The French Connection 1971 (* * * * *) Tough renegade New York cop and partner uncover the trail of a massive overseas heroin ring. Cast: Gene Hackman, Roy Shrieder.

The Godfather 1972 (* * * * 1/2)

The Valachi Papers 1972 (* * *) Notorious gangster turns informer on the Mob, Violent film version of Peter Maas' fact-based bestseller about the Mafia. Cast: Charles Bronson, Lino Ventura.

Across 110th Street 1972 (* * * 1/2) What's the biggest mistake a Harlem street gang can make? Stealing $300,000 from the Mafia. Quinn is a racist police captain caught in the middle of the resulting bloodbath. Fast moving and violent with a capitol V. Cast: Anthony Quinn, Yaphet Kotto.

Honor Thy Father 1973 (* * * 1/2) Life on the inside of the Mob, based on Gay Talese book about the life of Joseph Bonanno and his son. Cast: Joseph Bologna, Raf Vallone.

Dillinger 1973 (* * * 1/2) Milius' first feature is flamboyant funny biographical picture of notorious Depression-era bank robber, with Oates winningly laconic in title role. Cast: Warren Oates, Richard Dreyfuss.

Mean Streets 1973 (* * * * 1/2)

The Sicilian Connection 1974 (* * * 1/2) Lurid, dangerous dealings of a band of notorious opium traders. A lot of excitement and relentless action. Cast: Ben gazzara, Silvia Monti.

The Outfit 1974 (* * * *) Duvall is professional theif forced out of retirement by Mafia hit on his brother in terrific cast of old film noir habitues, crisp direction, and terse and cool performances by Duvall, Baker. Cast: Robert Duvall, Joe Don Baker.

The Godfather II 1974 (* * * * *)

The French Connection II 1975 (* * * 1/2) In this sequel, New York cop pursues heroin kingpin all the way to Marseille, but is soon addicted to drug himself. Cast: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey

Capone 1975 (* * *) Slick exploration biography follows the rise and fall of legendary Chicago mobster Al Capone. Emphasis is on action and atmosphere. Cast: Ben Gazzara, Susan Blakely.

Bugsy Malone 1976 (* * *) A truly original movie: A spoof of '30s gangster movies, done as an all-kiddy musical. It's bizzare, silly, and fun. Cast: Scott Baio, Jodie Foster.

Scarface 1983 (* * * 1/2)

Alphabet City 1984 (* * *) A tough young man lives a life of crime on New York City's Lower East Side. Stylish slice-of-life drama loses on plot but wins big with intriguing Spano. Cast: Vincent Spano, Kate Vernon.

Once Upon a Time in America 1984 (* * * * 1/2)

Mafia vs. Ninja (*) Gratuitous Kung-fu violence between above mentioned groups. Cast: Alexander Lou, Silvio Azzolini.

Mafia Princess 1986 (* * * 1/2) Autobiography of Antoinette Giancana, daughter of long-time Chicago Mafia boss. Curtis gives one of his best performances as Sam Giancana, aging 40 years over the course of the movie. Cast: Tony Curtis, Susan Lucci.

The Sicilian 1987 (* * *) Ponderous, confusing chronicle of Salvatore Giuliano, who took money from Italy's Big Three-the Church, the State, and the Mob- to fund Sicily's secession from mother Italy. Cast: Christopher Lambert, Terence Stamp.

The Untouchables 1987 (* * * * 1/2) G-man Eliot Ness and his small band of deputies bring notorious Chicago crime boss Al Capone to justice. Superb direction, acting, and dialogue make this a modern gangster classic. Cast: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery.

Married to the Mob 1988 (* * * *) The widow of a mob hitman wants to leave the Family, but the mob chief has eyes for her. Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Alec Baldwin.

Nitti: The Enforcer 1988 (* * *) TV film fictionalizes the life of Frank Nitti, Al Capone's right-hand man. Very bloody and violent. Cast: Anthony LaPaglia, Vincent Guastaferro.

Lady Mobster 1988 (* *) A female lawyer become the voice of the mob, to repay the man who shaped her life. Silly and witless. Cast: Susan Lucci, Michael Nader.

Capone 1989 (*) Dismal recap of famed gangster's life. Cast: Ray Sharkey, Keith Carradine.

Mob War 1989 (* * *) Ambitious but trivial gangster film pits media giant against Mafia. Violent. Cast: John Christian, Johnny Stumper.

Hit List 1989 (* * *) A vengeful family man goes after the cold-blooded Mafia killer who's abducted his son. Cast: Jan-Michael Vincent, Leo Rossi.

Miller's Crossing 1990 (* * * *) Highly stylized, violent gangster film set in small city in '30s with Byrnes as cheif aide to embattled city boss Finney, playing all sides against middle. Solid ensemble acting highlights enigmatic story. Cast: Gabrielle Byrne, Albert Finney.

State of Grace 1990 (* * * *) Irish police officer returns to new York to confront some old friends gone bad. This type of ethnic character drama, spiced with gangster violence, has been done much better, but explosive performances help mask story weaknesses. Cast: Sean Penn, Ed Harris

The Godfather III 1990 (* * * *) Autumnal last film of Godfather trilogy has a haunting, elegiac tone, but is weakened by near-fatal miscasting of Coppola's daughter. Still, an interesting mix of gangster movie and political thriller. Cast: Al Pacino, Andy Garcia.

Goodfellas1990 (* * * * 1/2)

Mob Boss 1990 (* * *) Z-movie maven Ray steps up in class (sort of) with this gangster comedy about inept Deezen taking over his father's mob. Pretty silly. Cast: Morgan Fairchild, Eddie Deezen.

Mob Story 1990 (* * *) Vernon is on the run from his former partners in the underworld in this giddy gang spoof. Silly but amusing. Cast: John Vernon, Al Waxman.

Mobsters 1991 (* *) Slater, Dempsey, Grieco, and Mandylor portray real-life mobster Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, and Bugsy Siegel, looking more like kids dressed in their father's old suits. Cast: Christian Slater, Richard Grieco.

Bugsy 1991 (* * * * 1/2) Marvelously elegant portrait of starstruck gangster Bugsy Siegel and his passionate affair with actress Virginia Hill, as well as his vision for cheating Las Vegas. Cast: Warren Beatty, Annette Bening.

Billy Bathgate 1991 (* * * *) In the '30s, a steetwise kid works his way into the organization of Dutch Shultz. But the vicious Mob life isn't the escape from poverty he expects. Highly polished, handsome, yet somehow less than-compeling drama, dominated by Hoffman's strong performance. Cast: Dustin Hoffmann, Nicole Kidman.

Reservoir Dogs 1992 (* * * * 1/2) Impressive debut by writer/director Tarantino. Witty, violent ensemble piece about conflict among thieves after aborted jewel robbery. Violence is extremely graphic and may be upsetting to some losers. Cast: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth.

Family Enforcer 1992 ( ? ) Cast: Joe Pesci.

Hit the Dutchman 1992 (* * *) Interesting gangster epic about the Mob war in NYC that led to the assassination of Dutch Shultz. Cast: Bruce Nozick, Eddie Bowz.