16 + GUIDE - British Film Institute

KARPF, Stephen Louis
The gangster film: emergence, variation and decay of a genre 1930-1940.
Arno press, 1973. 299p. bibliog. filmog.
Karpf’s dissertation examines the Warner Brothers cycle of gangster films made in the 1930’s,
its emergence, popularity, and eventual decline. The author pays close attention to LITTLE
CAESAR, PUBLIC ENEMY, SCARFACE and THE PETRIFIED FOREST. Amongst other things
Karpf discusses the qualities of each film and the actors and their characterisations. This is
essential reading for anyone studying or researching the Warner Brothers gangster films.
LEE, Raymond and VAN HEAKE, B. C.
Gangsters and hoodlums: the underworld in the cinema.
A S. Barnes, 1971. 264p. illus.
This book is only useful if you are trying to find visual material, as it is made up mainly of film
stills and posters. Includes a foreword by Edward G. Robinson.
LEITCH, Thomas
Crime films.
Cambridge University Press, 2002. xi-xv, 383p. illus. filmog. index.
This comprehensive overview of crime films analyses the sub-genres of the crime films
(including the gangster films) and aims to show how the films and audience relationships to
them have changed over time. Starting with a ‘Historical and cultural overview’, Leitch then
moves on to each genre in turn. For the chapter on gangsters ‘The Godfather and the
gangster film’, Leitch uses THE GODFATHER as a case study to underline the idea of the
gangster films basis in the identification and conformity to certain social rules. This book uses
many relevant and useful examples from a wide range of gangster films to make its points.
MANCHEL, Frank
Gangsters on the screen.
Franklin Watts, 1978. 120p. illus. bibliog. index.
Published in 1978 and not very detailed, this book provides a well-written and comprehensive
guide to US gangster films and TV programmes from 1898 – 1978. As well as the films and
the programmes, Manchel also looks at some of the issues surrounding the genre. True-life
events that inspired the films and the controversies over violent content of the films and
programmes are well covered.
MCARTHUR, Colin
Underworld USA.
Secker and Warburg, 1972. 176p. illus. index.
This book is an essential text. While over thirty years old, its theoretical examination of the
gangster genre provides a useful perspective; looking firstly at various themes such as genre,
iconography, development and background to the subject. The book then moves on to look
at the films of individual directors, including Fritz Lang, John Huston and Nicholas Ray.
McArthur’s work is still considered one of the cornerstones in the study of the genre.
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