This black & white educational/promotional film is a look at the gangster films of the 1930s. From Cagney to Robinson, a montage of clips along with newsreel footage of real life criminals Al Capone and John Dillinger. This is from 1961 or 1963, research shows both dates.
Opening titles: “How To Succeed As A Gangster” (:07-:12). Barrels of liquor and beer are smashed and opened, it is Prohibition. Liquor goes down the sewer. Couples dance. People drink alcohol at a speakeasy. Policemen arrest gangsters. Gangsters are led, handcuffed, into a building. “Scarface” Al Capone walks. He is led down the steps past newsmen. Capone watches a horse race. In Florida, Capone has a palatial estate. A dead man lays on a city street. The body is covered with a blanket. The funeral in Chicago, IL for Dean O’Banion. Cars go slow in the funeral procession (:12-3:00). John Dillinger. John sits in a jail cell. Hollywood studio. In the 1930s, the studios make gangster movies. Lights at night of NYC. People enter a movie theater. John Dillinger looks a little like Humphrey Bogart. Al Capone like Edward G. Robinson. Dean O’Banion like James Cagney. Other actors in gangster films include: John Garfield, Spencer Tracy, George Raft, Paul Muni, and William Powell. Hollywood backlot, extras get ready, cameras are ready on a prison set. The director speaks with extras, returns to his seat and begins filming. Slums of NYC in the Hollywood backlot. Scenes show: James Cagney, Spencer Tracy, John Garfield, Edward G. Robinson, George Raft, Humphrey Bogart, and William Powell (3:01-7:08). Benefits of being a gangster: Women. James Cagney in The Public Enemy, the classic grapefruit scene with co-star Mae Clark. Scenes showing Cagney roughing up women (7:09-8:37). Dangerous men play cards. Edward G. Robinson scene in Little Caesar. Scenes showing Robinson being tough (8:38-10:05). James Cagney. Scenes showing Cagney, Robinson, Garfield roughing up others. Violence leads to violence. Gunplay in gangster movies. Police stand near their cars at a roadblock as a gangster tries to pass through. Police chase a gangster and shoot at one another. Motorcycles chase a car and shoot at it. Cars crash. Police on motorcycles. A gangster takes on the entire police force, lots of shots fired. A giant brawl on the street. Shots are fired (10:06-13:24). No end credits.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
