Gangster Film Reader

by James Ursini and Alain Silver

Book Overview

In the 1930s the gangster film in the United States coincided with a very real and very sensational gangsterism at large in American society. Little Caesar (1931), The Public Enemy (1931), and Scarface (1932) borrowed liberally from the newspapers and books of the era. With the release of just these three motion pictures in barely more than a year's time, Hollywood quintessentially defined the genre. The characters, the situations,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879103329
• ISBN13: 9780879103323
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: Limelight
• Length: 422 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Film libraries will consider it a 'must'

The rise of the popular gangster film genre began in the early 1930s to reflect the real history and rise of gangsterism in American society, producing early classics which would be released back to back, were modeled on newspaper and real-life situations, and which would bring gangsterism to the public eye by defining and surveying notorious personalities and groups. GANGSTER FILM READER reviews the genre through reprints of key articles, new essays and critical analysis produced for this collection, and over 200 original photos. Film libraries will consider it a 'must', while many a college-level library on social issues will also find the topic relevant to 20th century American history discussions. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

wonderful

This book was so informative and very easy to read! As a movie lover, this book was absolutely amazing in the stories that it told! It's a must read for any gangster movie fan!