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1930s
Original gangster films. Prohibition & Economic slump. Had gangsters like Al Capone so a lot of films around this time were about the 1920s era. -
1940s & 1950s
Crime films become more noir (dark). Minimalist lighting, things happening at night dark themes. During this time you have the war so there are a lot of war themes. Confused gender roles, women were left to take on masculine roles, this is when the femme fatale role was introduced because women’s roles hadn’t previously been strong. In Britain we had post war anxieties, there was economic depression after the war, people coming back from war to poverty and turning to crime. Working class life. -
1960s
More light-hearted as there is an economic uplift. More light-hearted narrative, introduction to the loveable rogues who are the charismatic gangers. This was the same in Britain as we mixed in comedy, cheeky cockney characters. Made heist films with cliff-hanger endings. Positive, outgoing liberated societies. -
1970 & 1980s
Started to go dark again as we had an economic depression, racial rioting and lots of films reflected this. In America there was films that explored the races in America. Remakes of early gangster films. In Britain it gets grittier, less comedy more hard hitting & violent. In Britain there was lots of gangs & violence and films reflected this. Fights between two gangs, the audience side with the more charismatic gang. -
1990s Onwards
Borrowed references from the past, postmodern elements are introduced into film. The heist, the cheeky character, violent criminals, criminal underworld, femme fatal etc. borrows elements with new challenging narratives. In Britain, you get all of the elements again but also reflect the ‘laddishness’ of the 90’s, swearing gambling & drinking. Heavily stylised.
