organized crime

Organized Crime - Organized Crime - 1930’s1930’s

Jesse BoylandJesse BoylandJake BucarelliJake Bucarelli

Andrew SchonbergAndrew SchonbergGreg VillafaneGreg Villafane

HistoryHistory In 1920, Congress passed a law that made it illegal to buy In 1920, Congress passed a law that made it illegal to buy

or sell alcoholic beverages, called the Prohibition.or sell alcoholic beverages, called the Prohibition. This created many bootleggers who transported alcohol This created many bootleggers who transported alcohol

illegallyillegally Gangs were created to aid the process in bootlegging. Gangs were created to aid the process in bootlegging.

These gangs soon got to be very rich because of the high These gangs soon got to be very rich because of the high demand of alcohol.demand of alcohol.

Gang leaders were very well know in the public.Gang leaders were very well know in the public. Gangs had people working for the law, like police officers, Gangs had people working for the law, like police officers,

which helped in the bootlegging process. This makes an which helped in the bootlegging process. This makes an integrated society shielded by corrupted law officers.integrated society shielded by corrupted law officers.

Gang leaders included:Gang leaders included: Al CaponeAl Capone Charles LucianoCharles Luciano

Representations of Organized Representations of Organized CrimeCrime

Movie-Scarface (Al Capone)Movie-Scarface (Al Capone)Movie-Bonnie and Clyde (Bonnie and Movie-Bonnie and Clyde (Bonnie and

Clyde)Clyde)Movie- Public enemies (John Movie- Public enemies (John

Dillenger)Dillenger)

The Shame of a NationThe Shame of a Nation

19321932

Time PeriodTime Period

This film was produced during the era of This film was produced during the era of Pre-Code Hollywood which was a time where Pre-Code Hollywood which was a time where violence and crime were uncommon in violence and crime were uncommon in movies, but still permitted. “Although the movies, but still permitted. “Although the Hays office had specifically recommended Hays office had specifically recommended removing profanity, the drug trade, and removing profanity, the drug trade, and prostitution from pictures, it had never prostitution from pictures, it had never officially recommended against depictions officially recommended against depictions of violence in any form in the 1920s.” The of violence in any form in the 1920s.” The line between appropriate and inappropriate line between appropriate and inappropriate content, would lie with state censor boards, content, would lie with state censor boards, and differ depending on the state.and differ depending on the state.

Relation to Organized CrimeRelation to Organized Crime

Scarface is loosely Scarface is loosely based on the story based on the story of Al Capone’s rise of Al Capone’s rise to power in Chicago to power in Chicago (Capone himself (Capone himself loved the movie loved the movie and had multiple and had multiple copies)copies)

Al Capone was Al Capone was nicknamed Scarfacenicknamed Scarface

Plot 1Plot 1 Tony Camonte was supposedly paid by Johnny Lovo Tony Camonte was supposedly paid by Johnny Lovo

to kill his former boss, the leading crime boss of the to kill his former boss, the leading crime boss of the South Side, Big Louis Costillo.South Side, Big Louis Costillo.

After he’s taken out, Lovo takes control of the South After he’s taken out, Lovo takes control of the South Side with Camonte as right-hand man, selling tons Side with Camonte as right-hand man, selling tons of illegal alcohol to speakeasies (clubs that illegally of illegal alcohol to speakeasies (clubs that illegally distributed alcohol during prohibition) and distributed alcohol during prohibition) and “muscling in” on other gangs operations. “muscling in” on other gangs operations.

Lovo forbids Camonte from getting involved in the, Lovo forbids Camonte from getting involved in the, Irish run, North Side led by O'Hara. Camonte Irish run, North Side led by O'Hara. Camonte ignored, and started violently gaining a reputation ignored, and started violently gaining a reputation amongst enemy gangsters and the police. Lovo was amongst enemy gangsters and the police. Lovo was angered by Camonte defying his orders and angered by Camonte defying his orders and believed Camonte wanted to take over the believed Camonte wanted to take over the operation. (He’s also having an affair with Lovo’s operation. (He’s also having an affair with Lovo’s girlfriend, Poppy.)girlfriend, Poppy.)

Plot 2Plot 2 Camonte essentially takes over and declares war Camonte essentially takes over and declares war

on the North Side. He sent one of his best men on the North Side. He sent one of his best men Guino Rinaldo to assassinate O'Hara in the florists Guino Rinaldo to assassinate O'Hara in the florists he uses as his base. His death brought heavy he uses as his base. His death brought heavy retaliation from the North Side gangs who are retaliation from the North Side gangs who are under new command and now have Tommy guns.under new command and now have Tommy guns.

Camonte leads his own forces to destroy the Camonte leads his own forces to destroy the North Side gangs and take over the city. Lovo, North Side gangs and take over the city. Lovo, who was basically kicked out of his seat of power who was basically kicked out of his seat of power arranges for Camonte to be assassinated. arranges for Camonte to be assassinated. Camonte escapes the attack, and kills Lovo in Camonte escapes the attack, and kills Lovo in revenge “leaving Camonte as the undisputed boss revenge “leaving Camonte as the undisputed boss of the city.”of the city.”

Plot 3Plot 3

The police quickly start ripping Camonte's The police quickly start ripping Camonte's criminal empire apart. After discovering his criminal empire apart. After discovering his sister Cesca and Guiro Rinaldo got married, sister Cesca and Guiro Rinaldo got married, Camonte kills his friend, Rinaldo. This murder Camonte kills his friend, Rinaldo. This murder gave the police the opportunity to arrest gave the police the opportunity to arrest Camonte. Camonte holes up in his house and Camonte. Camonte holes up in his house and when his sister comes in, planning to kill him, when his sister comes in, planning to kill him, she decides to help him fight the police. She she decides to help him fight the police. She is shot and Camonte breaks down. He tries to is shot and Camonte breaks down. He tries to make a final break for it, but is demolished make a final break for it, but is demolished by a hail of gunfireby a hail of gunfire

Impact on the PublicImpact on the Public

This was one of the first films to ever This was one of the first films to ever show this level of violenceshow this level of violence

Many people were shocked at the Many people were shocked at the violence allowed to be shown in the violence allowed to be shown in the filmfilm

Bonnie and ClydeBonnie and Clyde

This notorious couple formed as a result of This notorious couple formed as a result of the Great Depression. the Great Depression.

- Banks had been failing without - Banks had been failing without compensation to the investors.compensation to the investors.

- Government seemed unresponsive and - Government seemed unresponsive and unwilling to help.unwilling to help.

- Normal people sought ways of making Normal people sought ways of making money.money.

- A life of crime was pursued by many A life of crime was pursued by many individuals, such as Bonnie Parker and individuals, such as Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.Clyde Barrow.


With Dust Bowl of the Midwest, 38% of With Dust Bowl of the Midwest, 38% of farms failing, and the closing of breadlines farms failing, and the closing of breadlines and soup kitchens, Bonnie and Clyde had and soup kitchens, Bonnie and Clyde had more support form the public than the more support form the public than the Police and government did.Police and government did.

General public felt Bonnie and Clyde were General public felt Bonnie and Clyde were not willingly committing crimes for their not willingly committing crimes for their benefits, but striking back against benefits, but striking back against corruption in big businesses and corruption in big businesses and government officials from the failing government officials from the failing capitalistic society.capitalistic society.


Since the police were not successful in Since the police were not successful in capturing Bonnie and Clyde previously, capturing Bonnie and Clyde previously, they planned on trapping the duo in they planned on trapping the duo in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, and gunning Bienville Parish, Louisiana, and gunning them down.them down.

On May 23, 1934 Bonnie Parker and Clyde On May 23, 1934 Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow where ambushed, and shot to Barrow where ambushed, and shot to death.death.

They instantly became legends, and to this They instantly became legends, and to this day are celebrated in annual ‘Bonnie and day are celebrated in annual ‘Bonnie and Clyde Festivals’.Clyde Festivals’.

John Dillinger Born: June 22, 1903 During his bank heists, a dozen victims—prison officers, police, federal agents, gangsters and civilians—were killed. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations. Escaped from jail twice. Significant cause of the creation of the FBI Died: July 22, 1934 Killed while leaving a theater. Police tried to arrest him but he drew a gun. Police shot him.

Pretty Boy Floyd Born: February 3, 1904 Kansas City Massacre - June 17, 1933 - Floyd was involved, death of 4 police officers Robbed Banks Died: October 22, 1934 Shot while being pursued by police.

Baby Face Nelson Born: December 6, 1908 Actual name was Lester Gillis Teamed up with John Dillinger. Helped him escape from prison. Robbed Banks. Died: November 27, 1934 Killed in a shootout with police. He was hit 17 times. “The Battle of Barrington”

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