Gangster films

Within the gangster, and organized crime movie genre, we see a common theme amongst the gender roles: the overemphasis of masculinity, and the inferiority of women. Much like the underworld civilization they depict, gangster films have been extremely male-dominated since their beginning (Coccimiglio, 2013). Masculinity is highly accentuated in most gangster films, with the main male characters embodying a code of manliness that is violent, ruthless, and unforgiving. Although most of the gangsters in these films are from immigrant backgrounds, their exaggerated qualities resemble those of American masculinity. On the other hand, women are portrayed as inferior, and are sometimes absent from main action altogether. Women are shown as the lesser of the two sexes, possibly to further add to the portrayal of the overemphasis of masculinity. The radiating masculinity, and the disapproval of femininity is a common theme throughout this genre, but why? Why is masculinity overstressed, and even glorified in the gangster film genre, but women are portrayed as inferior and dependent objects; and how do current directors depict these typical gender roles? Gangster and organized crime films’ plots are very heavily male dominated; Hollywood has made themes of masculinity and violence the norm in this genre, and the inferiority of women is almost expected when watching a film about the criminal…

and in fact was entering its golden age, was that of Hollywood. And while the American film industry was not completely immune to the economic hardships that were facing the nation, the film studios managed to respond in kind to…

Deus ' (Meirelles and Lund, 2002) is constructed in a similar way to a Hollywood 'Gangster Film ', using many of the genre 's tropes to demonise the society it depicts. It is Eurocentric to consider societies outside of Europe as being ones which lack concern for the value of human life (Eurocentrism, 1). The 'Gangster Film ' genre revolves around the sinister actions of violent members…

regards to ‘The Godfather’, not unlike the other two films, the story revolves around a male hierarchy. The male characters are dressed in smart, expensive suits, which could suggest that they are highly respected and that they are confident and paramount. Additionally, fashion is regarded important in Italian families. After Michael Corleone becomes the head of the Corleone family, he says ‘women and children can be careless, not men’ which could suggest that the men in the family are supposed…

Gangster films are a subgenre of crime films dealing with organized crime, often specifically with the Mafia. The are also considered to be called Mob films developed around the sinister actions of criminals or gangsters, particularly bankrobbers, underworld figures, or ruthless hoodlums who operate outside the law, stealing and violently murdering their way through life. In the 1940s, a new type of crime thriller emerged, more dark and cynical. One of the most famous gangster films is The…

The Untouchables is an American gangster film produced in 1987. The movie is set in 1930 during the prohibition era. Al Capone, a Chicago crime boss, has the entire city in the palm of his hand and supplies illegal alcohol. He has strong relations with the government officials and the police force, influencing them greatly enough to not investigate his illegal practices. One strong member of the Treasury Department, Eliot Ness, believes it is his duty to uphold the law and bring Capone to…

In most families, the role of a parent depends solely upon the relationship that they have with their children. In Alan McMonagle short story entitled Liar Liar, the author portrays the main character of the story—the father— as the epitome of a great man, in the eyes of his naive son. The main theme of Alan McMonagle’s short story Liar Liar is relationships. In the story, the father uses the gangster western films to communicate with his son in order to fulfill the desires of escaping his…

The Purple Gang in Detroit History During the liquor prohibition in Detroit which happened from 1920-1933. As a result of Michigan passing a law and adopting the Damon Act that banned liquor from being sold and consumed in the town, organized crime began taking shape during this era as Jewish gangsters controlled the underworld of the American society (Kavieff, 20). The Purple Gang was led by one of four brothers by the name of Abe Bernstein and it was formed by young Jewish immigrants as a…

Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney were who the world was cheering on in the 1930s film world. The gangster film genre was in full swing, and as Robinson and Cagney ascended repeatedly to become kingpins of a given town only to fall back to being nothing again, a hopeful named Humphrey Bogart was just beginning his acting career. Stephen Bogart, the son of soon to be movie star Humphrey Bogart, stated in his book about his father that Humphrey was “not happy playing those parts.” Humphrey…

“You see, I have a story too, Mr. Bailey. I had a friend once. A dear friend. I turned him in to save his life. He died. But he wanted it that way. Things went bad for my friend, and they went bad for me, too (Once Upon A Time in America). Once Upon A Time in America centers around a group of young Jewish thugs who embark on a quest to make it large and more importantly, rise to the absolute top of the hierarchy. While the film explores the lives of these young Jewish individuals, the plot…