GANGSTER MOVIES BY JOHN MALEHAM

A number of gangster films have been released on 8mm, including happily the three most famous - "

LITTLE CAESAR
PUBLIC ENEMY
SCARFACE. 

When released in the early 1930's in the cinema, these were to set the pattern of the gangster films to follow, bringing stardom to the lead players in roles, if somewhat loosely based, on notorious mobsters of the day. Scores of these films were produced and in many it was the garg3ter who was shown to have the most glamorous life, with big cars, flashy suits and gorgeous women.

The message 'crime doesn't pay' was always knocked home at the end of the picture, but this seemed to be an afterthought. The police and press made only brief appearances only to have their faces pushed in the dirt. 

With such names as Al Capone, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson making the headlines and terrorising the streets of America, it wasn't long before the Hays office stepped in issuing a warning, and certain organisations threatened a boycott of gangster films.

 By 1933 the tables had turned, and now the stories were being seen from the side of the police, the films being told through the eyes of the good guys, who fought the evils of the mobster. Though perhaps, some 40 odd years on, as with the "GODFATHER" films, the tables have turned yet again.

SCARFACE

Paul Muni		Tony Camonte
Ann Dvorak		Cesca Camonte
Karen Morley	Poppy
George Raft	Guino Rinaldo
Boris Karloff	Gaffney

Directed by		Howard Hawks
		Richard Rosson (co-director)

'SCARFACE/SHAME OF A NATION to give the film its full title is reputedly based on the life of Al Capone and brought to an end the first cycle of gangster films before the Hays office brought about changes. 

It was produced by Howard Hughes, and the story goes that on hearing the picture was in production, Capone sent men over to look at the script which apparently met with their approval. 

Capone is rumoured to have been offered S200,000 to play a part in the film. The film once again tells the tale of the rapid rise to top by an ambitious mobster, this time sped on by an advertising slogan "THE WORLD IS YOURS". After the titles a message condemns the way the government allows the gangster to thrive, asking the people "What Are You Going To Do About It?".

The film opens on a shooting, and following this, Tony Carmonte (Muni) and his coin tossing sidekick Rinaldo (Raft) are taken to police headquarters and questioned about the shooting, but Tony's lawyer has them both released. As he fights his way to the top Tony becomes more powerfull and ambitious and his boss tries to have him killed, but ends up dead himself when Tony catches up with him. Using a machine gun he continues to carve a bigger piece of the city ending in the St. Valentines Day massacre. 

The heat is now on and Tony leaves town and while he is gone, a romance between his sister Cesca (Ann Dvorak), to whom Tony is overprotective, and Rinaldo develops. On returning, and believing Rinaldo has violated Cesca - not knowing they have been secretively married, Tony shoots Rinaldo dead, the coin he was tossing falling to the floor. 

Unable to come to terms with what he has done he shuts himself and Cesca in his steel , I-Li shuttered room. During a shoot-out with the police, Cesca is hit by a stray bullet. After she dies, Tony becomes hysterically afraid of death and while trying to make a run for it, is shot dead by the police under the flashing sign "THE WORLD IS YOURS ................................... 

An exciting film - as entertaining today as when it was on it's first release. Paul Muni gives a marvellous performance and it is interesting to see Boris Karloff in a gangster role Thereis. also an element of comedy in the film with Carmonte's incompetent secretary. 

Editors footnote. Although all three of these films have been discontinued for some time, they can still be picked up on the second-hand market. Red Fox Films (route 209 East, Elizabethville, PA 17023 USA) had "SCARFACE" on offer in late 1983 for $119.95 which is a bargain for a new print of a complete feature, they might still have some left, don't forget that when ordering films from the USA you may have to pay 15% VAT when it arrives.

This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002

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