tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post1113860051672849310..comments2024-03-13T10:58:10.011-07:00Comments on Streams of Unconsciousness: Film Gangsters, They Do Indeed Pre Date the 1970sRichard Hourulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-10010778956445071052009-07-02T13:24:47.106-07:002009-07-02T13:24:47.106-07:00To respond to anonymous' question about the di...To respond to anonymous' question about the difference between gangsters and mobsters, yes they are the same. However, I was commenting on the original top ten list of mobsters (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/28/PK9F187FPO.DTL) that drove Riku to put together his excellent list. The reviewer had stated that he meant mobsters, namely members of an organization, not free agents like Dillinger, which is strange since the starting point of his list is a movie about Dillinger. Guess I was not as clear as I thought I was. Sorry.History on Filmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13379661279082941219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-51459352206330568432009-07-02T11:20:11.678-07:002009-07-02T11:20:11.678-07:00Tremendous list. I read the Chron article and I ho...Tremendous list. I read the Chron article and I honestly thought the guy was joking with some of his picks.<br /><br />If he is going to go with post-1972 gangsters what about Finney and Byrne in Miller's Crossing?<br /><br />Anyway love the blogfuturelegendvinceyounghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02175243502967953702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-85908851275944553862009-07-02T10:56:27.174-07:002009-07-02T10:56:27.174-07:00I'm so glad I didn't see the original arti...I'm so glad I didn't see the original article in the Comicle. I would've burst into flame. Thanks for a REAL list. I would add George Raft, personally, but you've got the rest of my favorites (no Eddie G. or Cagney? How can that be?).Sibylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01298819489853065976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-87564733426377080532009-07-02T10:41:43.298-07:002009-07-02T10:41:43.298-07:00"a movie about gangsters, not mobsters" ..."a movie about gangsters, not mobsters" will you be so kind to elaborate on the difference between an gangster and a mobster? ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-20879306408879517682009-07-02T10:40:26.132-07:002009-07-02T10:40:26.132-07:00Most of the AFI lists and best-whatever lists read...Most of the AFI lists and best-whatever lists read like they were done by teenagers or twentysomethings who've never seen anything made before "The Godfather", let alone any black-and-white movies. These "critics" and "experts" have no credibility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-59079323658402798712009-07-02T10:14:09.995-07:002009-07-02T10:14:09.995-07:00Dan Duryea as Duke Pastrami in "Ball of Fire&...Dan Duryea as Duke Pastrami in "Ball of Fire" (1941). Shoots a globe in cold blood. Chilling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-33737998536431868842009-07-02T09:31:43.880-07:002009-07-02T09:31:43.880-07:00Great article. I agree that too many movie critics...Great article. I agree that too many movie critics today have no interest in films that were not made in the past twenty years. Given the ease with which older movies can be found today, there really is no excuse. <br /><br />It also seems strange to prepare a list of screen mobsters when people are getting ready to see Public Enemies, a movie about gangsters, not mobsters. Maybe he was worried that if he mentioned Lawrence Tierney in Dillinger (1945), Mickey Rooney in Baby Face Nelson (1957)(more noteworthy than Scott Baio) or Warren Oates in Dillinger (1973) (a personal favorite), he would not be able to satisfy his fixation with the Godfather.<br /><br />Andrew Allen<br />historyonfilm.comHistory on Filmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13379661279082941219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-79420195920072409672009-07-02T08:26:25.342-07:002009-07-02T08:26:25.342-07:00It's not just gangster movies. Most top lists ...It's not just gangster movies. Most top lists that aren't created by AFI seem to be under the impression that there were no films being made before 1970 and in some cases 1980. It is disheartening to think that these people get paid to write about film.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03089507613424494646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-56510267504032006222009-07-02T07:35:02.535-07:002009-07-02T07:35:02.535-07:00I would add Richard Widmark in "Kiss of Death...I would add Richard Widmark in "Kiss of Death." Remember when he threw that old lady in the wheelchair down the stairs? Classic.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03050879099756585371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-71166172808279762132009-07-02T07:33:38.466-07:002009-07-02T07:33:38.466-07:00One name that I seldom see on these types of lists...One name that I seldom see on these types of lists is Richard Attenborough as Pinkie Brown in Brighton Rock (1947). I realize that Brighton Rock is not a movie that a lot of people have seen. But, in my mind it is an excellent gangster film and Attenborough is chilling. His character is sadistic, neurotic, and desperate which is never a good combination. Psychologically, he may be one of the scariest gangsters in film history.Sprucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10126084453081044747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-46086244428367345222009-07-02T05:04:05.964-07:002009-07-02T05:04:05.964-07:00All those look like interesting gangsters from int...All those look like interesting gangsters from interesting movies. But did you notice that those movies only span a few years, from 1931 to 1954?<br /><br />What happened between '54 and '70? 15 years of weak gangsters?<br /><br />I think it's possible that you, like the author of that article you posted, have a preferred period in time.<br /><br />Also, neither of you seems to take into account the fact that there are movies made outside of Hollywood. <br /><br />(Not to defend his list... It's damn weak. We get it, you like the Godfather! Now say something else.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-22808570360138371242009-06-30T04:45:47.829-07:002009-06-30T04:45:47.829-07:00Thanks for adding the link, I have added your own ...Thanks for adding the link, I have added your own wonderful blog.<br /><br />I just read your original post on this and it is a sad state of affairs. Sounds like the author is just cathering to what he feels is his audience or he is about 16 years old himself. Scott Baio? How can you take him seriously.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-17448698139379783902009-06-29T19:56:36.483-07:002009-06-29T19:56:36.483-07:00John, Love your blog. Have added it to my links li...John, Love your blog. Have added it to my links list.Richard Hourulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354136203258901360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-2047485685353432582009-06-29T17:46:01.816-07:002009-06-29T17:46:01.816-07:00Riku, I just read your two posts on that jaw-dropp...Riku, I just read your two posts on that jaw-dropping list I read yesterday in the Chronicle. More than half the people on it were from "The Sopranos" and "The Godfather" movies. If the writer had listed the top 10 modern gangsters that would have been one thing, but to list the top 10 ever and not even mention Cagney, Robinson, Muni, and Bogart was a clear indication that this person was not qualified to be writing on the subject. People get paid to write such drivel, while better informed bloggers do it for free just because they love movies.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7539700916676246998.post-45506194298407164642009-06-29T16:48:43.859-07:002009-06-29T16:48:43.859-07:00This is so true and so sad. I'd like to add Ro...This is so true and so sad. I'd like to add Rod Steiger in "Al Capone" to the list.<br /><br />Wow! "Portrait of a Mobster", I have not seen that film in years.<br />Actually, the early sixties had quite a few other low budget gangster films, "Mad Dog Coll" and "The Purple Gang," to name two.<br /><br />You may be interested in checking out my blog, I just posted a article on "White Heat." <br /><br />http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.com