Gangster Films

An exploration into the invention of the crime genre in storytelling and the impact it would have during the infant years of cinema. Early Hollywood stars and directors are examined through their contributions to film history and their creations' influence on public society.

There is a burglar on the rooftop of a Manhattan office building, and he is trying to break in. Two women spot him, and one of them begins beating him with a broom as they wait for help to arrive. Soon others do appear on the scene to help, but by now the burglar has decided that he is going to put up a fight in an attempt to escape.

A burlesque on the work of highwaymen in Chicago. An elderly gentleman is sandbagged and robbed by a thug, who inadvertently leaves some money on the victim's prostate body. A policeman happening along, takes the money and passes by without paying any attention to the plight of the victim.

A group of bandits stage a brazen train hold-up, only to find a determined posse hot on their heels.

Two members of a gang write a threatening letter to a butcher, demanding that he give them money, or else they will harm his family and his shop. The butcher is afraid and upset, but he is unable to meet their demands. The gang then kidnaps his daughter, leading to a series of tense and dangerous confrontations.

A tender young woman and her musician husband attempt to eke out a living in the slums of New York City, but find themselves caught in the crossfires of gang violence.

A boy surrounded by violence grows up to become an infamous gangster.

A deformed criminal mastermind plans to loot the city of San Francisco as well as revenge himself on the doctor who mistakenly amputated his legs.

In this early collaboration with director Tod Browning (Dracula, Freaks), Chaney delivers a dual performance of dramatic intensity, starring as Ah Wing, a kind-hearted student of Confucian philosophy, and Black Mike Sylva, a murderous rake of the San Francisco underworld.

A sideshow ventriloquist, a midget, and a strongman form a conspiracy known as "The Unholy Three" and commit a series of robberies.

Boisterous gangster kingpin Bull Weed rehabilitates his former lawyer from his alcoholic haze, but complications arise when he falls for Weed's girlfriend.

An honest police captain vows to bring down a powerful bootlegger who is protected by corrupt politicians and judges.

A gangster frames two bootleggers for the shooting of a police officer in New York during the prohibition.

Despite his efforts to go straight, a young gangster keeps falling back into crime.

Mobster Dominic brings con man Swifty East, but Swifty seemingly dies. Detective Henderson impersonates Swifty to infiltrate the mob but is killed. Henderson's sister Polly then poses as Swifty's widow, until the real Swifty resurfaces.

After a failed attempt at running for governor, D.A. Mark Brady is appointed warden of the state prison where many of the criminals he prosecuted are incarcerated.

A small-time criminal moves to a big city to seek bigger fortune.

Naïve insurance agent 'Cyclone' Case falls in love with Sylvia Martine, whose father has a dispute with gangster Mike Slade. When Sylvia is kidnapped by Slade and his gang, 'Cyclone' decides to save her and wanders straight into a gang war without even realizing it.

A rookie reporter receives bribes from gangsters to suspend negative press.

Man joins a gang to free his girlfriend from prison.

After rising bootlegger Slaughterhouse Scorpio eliminates his gangland competition, two reporters and a cabal of six businessmen work to expose him.

An Irish-American street punk tries to make it big in the world of organized crime.

Showgirl June Page is arrested for the murder of gangster Honest Ed Baker, and cub reporter Allan Perry decides he will get her story. She refuses to speak to Allan at all but steadfastly denies killing Baker and insists that, despite rumors, she was not his girl. When the local gangsters meet to discuss a replacement for Baker, Poker Wilson is chosen and announces that he is taking over all of Baker's property, including June. Allan continues his pursuit of June, explaining that this story could be his big break. While they are arguing, Wilson attempts to drag June away with him. Allan knocks him out and June hurries him away to hide in her apartment. She warns Allan that the gangsters will be looking for him and suggests that he spend the night at her apartment. By the next morning, they have fallen in love. When Wilson breaks into June's apartment, she pretends she was holding Allan there for him. Wilson's men take Allan for a ride, but June manages to slip a gun into his coat pocket. Even though the gun only has one bullet, Allan uses it to make his getaway, but still believes that June betrayed him. Allan and Paddy Reardon, a policeman, sneak into June's apartment just in time to hear her confess to Baker's murder, which she committed in self-defense. Reardon shoots Wilson in the back as he tries to escape. June and Allan are reconciled, and their happiness is complete when Reardon tells June that he is sure she will be exonerated for her crime.

A diplomat is blackmailed by crooked vice cops into helping them frame prostitutes.

A Greek barber has uncommon skills in playing poker and soon rises in the seedy world of illegal gambling, but pretty blondes remain his Achilles' heel.