The “post-classic” era of American gangster films began in 1967 with the release of Bonnie and Clyde, achieving a milestone five years later with the popular and highly influential The Godfather. This historical study explores the structure, myths and intertextual narratives found in the gangster films produced since The Godfather. The intense relationship between masculinity and ethnicity in the gangster film, especially within the movie-generated mythology of the Mafia, is carefully analyzed, and the book tracks the trends in the genre up to and including the landmark HBO television series The Sopranos (1999–2007). A selected filmography is included. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

George S. Larke-Walsh is a British academic living and working in the United States and is presently on the film faculty at the University of North Texas.

George S. Larke-Walsh

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 288
Bibliographic Info: 12 photos, notes, filmography, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2010
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4311-6
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5613-0
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction      1
1. Gangster Films Since 1967: An Overview      21
2. Theorizing the Gangster Genre      58
3. Mafia Myths      112
4. Masculinities and Ethnicities      160
5. Conclusions      219
Selected Filmography      233
Chapter Notes      239
Bibliography      253
General      262
Mafia Biographies and Associated Literature      262
Journal and Newspaper Reviews (by Film Title)       263
Selected Web Forums and Fansites      278
Index      279

• “A welcome addition to the growing literature on films in the gangster and crime genres. Recommended”—Choice
• “Especially interesting and enlightening…a must”—Rogue Cinema