Britishness in Hot Fuzz Introduction.

Hot Fuzz Part 1

Britishness in London
The non-diegetic sounds at the beginning over the titles of the production companies are references to the British police force and how it has changed over time. The whistle, bell, air raid siren, modern siren. It is also an indecation that crime is increasing because the volmune increases and sounds less distant.

The first shot of the character is instantly recongisable to a British audience as a police officer because of the hat and shoulder pads. The ID baadge that he holds up links to Britain because of the crown on the coat of arms, it is also recognisable to a British audience that he is from the Metropolitan Police Force who are based in London.

The music is Adam and The Ants which is a popular British band. When he narrates he speaks about famous British places; London and Canterbury.

In the shot of him in a riot, the area is a run down urban area, with factories which could be a reference to the industrial revolution and also the recession and closing of British businesses in the late 20th Century. 

The Metropolitan Police logo is used a lot - on the test and in the background when he gets the baton of honour. The Union flag is also used which is recognisably British, also the Lions in the coat of arms is a reference to royalty.

There is a reference to two well known places in London, Soho and China Town, showing that it is a popular tourist destination.

During the presentation the image of the chav is the stereotypical idea of the British youth.

To a British audience the Vauxhall Astra is seen as a police car. The cycling reference is slightly taking the mick out of the police which is a typically British thing to do. The fencing is traditionally quite a posh sport so it links to upper class British tradition.

The stabbing incident is a reference to the problem with knife crime in Britain. Also, he was stabbed by Father Christmas which is British version of Santa Claus.

Britishness in the country
He arrives in a taxi which is the British version of a cab.
As he is entering the town he goes past a sign that says "Model Village" is recognisably British to a British audience - the brown colour is used for all tourist/places to visit around Britain. Also the rose is the Tudor rose which is a reference to a famous part in English history.

It is raining as he arrives and this is widely known as typical British weather.

The hotel looks like a old traditional country house - the open fire, the coat of arms over te mantelpiece, the wooden panel walls which makes it look very Victorian.

The woman in the hotel has a different accent to PC Angel which represents the regional accents in Britain. When they both say "I beg your pardon" it links to the idea that the British are very polite even if they have been offended.

He is put in the Castle Suite which is another link to old world Britain.

When he goes out into the town it looks like a typical old market town with a town square, memorial and cobbled streets. The British youth in the country are also represented as chavs because they all have their hoodies up and look like they are up to no good.

He then goes into the pub which is a typical British past time which is recognised mainly with Britain. Also the hand-pumps represent real ale which is typically British. The landlord and landlady call the newspaper the "local fishwrapper" which a British audience recognise as a reference to fish and chips because traditionally fish and chips were wrapped in old newspapers.

The man at the bar next to him is wearing a football suit which is very popular in Britain and people tend to support their local team.