“Road to Perdition”, 2002
Director: Sam Mendes
This film follows the story of a mob enforcer and his son as they seek vengeance against a mobster who murdered their family. Set during the Great Depression, it touches on the impact of Prohibition on organized crime.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Paul Newman, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Liam Aiken, Ciarán Hinds, Dylan Baker, Stanley Tucci;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 117 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Road to Perdition” on the website imdb.com
“Some Like It Hot”, 1959
Director: Billy Wilder
Although not directly about prohibition, this classic comedy, set in 1929, begins with two musicians witnessing the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre and fleeing in drag to avoid gangsters. The film captures the era's speakeasy culture amid its comedic plot.
Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Joe E. Brown, Nehemiah Persoff, Joan Shawlee, Billy Gray, George E. Stone;
Production year: 1959;
Genre: melodrama, comedy, crime, music;
Age: 12+;
Duration: 119 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
More information about the film “Some Like It Hot” on the website imdb.com
“Public Enemies”, 2009
Director: Michael Mann
Focusing on the legendary bank robber John Dillinger, this film portrays the climactic period of the gangster era during the late 1920s and early 1930s, against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the tail end of Prohibition.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Stephen Lang, Jason Clarke, Stephen Graham, Billy Crudup, John Ortiz, Branka Katic, Stephen Dorff;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: action, drama, crime, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 140 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “Public Enemies” on the website imdb.com
“Miller's Crossing”, 1990
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Directed by the Coen Brothers, this intricate gangster film is set during the Prohibition era and tells the story of a power struggle between two rival mafia factions. It explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the moral complexities of crime and prohibition.
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, John Turturro, Albert Finney, Marcia Gay Harden, Jon Polito, J.E. Freeman, Mike Starr, Steve Buscemi, Olek Krupa, Michael Jeter;
Production year: 1990;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Miller's Crossing” on the website imdb.com
“Once Upon a Time in America”, 1983
Director: Sergio Leone
Spanning several decades, this film focuses on a group of Jewish ghetto youths who rise to prominence in New York's world of organized crime. The narrative delves into their lives during and after Prohibition, exploring the impact of their criminal activities over time.
Starring: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, Tuesday Weld, Burt Young, Joe Pesci, Danny Aiello, William Forsythe, James Hayden;
Production year: 1983;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 229 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,3;
More information about the film “Once Upon a Time in America” on the website imdb.com
These films, through their vivid storytelling and historical backdrop, offer a cinematic journey into the complex and tumultuous era of Prohibition in the United States.
The cinematic exploration of Prohibition offers audiences a fascinating window into a transformative era in American history, delving into the complex interplay of morality, law, and the enduring human penchant for the forbidden. Through an array of genres, from gritty gangster dramas to comedic escapades, films about Prohibition not only captivate with tales of rebellion and resilience but also provoke thoughtful reflection on the societal impetuses and consequences of such sweeping legal endeavors. They serve as poignant reminders of the time when America grappled with the stark realities of its ambitions for moral improvement against the backdrop of individual freedoms and desires, encapsulating the enduring struggle between governance and the governed. As cinema continues to revisit the Prohibition era, it ensures the preservation and reinterpretation of this pivotal period, highlighting its relevance and lessons for contemporary audiences, and affirming film's power to explore and explain the complexities of human history and culture.
