Gangsta Films: From Little Ceasar to The Sopranos

From “Little Caesar” to “The Godfather” to “The Sopranos,” America just can not get enough of a good gangster story. For many decades, any gangster related story has evoked both fear and awe in the average, law-abiding citizen. These figures are hated by some for the violent acts attributed to them, yet oddly respected by others for their Robin Hood-like folklore that clings to him. The gangster is often seen as a tragic hero, in which a tragic event leads to their downfall and eventually their death. In Cawelti’s “The New Mythology of Crime,” he proves this theory when he states “man loves crime stories, because he has some basic traits which, among other things, manifest itself in a fascination with tales of crime” (326). The hit HBO TV series “The Sopranos” is the epitome of how America loves a good mob story. The idea for this hit show did not stem from the producer’s head in one night but took a lot of time to plan, and carefully analyze the earlier fil...