Underworld 1927 (* * * *) Groundbreaking crime film follows a gangster fighting to stay on top in the Chicago underworld. This riveting silent film set the style for many gangster pictures that came after. Cast: George Bancroft, Evelyn Brent.
Scarface 1932 (* * * * *) Loosely based on the life of Al Capone, this is the gangster movie that set the standard in the '30's, with wonderfully id-driven performance by Muni, countered equally by Raft as his rival. Cast: Paul Muni, Boris Karloff
Baby Face Harrington 1935 (* * *) A timid straight arrow is mistaken for a mobster, which gets him in hot water with both the real Mob and the cops. Cast: Charles Butterworth, Una Merkel.
Angels With Dirty Faces 1938 (* * * * 1/2) Cagney and O'Brien play buddies from a tough New York neighborhood who grow up on opposite sides of the law. One becomes a murdering gangster, the other a priest trying to keep the local kids from emulating the life of crime. Cast: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart.
Angels Wash Their Faces 1939 (* * * 1/2) Sequel to Angels with Dirty Faces, this time with a D.A.'s son trying to clear a gang member of false arson charges. Cast: Ann Sheridan, Dead End Kids.
They Made Me a Criminal 1939 (* * * 1/2) Boxer believes he committed murder, flees to a california farm, where he's befriended by delinquents. Cast: John Garfield, Claude Raines.
Paper Bullets 1941 (* * * 1/2) Good girl takes the blame for rich man's hit-and-run and goes to jail, but finds there's more to this crime than meets the eye. AKA Gangs Inc. Cast: Joan Woodbury, Jack LaRue, Alan Ladd.
Whistle Stop 1946 In this melodramatic classic, a small town good girl returns from the big city and finds herself torn between a charming, but gambling, no account man and a corrupt villainous nightclub proprieter. Cast: Ava Gardner, George Raft, Tom Conway.
Kiss of Death 1947 (* * * 1/2) Best remembered as film in which Widmark pushes a lady ina wheelchair down the stairs, is actually a skillful semidocumentary about Mature turning against his underworls past to become a solid citizen. Cast: Victor Mature, Richard Widmark.
White Heat 1949 (* * * *) Consumed by his relationship with his mother, a psychopathic mobster is brought down by a relentless government agent. Well-done gangland film loaded with violence. Cast James Cagney, Virginia Mayo.
Gun Crazy 1949 (* * * * 1/2) Minor B-classic, with Cummings and Dall as lovers on the lam. Of all Bonnie and Clyde films, this is one that makes the most explicit link between gunplay and sexuality, giving it sleazy, claustrophobic electricity. Cummings is particularly chilling as carnival trick-shot expert. Cast: John Dall, Peggy Cummings
The Mob 1951 (* * *) A hard-nosed cop infiltrates the Mob in order to bust their illegal dockyard activities. Crawford is an ideal tough guy, and the stellar supporting cast adds a touch of class to the proceedings. Cast: Broderick Crawford, Ernest Borgnine.
On the Waterfront 1954 (* * * * *) After his brother is murdered, a misfit longshoreman battles corrupt labor boss to expose union racketeering. Uncompromising dockside drama with forceful performance from Brando and superb "method" characterizations by outstanding suporting cast. Cast: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint.
Baby Face Nelson 1957 (* * *) Gangland activities in the 1930's, with Rooney chewing scenery as Nelson, and Jones playing a sultry moll. Cast: Mickey Rooney, Carolyn Jones.
Machine Gun Kelly 1958 (* * * 1/2) Bronson has an edgy intensity as famous gangster in quick-moving action picture. Cast: Charles Bronson, Susan Cabot.
Al Capone 1959 (* * * *) Uncompromising, often gritty documentary-style biography about the rise and fall of notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone during Prohibition. Cast: Rod Steiger, Fay Spain.
Murder Inc. 1960 (* * * *) A couple falls into trouble with a powerful crime syndicate and can't get free of its murderous grip. Gritty, fact-based story with falk turning in a compelling performance as a notorious contract killer. Cast: Peter Falk, Stuart Whitman.
Underworld USA 1960 (* * * 1/2) The Mob and the FBI are at war, and a loner out to avenge his father's brutal murder gets caught in the middle. Violent but visually effective piece. Cast: Cliff Robertson, Dolores Dorn.
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond 1960 (* * * *) Fast, clever and ultimately poingnant story of slick killer Diamond, a man incapable of giving love, but very good at dealing with death. Cast: ray Danton, Karen Steele.
Mad Dog Coll 1961 (* * 1/2) Polished but forgettable gangster biography follows career of insanely vicious mobster. Gene Hackman's film debut! Cast: Telly Savalas, Vincent Gardenia.
Accattone 1961 (* * * *) Gritty tale of criminal underworld follows a small-time hood trying to come to terms with the directions his life has taken. Cast: Franco Citti, Franca Pasut.
The Scarface Mob 1962 (* * * 1/2) Brisk, satisfying gangster yarn of Eliot ness vs. Al Capone. Originally the pilot for The Untouchables TV series. Cast: Robert Stack, Barbara Nichols.
The Killers 1964 (* *) Two hired killers learn more than they would like about one of their victims and excessive violence ensues. Cast: John Cassavetes, Ronald Reagan, Angie Dickinson.
Bonnie and Clyde 1967 (* * * * *) A treatise on the mythologizing of criminals, and one of the first popular movies to feature graphic violence. Brilliantly mixes sympathy with synicism as it charts the career of the ruthless Barrows Gang, the exploits of which both appalled and facinated Depression-era America. Cast: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman.
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre 1967 (* *) Bullets fly and bodies pile up in umpteenth version of famed 20's gangland massacre. Lots of violence. Cast: George Segal, Jason Robards, Frank Silvera.
The Brotherhood 1968 (* * * 1/2) Tale of generational conclict within the Mafia, can't avoid comparisons with The Godfather, released four years later. Cast: Kirk Douglas, Alex Cord.