Customer Reviews

Crime Movies

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My copy of Carlos Clarens' original "Crime Movies" is a book I have treasured since the early 80s. It is very well researched, covering films from the silent era to the present. Not only did Clarens cover the movies, but he also covered the censorship controversies around them, particulary in the mid-Thirties.

In short, this is film genre history as it should be: giving the reader an idea of the breadth of a genre, but focusing on the major films, as well as showing how individual writers and directors could make differences in the genre.

Strongly recommended for people interested in the issue of movie violence, "film noir" and how films have changed over time.

This is far more than just a crime movie book of the
"and then they made" variety. It really delves into
the psychology of what made gangster movies such a
hit with the movie going public of the early 30s.
Did you know that a 1931 survey had movie stars and
gangsters as the top occupations that the man in the
street aspired to!!! I found it fascinating that
whenever a film tried to turn the focus to the police
the public stayed away. The obvious reason was that they
were not as charismatic as the gangsters, who were
portrayed by such larger than life stars as Edward
G. Robinson and James Cagney. With the emergence of
John Dillinger, gangsters became even more popular than
ever - unlike the Chicago mobsters, these mid west
bandits were usually poor folk who wanted something
more and were not too choosey about how they got it!!
J. Edgar Hoover really clamped down and would not
allow any movie to be made featuring a real
gangster's name (Monogram's 1947 "Dillinger" slipped
through the cracks). Hoover wouldn't even endorse
the movie "G Men" because (shock!! horror!!)
Cagney as a G man was seen going into a nightclub!!
Important crime movies are given intelligent
appraisals - "Musketeers of Pig Alley",
"Regeneration", "Underworld", "Little Caesar",
"Doorway to Hell" and "The Public Enemy". Even an
oddity like Fritz Lang's "You and Me" which adds
social commentary, music and comedy. A huge chapter
is included on film noir, another on the Bonnie and
Clyde phenomenon as well as "The Godfather".
Definately a must to add to your collection if you
are a serious film lover.

I recommend Crime Movies for readers interested in movies.This book includes a big time from Griffith to 1994.