This compact little documentary includes more graphic, original footage and photos than you could imagine.
Siegel would never live to see the Flamingo become a whopping success, but his instincts were right, and as with the rest of this film, vintage footage and still photography helps to tell the story, ending with the demise of the band of killers Walter Winchell dubbed "Murder, Incorporated" in 1939.
It's a fast-moving, artifact-packed documentary that really gives a good overview of organized crime in America-which is surprising, really, given that the film is only 48 minutes long. Without a doubt, though, what makes this successful and a real treat to watch is the enormous amount of vintage newsreels and still photography. It's pure history.
Video:
"The American Gangster" is presented in 1.33:1 aspect ratio, probably because it relies so much on newsreels that were shown in that format. This is archival stuff, all black and white, but while some of it is a little rough, most of the visuals look really good--considering their age and the circumstances of their filming.
Audio:
The audio is a simple Dolby Digital Mono, again, no doubt devised to blend more seamlessly with the newsreels that form the narrative for most of the film. Again, given the age of the source materials, the quality is quite good. No complaints here.
Extras:
There are no bonus features.
Bottom Line:
If you're a fan of history or gangster movies, this compact little documentary includes more graphic, original footage and photos than you could imagine. Everything is vintage except for an occasional artist's rendition, and those have the feel of a courtroom artist's work. "The American Gangster" is a history lesson that ends with a chilling statement from Luciano himself. If he had it to do all over again, would he do it differently? Yeah, he says. It's the same, whether you do it illegally or do it legit. He'd get the papers and do it legit, and the operation would be just the same. For a society built on capitalism, those are hardly comforting words for American dreamers.
It's a fast-moving, artifact-packed documentary that really gives a good overview of organized crime in America-which is surprising, really, given that the film is only 48 minutes long. Without a doubt, though, what makes this successful and a real treat to watch is the enormous amount of vintage newsreels and still photography. It's pure history.
Video:
"The American Gangster" is presented in 1.33:1 aspect ratio, probably because it relies so much on newsreels that were shown in that format. This is archival stuff, all black and white, but while some of it is a little rough, most of the visuals look really good--considering their age and the circumstances of their filming.
Audio:
The audio is a simple Dolby Digital Mono, again, no doubt devised to blend more seamlessly with the newsreels that form the narrative for most of the film. Again, given the age of the source materials, the quality is quite good. No complaints here.
Extras:
There are no bonus features.
Bottom Line:
If you're a fan of history or gangster movies, this compact little documentary includes more graphic, original footage and photos than you could imagine. Everything is vintage except for an occasional artist's rendition, and those have the feel of a courtroom artist's work. "The American Gangster" is a history lesson that ends with a chilling statement from Luciano himself. If he had it to do all over again, would he do it differently? Yeah, he says. It's the same, whether you do it illegally or do it legit. He'd get the papers and do it legit, and the operation would be just the same. For a society built on capitalism, those are hardly comforting words for American dreamers.
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