Comments on: Structure: The Untouchables

By: Angelo from New Jersey, United States

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:20:37 +0000

Isn’t that what makes Ness an adolescent — his naivete?

By: storydude from New South Wales, Australia

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:48:35 +0000

Isn’t THJ about metaphors? Does it always literally have to be an adolescent and adventure?

The Hero is often a flawed adult, who needs to grow or transform. The journey is sometimes not at all adventurous, but dark and menacing.

In his book MYTH AND THE MOVIES, Stuart Voytilla shows how the journey works with a variety of genres and characters.

By: D. Jason Fleming from California, United States

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:27:22 +0000

Though The Untouchables is a damn well-structured story, I don’t think using Campbellian hero’s journey terminology is quite right.

Elliot Ness isn’t an adolescent going on an adventure, he’s an adult (admittedly naive, at first, but still an adult) with a job to do.

The thematic question is whether he will allow his virtues to be used to hamstring him and defeat his larger purpose. (“How far are you willing to go?” “As far as the law allows.” “All right, and THEN how far?”)

Which makes the first raid scene and his meeting with Malone in the church equal halves of the inciting incident, I think.