The American Gangster: From Little Caesar to the Godfather

Pre-requisites for enrolment

None.

Content of Course

1. Introduction. The ‘classic’ gangster film: Little Caesar (1930), The Public Enemy (1931)

2. Immigrants, race and moral panics – Scarface (1932)

3. Descending into Noir – High Sierra (1941)

4. The affirmation of the Gangster – Kiss of Death (1947)

5. Disaffected Youth I – Gun Crazy (1949)

6. Growing old, growing crazy – disequilibrium and change in the mid-20th century. James Cagney and White Heat (1949)

7. Politics, corruption and despair – the ‘50’s Gangster

8. The Gangster as Corporate man – Underworld USA (1961) and The Big Combo (1955)

9. Disaffected Youth II – Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

10. The perspective of modernism – the alienated gangster in Point Blank (1967) and the road to The Godfather (1972)

Teaching method(s)

The course will take place in the Guild cinema at Filmhouse over a period of ten weeks.

Each session will follow the same pattern:

• introduction which sets the film or extract within its context historically, socially and cinematically;

• screening of the film or extract;

• discussion.

Students will be provided with background reading, reviews, criticism, on a weekly basis. Reflection on the course will continue throughout with consideration of the learning outcomes and the general development of the course.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. analyse a classic gangster film in terms of the social, political and economic messages it may contain;

2. discuss how the gangster or crime film addresses questions of race, sex and class;

3. describe the evolution of the genre from the 1930s-1970s and its adaptation to changes in American society;  

4. identify the extent to which these films address issues of cultural and ideological crises.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended:

• Mason, F., 2003. American Gangster Cinema: From Little Caesar to Pulp Fiction. London: Palgrave MacMillan.

• Shadoian, J., 2003. Dreams and Dead Ends: The American Gangster Crime Film. 2nd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.