No art form, apart from music, has impacted the audience more than film making, considering that it is among the newest. Hollywood, the American film industry, is generally considered to be the best in the world. American movies are known for their amazing portrayal of characters, which includes both fictional and non-fictional. If there is one genre that transcend boundaries, it is that of gangster films. Over the years, some of the best movies produced in Hollywood have been gangster movies and a lot of them have gone on to win accolades. There are certain aspects about a gangster film that attract and connect with audiences on a huge level. In the first place, the unashamed portrayal of power, class and status is something that has an undeniable impact on people. More often than not, the protagonist in these films is seen living a life that people dream of and in most scripts, he rises to the top after a lot of suffering, which, in a way, justifies the character. One thing that is common to all mob films is the use of superb cars and in a lot of ways, vehicles driven by actors have left a timeless impact on audiences worldwide.
The first movie that pops into one's mind when one thinks of classic American gangster films is The Godfather, which was released in 1972. Starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in lead roles, The Godfather is one of the most celebrated films of all times and is considered to be a milestone for world cinema. Along with the superb performances, timeless dialogues and exceptional screenplay, this American cult classic also features several superb cars. One of the most important scenes in the plot of this film is the assassination of Sonny Corleone, the son of Vito Corleone. In this scene, the character Sonny is on his way to attack his brother-in-law Carlo in a 1940 Lincoln Coupe. Other than the Lincoln model, The Godfather also features cars like Alfa Romeo 6C 2500, Cadillac Fleetwood 75, Fiat 508 Balilla and Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn. Needless to say, these vehicles have also become a part of history, registering a place in hearts of fans forever.
Another classic gangster film, starring legendary actor Al Pacino in the lead role, is Scarface, which is counted among one of the finest performances from the American. Released in the year 1983, Scarface was directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone. In this film, Pacino essays the role of Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who eventually becomes a big gangster. One of the scenes in Scarface shows Tony and Manny arrive in a brand new 1963 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible, a car that became really famous post the release of the film. The list of great Al Pacino films is endless but another one worth mentioning is Donnie Brasco, which also stars Johnny Depp. Al Pacino plays the role of Benjamin Ruggiero who befriends Depp's character and includes him in the gang of mobsters. There are some superb cars shown in Donnie Brasco, such as 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, 1980 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham and 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa. In fact, the first scene of this film shows Al Pacino's character arguing with a friend about which car is better, a Lincoln or Cadillac.
Al Pacino's contemporary and friend Robert De Niro, considered to be the greatest of all time by many, has some classic gangster films to his name. He is known for his collaborations with legendary director Martin Scorsese, such as Mean Streets, Casino and Goodfellas. Starring De Niro along with Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta, Goodfellas is a complete exhibition of top quality cinema. This movie features cars like 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, 1961 Chevrolet Impala Convertible, 1966 Chrysler Newport Convertible and 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix. Mean Streets is another Scorsese and De Niro collaboration, which is rated among the top works of both. This film shows a number of amazing cars like 1972 Dodge Coronet, 1973 Ford LTD, 1972 Imperial LeBaron and 1964 GMC C-Series.
To put things in a nutshell, great gangster films and everything related to them have created a tremendous impact on audiences, making actors youth icons. These films have also played a part in popularising car models shown in them and helping them to reach iconic statuses.
