2. • A typical gangster film contains violence, guns, lots of
swearing, death, and dark comedy.
• The gangster genre originates from the USA, although
has been shaped and moulded to fit a more British
audience over the years.
• The use of Cockney accent and slang has become hugely
popular in British gangster films.
Introduction
3. The 20’s seen a massive increase in crime in the US. The
government put a ban on the sale of alcohol, which made
criminals such as Al Capone, distribute alcohol through
speak easies; the consumption of alcohol was not actually
banned.
Because of this, there was an increase in crime related films
in the 30’s, although films focussing on these criminals
were not produced until later.
The 1920’s Crime Boom
4. This film is considered the first Crime film in
history. It was released in 1912, and only runs for
17 minutes. The film follows a young couple
who are both targeted by gangsters. Each of the
men perusing the man and woman are rivals and
begin to shoot at each other.
The Musketeers Of Pig
Alley
5. Bulldog Drummond
Bulldog Drummond (1922) is
possibly a ‘lost film’; there is no
known recording of the film left.
This character went on to star in
British crime films up until 1968,
the actor playing Drummond
changed a lot.
These films concentrated Captain
Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond, a
former WW1 officer, who, after
the war leads his life as a private
detective.
6. Based on a true story, Chicago
follows Roxie Hart, and her
murder of her husband. Although
the real Roxie wasn’t charged,
and neither was the character in
the film, the film is much more
cruel to Roxie. A remake of this
film was made in 2002.
Chicago (1927)
7. Released in 1928, Lights of New York was the first all-
speaking feature film, and was said to define the crime
genre as we know it. The critical reception of this
speaking film meant that by the end of 1929, Hollywood
was producing sound films exclusively.
Lights of New York (1928)
8. The Big House got the ball rolling for crime
drama’s in the 30’s. This film focused on
characters in a prison block, ruled by
convict Butch. The prisoners take over
the block, in order to escape. Although,
like other films in this era, good prevails.
This film was not a silent, which made it
interesting for the audience; most films
released before this had no vocals.
The Big House (1930)
9. This film laid a basis for future films of
the genre; as with modern day Gangster
films, it revolves around gang warfare
and police intervention, and the control of
a city.
The film centres around Toni Camonte
and his struggle to take over South Side.
He and the rest of the gang make money
by selling illegal alcohol to speak easies.
This film influenced Brian De Palma in
making the popular film of the same title.
Scarface (original)
10. The 40’s saw a change in
crime films; due to them
becoming more dark and
cynical, this was known as
film noir (black film).
The films would literally
become darker due to
directors using a lower
shade of black and white.
This term was given by
Film Noir French.
11. You Only Live Once is a 1937 crime drama film
starring Sylvia Sidney and Henry Fonda. This was
successful and considered an early Film Noir
classic.
The films realistic violence meant that at least
fifteen minutes of the original film was edited out
before cinema release.
Eddie Taylor is an ex-convict who cannot get a
break after being released from prison. When he is
framed for murder, Taylor is forced to flee with his
wife Joan Graham and baby. While escaping
prison after being sentenced to death, Taylor
becomes a real murderer, condemning himself and
Joan to a life of crime and death on the road.
You Only Live Once (1937)
12. High Sierra is an early heist film and Film Noir. The film
was noted for its extensive location shooting, especially in
the final scenes.
The film is about a group felons who plan to rob a casino.
Their leader ‘Big Mac’ puts together a group of experienced
criminals for the job.
Their efforts are wasted when they are perused by the police
and Mac’s recently released aid, Roy Earle, is killed. This
sticks with Hollywood rules of evil losing.
High Sierra (1941)
13. This film could be seen as a basis for a series of film
scenario’s in todays age; a prisoner on the run is cut out of a
deal and is now not only running from the police, but the
contact in which the deal is set up with.
This film was given negative reviews initially, as it did not
show that crime doesn’t pay, this was a major breakthrough
in Crime films; until now good had normally prevailed.
Raw Deal (1948)
14. The Ladykillers is a British release, it saw the beginning of
black comedy, a mixture of serious plot development and
humour.
This film is another film centred around a robbery. In this
case a lodger staying in an old woman’s London home, and
his gang of thieves are to rob a security van. The plan is
successful until Mrs Wilberforce finds out about their recent
crime.
In an attempt to silence Wilberforce the men end up double
crossing each other and she walks away with the money.
The Ladykillers (1955)
15. This film, followed the real-life
criminal George ‘Machine-Gun’
Kelly, this was one of the first
films centring around American
criminals during the prohibition
era.
This was unusual because typically,
crime films would see these
criminals in a bad light, and a full
feature film dedicated to Kelly
would have shown him in a more
positive way.
Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
16. Starring five members of ‘The Rat Pack’ this
film anticipation was high. The likes of Dean
Martin and Frank Sinatra conducted a casino
heist, run by Danny Ocean (Sinatra) on new
years eve.
The film was recently re-released on Bluray
DVD, which shows that the massive hit is
still popular now. Also, a remake of the film
was released in 2001.
Oceans Eleven (1960)
17. Bonnie and Clyde is a 1967 American crime film
directed by Arthur Penn and starring Warren
Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the title characters
Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. This is another
film based on the infamous criminals of the great
depression.
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
18. The first Godfather film was released in 1972, it had an outstanding critical reception
and was dubbed one of the greatest films ever made. The soundtracks main
theme, composed by Nino Rota is also extremely well known and used in other
places; always in honour of the film.
Real life gangsters responded to this film saying that it was a brilliant representation
of the real ‘Gangster’ lifestyle. A former under-boss of the Gambino crime family
stated that he ‘floated’ out of the cinema in awe.
No other film following gangsters had had the psychological depth that had been
portrayed in both the first and second Godfather films. This influenced how
mobsters were represented in future productions; such as Martin Scorsese’s
‘Goodfellas’ .
The Godfather III is seen as the least powerful of the three movies, this is partly
blamed on the casting.
The Godfather Trilogy
19. This film, directed by Ted Kotcheff, followed the
Bonnie and Clyde scenario; in which it shows a
young, middle class couple (Dick and Jane) who
lose everything and go on a crime spree to earn
money back. This is a more light hearted crime
film and could be watched by families; the
crime genre has crept away from Film Noir.
Fun With Dick And Jane
(1977)
20. Scarface is arguably the most influential crime
film of its era; Al Pacino (star of The
Godfather) has a very big role in the crime
genre, thrusting him into the lead role kicked
up a lot of anticipation and made the film a
cult hit.
The film follows Tony Montana, a Cuban
refugee who fled his home land to become a
drug lord. The film goes back to Hollywood’s
rule that crime pays. The film has a very dark
ending.
The film contains an abundance of violence, bad
language and graphic imagery.
Scarface (1983)
21. The Untouchables is a 1987 American
crime-drama film directed by Brian De
Palma. Based on the book The
Untouchables, the film stars Kevin
Costner as government agent Eliot
Ness. It also stars Robert De Niro as
gang leader Al Capone and Sean
Connery as Irish-American officer
Jimmy Malone. The film follows Ness'
autobiographical account of his efforts
to bring Capone to justice during the
Prohibition era.
The Untouchables (1987)
22. Batman is a crime film which completely differentiates
from other films of its sub-genre; it follows the story of a
superhero who is fighting crime in Gotham City. The film
shows themes of vengeance from Batman and also
introduces the arch-enemy concept. Unlike other superhero
films Batman is very dark which is why it lies within the
crime genre.
Batman (1989)
23. Up to now the Crime genre has been shaped into a more
free area for productions. With censorship in Hollywood
less strict, film writers are producing realistic movies
with immersive storylines. These films usually focused
on organised crime, which is a hugely popular subject for
films of the crime genre up until today.
The 90’s saw the end of the climax of the Godfather trilogy;
which had influenced many writers to make films focused
on the wrong side of the law.
The 1990’s
24. Goodfellas is a 1990 American crime
film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a
film adaptation of the 1986 non-fiction
book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi. The
film follows the rise and fall of Lucchese
crime family associates Henry Hill and
his friends over a period from 1955 to
1980. Influenced by the Godfather,
Goodfellas shows the mob in the same
sense; the gangsters being represented in
a real-life portrayal.
GoodFellas (1990)
25. The Krays is a 1990 film based on
the lives and crimes of the British
gangsters Ronald and Reginald
Kray, twins who are often referred
to as The Krays. We have seen many
autobiographic crime films from the
USA, this British release gives a
very good insight on crime in the
UK.
The Krays (1990)
26. Reservoir Dogs (1992) is an
American crime film marking
debut of director and writer
Quentin Tarantino. It depicts the
events before and after a botched
diamond heist, but not the heist
itself. Quentin’s use of special
effects were very good; some
people found the violence
unnerving because of its
heightened sense of realism.
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
27. Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 hit Pulp
Fiction was a very odd movie, due to
its non-linear story and intense
mixture of action and humour. Again,
Tarantino used extreme gore and bad
language which, earlier in
Hollywood, would have been
frowned upon severely.
Directed in an alternative style, Pulp
Fiction joins the intersecting
storylines of Los Angeles mobsters,
fringe players, small-time criminals,
and a mysterious briefcase.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
28. The Usual suspects is an American
crime film which in some aspects
reflects the Film Noir era, critics
have called it a neo-noir release.
The film follows the interrogation of
Roger ‘Verbal’ Kint, who tells the
story of how he and four others
ended up at a crime scene. Using
flashback and narration, Kint's story
becomes increasingly complex.
The Usual Suspects
(1995)
29. The film tells the story of two brothers,
Derek Vinyard and Daniel Vinyard, their
father killed by a black drug dealer.
Derek, angered by this turns to the neo-
nazi movement and after brutally killing
two black people spends time in prison
and changes his ways. When released
we see Derek trying to turn him away
from the movement. The film expresses
racism in a different light, Edward
Norton (Derek) was nominated for an
Oscar because of his performance.
American History X (1998)
30. Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 American
crime and remake of the 1960
Rat Pack film. The film is less
serious than the original as it
incorporates humour into the
original plot. The film, like the
original, stars very famous faces
in the film industry. It was a box
office smash hit and went on to
become a trilogy.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
