of Wallace and Malone
The Untouchables - Narrative

11. The Untouchables - Narrative
Go Between
Walter Payne (Capone’s Bookkeeper)
Is only brought to the attention of the audience in the last third of the film when his role in the film becomes important.
Works faithfully for Capone dealing with all his accounts but switches sides when his life is threatened
Provides the vital testimony which proves Capone’s guilt
Ironically, it is essentially two accountants who bring down the violent and murderous Capone
The Untouchables - Narrative

12. The Untouchables - Narrative
Princess
Ness’ Wife
Ness’ devotion to his family is constantly emphasised to the audience. He says “It’s good to be married” at several points throughout the film.
She acts as a reward when he gets to return to normal family life at the end of the film
The Untouchables - Narrative

13. The Untouchables - Narrative
What helps the audience identify the stock characters?
Representations (through Language and anchorage)
Other aspects of Narrative (e.g. binary opposites, etc)
And Narrative structure
The Untouchables - Narrative

14. The Untouchables - Narrative
Narrative Structure
Narrative Structure has TWO meanings so approach the term with caution
Firstly, in a general sense it means how a narrative has been put together or built, in the same way you would talk about the structure of a building
Secondly, it also has a more specific meaning relating to the story shape which follows a set pattern.
The Untouchables - Narrative

15. The Untouchables - Narrative
This set pattern is known as
‘Classical Narrative structure’
In its simplest form it has three distinct parts: 1 2 3
Beginning
Middle
End
Equilibrium
ORDER
Disequilibrium
DISORDER
Return to equilibrium
ORDER RESTORED
(Normality)
(Disruption)
(Return to normality)
(Problem)
The Untouchables - Narrative

16. The Untouchables - Narrative
This can be broken down even further into 4 phases by dividing the Disorder into 2 parts
The pinnacle of the action where the major conflict / problem is resolved
End of disorder
Climax
We meet the main characters in their normal everyday lives
Disorder
Order
Order
Restored
Disruption
A problem / complication occurs which disrupts their normal lives
Beginning of disorder
All loose ends (enigmas) have been tied up and characters return to normal lives which will be slightly different from original Normality
The Untouchables - Narrative

17. The Untouchables - Narrative
Does The Untouchables follow a classical narrative structure?
If so, can you identify the 4 distinct phases by writing a small description of what happens at each phase?
The Untouchables - Narrative

18. Classical Narrative Structure in The Untouchables
Capone has complete control over Chicago through intimidation
Ness sets out to bring Capone to justice
Ness kills Nitti (neutralising Capone’s offence)
Resolution
Disorder
Order
Order
Restored
Disruption
Ness is hampered in his quest by corrupt police
Capone is brought to justice, Chicago is no longer in his grip
Ness returns home to his family
The Untouchables - Narrative