The history pf crime films

As there are so many sub genres in the crime genre it is difficult to tell exactly where the crime itself genre actually began. However the 1930’s was when gangster crime films became noticed. The original gangster movie “Little Caesar” was made, the film was based on the life of the notorious Chicago crime boss, Al Capone. Another famous crime film made in the 30’s was the original “Scarface” which was one most violent crime films to be made in the 30’s and also the very first film in which a gangster uses a machine gun. This film shows how an ambitious, almost insane violent gangster ups the ladder of success in the mob. However his weaknesses seem to be the reason for his downfall.
These films introduced the world to a new movie genre, and gave inspiration to film makers as this genre still lives on. Such Gangster films the 1930’s, used the rebellious figure of the criminal and the hierarchical structure of the criminal organisation both in a competition to ironise capitalism and also the business ethic. The popularity of the American Gangster films with audiences was perhaps because they experienced both the satisfaction of vicarious involvement in gangster violence and seeing violence then turned on the particular gangster.
Another significant time in history for the crime film genre was the 1960’s when crime films had now expanded, for example the film “Bonnie and Clyde” put a new spin on the genre and added new aspects of cheekiness and self-referential comedy to the plot. This film shows Bonnie as Clyde as two anti-heroes who follow a life of crime and show the couple as always on the run.
This film is also classed as a landmark film as it was one of the first films in the “New Hollywood” era and it was also highly popular for the younger generation as it broke many of the taboos of crime films, also it gave inspiration for future filmmakers as it gave them initiative to bring sex and violence in to their films which most filmmakers now do.
Within the 1940’s 50’s and 60’s crime films generally focused on the police officer as being the investigating hero, however the police officer character moved on from being just being an figure just doing his job in the 70’s became a more violent and vigilante police officer and later in movies in the 80’s became a more wisecracking action-hero which offered an correct understanding of law-enforcement and masculinity in American culture. An example of this is Bruce Willis in the crime, action, thriller film “Die Hard”.

The 1980’s were another influential and remembered period of time for major crime films as such films worldly popular films such as “Die Hard”, “Lethal Weapon”, “The Untouchables and the most recent remake of “Scarface” were made, which all had multiple sub genres such as action, drama, history, and comedy as well as having most of the codes and conventions of a crime film. This shows us that crime films have moved on, from just being one certain genre such as gangster crime.