Gangster

What is the gangster genre? Gangster films are about gangsters who seek out power and wealth. The main plot characteristic of the gangster genre includes the apprehension of the bad guy and the personal struggles between two characters.

What is Gangster? Film historian Robert Warshow has argued that gangster films represent an American form of tragedy, pivoting on capitalism’s dark underbelly.

Typical Gangster Film Usually a poor immigrant so desperate for the American dream—money, position, flashy clothes, and cars– that he falls prey to a life of crime. Takes place in a big city Can only gain power by taking it. The hero’s antagonist is society, and the enforcers of the law.

Sub-Genres Blaxploitation Cops & Robbers Film Noir Heist Prison

Sub-Genres Bad Girl movies Law and Order Private-Eye Buddy Cop Lovers on the Run Road Films Suspense-Thrillers Caper Stories Trial Films Cops & Robbers Mafia, Organized Crime, Mob Films Vice Films Detective/Mysteries Victim Mysteries Espionage Who-dun-its Neo-Noir Femme Fatales Women’s Prison Films Outlaw Biker Films Hard-boiled Detective Police Procedurals Hood Films Prison

Iconography Cigars Hats Cars Guns Women Telephone Drugs Alcohol Big City Suits Police Money

Classics of the Gangster Genre The Musketeers of Pig Alley (1912) The Public Enemy (1931) Bonnie and Clyde (1967) The Godfather (1972) Scarface (1983)

Where did it start? The gangster surged in popularity in the 1930s. The rise also coincided with historical conditions of Prohibition, notorious real gangsters, like Al Capone, and violent outbursts.

Al Capone America’s first well known publicized and most ruthless gangster was Al Capone aka Scarface based in Chicago he and his men earned the following sums in a single year. $60,000,000 from beer and liquor $10,000,000 from racketeering. $10,000,000 from dance halls and vice.

Mood Tense Dark Even when gangster is successful, sense he will be caught or killed Violent

Cinematic Style Dark, with low-key lighting, blue and red hues Enclosed spaces Shadows

Narrative Themes Family and loyalty of upmost importance Obedience to authority necessary Working hard will result in rise to power and economic success Police and politicians unable to maintain law and order Crime will pay off in the short term, but crime life can’t be maintained Men should be strong and women forgiving.

Plot Rise and fall of gangster Sub-plots Laundering crime money Escaping the FBI Plotting against members of own crime family Taking over business of another crime family Hiding infidelities from wife.

In the 1920s the prohibition act was in place which made the era a haven for the crime known as bootlegging this industry was ruled by Al Capone, in 1932 Capone was sent to jail shortly after followed the release Scarface: shame of a nation, the films main character was based on Al Capone.

Gangster films of the 30s focus mainly on bank robberies and bootlegging. Gangster films of the 40s focus on romanticizing and portraying the gangsters as bullies.

Gangster films in the 50s died down because it was the end of the second World War. Gangster films in the 60s focused on romanticizing and turning gangsters into social rebels

Gangster films in the 70s died down and made way for films like Star Wars and sports movies like The Mighty Ducks and Karate Kid. Gangster films in the 80s didn’t have the appeal that movies like E.T. and Star Wars had during this time so it couldn’t be revived during this time