Mafia Movies: A Reader

by Dana Renga (Editor)

Rico 'Little Caesar' Bandello, Michael Corleone, and Tony Soprano are just some of the onscreen mafia figures that have fascinated audiences since cinema's inception. Portrayals of the Italian and Italian-American mafia, though, have differed markedly over time and across multiple cultures-from the Godfather trilogy to contemporary Italian films, and in works both by established producers like Martin Scorsese and emerging directors like Matteo Garrone.

Mafia Movies encourages mafia aficionados to explore the rich variety of classics and rarities within the genre with provocative analyses of over forty films. The essays in this volume provide a comprehensive exploration of the myth of the mafia onscreen, identifying key features and connections to styles such as film noir, thrillers, and even westerns. Mafia Movies also questions whether there are uniquely American or Italian ways of depicting the mafia, exploring how filmmakers from both countries have approached the subject in divergent ways.

368 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

Reviews

[Sean Wicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great academic overview of a wide range of Mafia films. A lot of Hollywood titles you may be more familiar with (Goodfellas, The Godfather, etc.) and a lot of films - particularly Italian - that you may not be. The Italian section (the latter half of the book) is a bit of a slog but still engaging. The main thesis that connects all the films (and trust me, The Godfather comes up in almost every chapter) are the idea of family, capitalism (it's only business), regionality and culture, and particularly, the role of women in this very masculine genre. Overall, a fascinating and engaging read.

[TheEditingCompany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edited by The Editing Company