1. Gangster

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. Sub-Genres
Blaxploitation
Cops & Robbers
Film Noir
Heist
Prison

6. 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

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

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

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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