Socio/Psychological Transformations

Choose at least one noir film and one classical gangster film and discuss how this “psychological
disturbance in the perception of the world” transforms the static aspect of the gangster genre
and the image of the American Dream. Give specific examples from the films and from the
readings.

1. Introduction: The Classical Gangster
   Films: Little Caesar (Mervyn LeRoy, 1930)
   Public Enemy (William Wellman, 1931)
   Scarface (Howard Hawks, 1932)
2. Socio/Psychological Transformations
   Films: The Roaring Twenties (Raoul Walsh, 1939)
   High Sierra (Raoul Walsh, 1941)
   White Heat (Raoul Walsh, 1949)
3. Gangster Noir
   Films: The Killers (Robert Siodmak, 1946)
   The Asphalt Jungle (John Huston, 1950)
   On the Waterfront (Elia Kazan, 1954)

Sample Solution