Product Description

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, and the icons-from fast cars and tommy-guns to fancy fedoras and fancier molls-established the audience expectations associated with the gangster film that remain in force to this day. As with their Film Noir Reader series, using both reprints of seminal articles and new pieces, editors Silver and Ursini have assembled a group of essays that presents an exhaustive overview of this still vital genre. Reprints of work by such well-known film historians as Robin Wood, Andrew Sarris, Carlos Clarens, Paul Schrader, and Stuart Kaminsky explore the evolution of the gangster film through the 1970s and The Godfather. Parts 2 and 3 comprise two dozen newer articles, most of them written expressly for this volume by Ursini and Silver. These case studies and thematic analyses, from White Heat to the remake of Scarface to "The Sopranos," complete the anthology.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #628584 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 424 pages

About the Author
Alain Silver is a successful film journalist and author. His articles have appeared in publications such as Film Comment and the Los Angeles Times. James Ursini is author and co-author of more than 20 film-histories. He is also a noted DVD commentator for both Fox and Warner Bros. film companies.

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!