Colin,
Thankk you very much for leading me to seek out Max
Decharne's book. It was your mention of his essay that led me
to seek out this book that contained it. Decharne's
introduction offers an overview of Hollywood's attitude
towards crime, especially gangster movies (studios and
audiences love them, try to get away with as much as
possible; the Hayes Office and moral reformers hate them,
believe they glorify crime and lead to imitation). Each
following chapter concentrates on one movie and its literary
and/or historic antecedent. Most of the titles will probably
be recognized by most here:
Little Caesar The Big Sleep In a Lonely Place Kiss Me, Deadly
Hell is a City Psycho Point Blank Bonnie and Clyde Get Carter
Dillinger LA Confidential
Decharne did serious research, offering many interesting
tidbits about authors, actors, directors, etc. All are good,
but Colin was right to call particular attention to his
discussion of Get Carter. Highly recommended. I wish there
had been even more movies covered.
Mark
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