The Colors of Goodfellas

This paper analyzes how Martin Scorsese uses color to convey themes in his narrative feature film Goodfellas. Each scene in the film was thematically coded; the four most prevalent themes were chosen: family, brutality, violence, and money. Color data was then collected from frames taken from the middle of each scene; the researcher used these findings to draw conclusions on Scorsese’s color choices in scenes for each theme. It was found that Scorsese used a high prevalence of earth-based colors to convey primal themes like family and brutality; he used a high prevalence of red, orange, and purple to convey aggression and raise audience tension. Additionally, Scorsese employed a dark and desaturated look to communicate dark themes like brutality, though saturation was raised to highlight certain visual elements. These findings hold important implications to fans of the movie Goodfellas, academics within the field of film studies, and filmmakers looking to better understand filmmaking. It is the researcher’s strong recommendation that other films directed by Scorsese be put under analysis, possibly using better technology, in an effort to more deeply understand how Scorsese uses color to convey theme across his films and how his color choices have evolved across his illustrious career.