Worse than the economic impact of the Depression were its psychological effects on the people: unemployment and hunger lead to moral depression, distrust, and the downfall of traditional legal norms. Consequently, criminality became a major problem which politicians did not seem to be able to stop. It was an open secret that gangsters such as Al Capone made a lot of money by trading with alcoholic beverages during Prohibition and gained a lot of political influence by this.
Chicago is commonly seen as the place where gangdom first developed. Its gangster image still clings to the city today. The most prominent events and people related to the gangs of Chicago were Al Capone and the ‘War of Sicilian Succession’ which resulted in the St Valentine’s Day Massacre, leaving seven gang leaders killed and Capone as the new czar of the underworld. For the public, the adventurous and fancy life of the gang world became the symbol for the new mass culture that evolved from urbanization. The stereotype of the new criminal helped to overcome the traditional social boundaries that seemed no longer apt for the urbanized society. The gangster-movie genre, along with the press reinforced the gangster myth. SCARFACE –SHAME OF THE NATION by Howard Hawks (1930/1932) fits in with this concept. However, the movie also shows the influence the press takes in the creation of the media gangster. For this reason, it gives an ambivalent picture of the gang world in the 1930s. So is it a critique or part of the gangster myth creation? How are the historical events depicted, and how much is the representation of the gangsters in the movie predisposed by the media image of the gangster?
In order to answer these questions, a short historical overview of Chicago’s ganglife at the turn of the 19th century is given and the development of the gangster myth and the role of class, ethnicity, and style is explained. The characteristics of the gangster movie in the 1930s are put into context with the analysis of Howard Hawks’ SCARFACE – SHAME OF THE NATION. The movie is furthermore analyzed with regard to the depiction of historical events, gangster iconography, and the role of the media.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The gangster in America's urban history
- The development of the gangster myth
- Class distinctions and ethnicity
- Dressed to kill
- The American gangster-movie
- SCARFACE - SHAME OF THE NATION
- The depiction of historical events
- Gangster iconography
- The role of the media
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the gangster myth as depicted in Howard Hawks' Scarface - Shame of the Nation, exploring its historical context and its relationship to the media's portrayal of gangsters. It investigates how the film reflects the collective unconscious of American society during the Great Depression.
- The historical development of gangsterism in Chicago.
- The evolution and perpetuation of the gangster myth in American culture.
- The role of class, ethnicity, and style in shaping the gangster image.
- The characteristics of the gangster film genre in the 1930s.
- The film's depiction of historical events and its use of gangster iconography.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: The introduction posits that films, as suggested by Siegfried Kracauer, mirror a nation's collective unconscious. Scarface - Shame of the Nation exemplifies this, reflecting the societal anxieties and moral breakdown following the 1929 stock market crash. The economic devastation led to widespread unemployment, hunger, and a decline in traditional legal norms, creating an environment ripe for the rise of gangsterism. Chicago's prominent role in this context, particularly figures like Al Capone and events like the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, are highlighted as symbolic of the mass culture emerging from rapid urbanization. The paper aims to examine how Scarface, while fitting within the gangster film genre, also critiques the media's role in shaping the gangster myth.
The gangster in America's urban history: This chapter traces the roots of Chicago's gangsterism beyond the Prohibition era. While Prohibition fueled the growth of organized crime, the chapter argues that a strong criminal underworld pre-existed, largely due to Chicago's status as a major railroad center. It details the early development of organized crime in Chicago, starting with figures like Roger Plant and his "Barracks," highlighting the role of political corruption and the city's physical geography (underground passages) in fostering criminal activity. The chapter explores the efforts of reform groups like the Committee of Seventy and the Committee of Twenty-Five, which inadvertently created an environment that facilitated the consolidation of criminal syndicates. It further discusses the rise of figures like Michael Cassius McDonald and James Colosimo, their involvement in politics, and the impact of the Black Hand extortion, linking early criminal organizations to Italian immigration and Mafia practices. The chapter culminates with the rise of Johnny Torrio and Al Capone, marking a significant shift in organized crime with the arrival of Prohibition.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Gangster myth, American culture, Chicago, Prohibition, organized crime, Howard Hawks, Scarface - Shame of the Nation, media representation, Great Depression, class, ethnicity, film genre, historical context, collective unconscious.
Scarface - Shame of the Nation: A Film Analysis - FAQ
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
The paper analyzes the gangster myth as portrayed in Howard Hawks' Scarface - Shame of the Nation. It explores the film's historical context, its relationship to media portrayals of gangsters, and how it reflects the collective unconscious of American society during the Great Depression.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the historical development of gangsterism in Chicago, the evolution and perpetuation of the gangster myth, the role of class, ethnicity, and style in shaping the gangster image, the characteristics of the gangster film genre in the 1930s, and the film's depiction of historical events and use of gangster iconography.
What is the significance of the film's historical context?
The paper emphasizes the film's reflection of the societal anxieties and moral breakdown following the 1929 stock market crash. The economic devastation and rise of gangsterism in Chicago, particularly figures like Al Capone and events like the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, are highlighted as symbolic of the mass culture emerging from rapid urbanization.
How does the paper analyze the gangster myth?
The paper traces the development of the gangster myth from its roots in Chicago's pre-Prohibition criminal underworld to its cinematic representation in Scarface. It examines how class, ethnicity, and style contribute to the creation and perpetuation of this myth, and how the media played a crucial role in shaping public perception.
What aspects of Chicago's history are discussed?
The paper delves into the early development of organized crime in Chicago, exploring its connection to the city's status as a railroad center, political corruption, and physical geography. It discusses the rise of various figures, from Roger Plant to Al Capone, and the impact of events like the Black Hand extortion and Prohibition.
What is the role of the media according to the paper?
The paper argues that the media played a significant role in shaping the gangster myth. It examines how Scarface, while a gangster film, also critiques the media's contribution to the romanticization and perpetuation of the gangster image.
What are the chapter summaries included in the preview?
The preview includes summaries of the introduction, which frames the film's significance within the context of societal anxieties and the gangster genre. It also includes a summary of the chapter on the gangster in America's urban history, tracing the development of organized crime in Chicago from its early stages to the rise of Al Capone.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Gangster myth, American culture, Chicago, Prohibition, organized crime, Howard Hawks, Scarface - Shame of the Nation, media representation, Great Depression, class, ethnicity, film genre, historical context, collective unconscious.
What is the overall objective of the paper?
The paper aims to analyze how Scarface - Shame of the Nation reflects the collective unconscious of American society during the Great Depression and how it utilizes and critiques the gangster myth through its historical context and media representation.
- Quote paper
- Nadine Klemens (Author), 2003, Gangster mythology in Howard Hawks' "Scarface - Shame of the nation", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/51834
