Much analysis of gangster movies has been based upon a study of the
gangster as a malign figuration of the American Dream, originally set in
the era of the Depression. This text extends previous analysis of the
genre by examining the evolution of gangster movies from the 1930s to
the contemporary period and by placing them in the context of cultural
and cinematic issues such as masculinity, consumerism and technology.
With a close examination of many films from Scarface and Public Enemy to
Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, this book provides a fascinating
insight into a topical and popular subject.