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Musketeers of Pig Alley
This is believed to be the first gangster movie released. In black and white and with no sound, it is a wild contrast to films of today. It's based on a poverty stricken man who goes away on business. When he returns, he is attacked by a gangster. Note that in this film the main character IS NOT the gangster but infact the victim, which portrays crime in a bad light and deglamarises iike later films do. -
Period: to
First Gangster Movie To Today
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Little Caesar
Little Ceaser tells the story of a young man who moves to Chicago with his friend to find fortune. When he arrives he joins a gang, and the movie tells the story of his career within the gang. Unlike earlier movies, this movie is much more focused on the criminal side of gangster movies opposed to the victim/law enforcement side. Some people believe that there is also hints that the main character is battling with his sexuality, which shows a focus on the gangster instead of victim. -
The Public Enemy
Film companies are careful to glamorise crime in their movies during this time, which is evident on The Public Enrmy. While the movie focuses on the gang once again and shows a young mans rise to the top on the criminal career ladder, he also meets his fate at the end, which is in-line with the 'crime doesn't pay' message of this era. -
Scarface
The original Scarface involes two gangs fighting over control of the city. However, it is yet again another example of how directors and script writers are hesitant to glamorise crime. At the end, the main character surrenders to the police in a 'cowardly fashion' before being shot by an officer, which suggests the law always wins. -
The Godfather
The Godfather trilogy is one of the first examples of movies where gangsters and crime is glamorised. It also marks the beginning of the regeneration of gangster movies, which saw a demise after the 40's -
Goodfellas
Goodfellas is a relitavely recent italian-American gangster movie. It's based on a real life story (not often done before) focusing on Henry Hill, a young man who by his own admission 'always wanted to be a gangster'.
