Mindless Ramblings of The Cool Ones

[CosmicTraveler]

I think you'd scare people away walking around with a Tommy Gun in hand. haha I forgot about that Hoodlum movie lol

Honestly, my face does that enough on it's own. But a Tommy Gun would certainly increase the effect by 300 points.

My first exposure to Gangster films were with my dad who would force me to watch Spaghetti westerns, and old black and white war and gangster movies. The war movies were the only ones that I liked until I caught the first Godfather by which time I was a pre-teen and could better appreciate what 'dad' was trying to put me on to. So while I'm in the more modern cinema camp for gangster films, I have a wide collection of good films from Godfather series to Road to Perdition and a whole lot in between and beyond.

I used to avoid westerns beyond all reason. Then one day I sat down and watched one... I felt like such a tool. All these years I'd been thinking they were boring old flicks filmed in dust bowl towns... Within a mere hour and a half I understood how guys like Charlton Heston and Clint Eastwood became so prominent in those genres. How shows like Bonanza could be such a big deal. Never again would I look away from a man wearing a stetson carrying a six shooter... Never... again. o _O

[peggygee]

I was thinking more along the lines of Laurence Fishburne in Hoodlum and probably something else I might be missing. I really don't have a lot of exposure to these films. To the point where I haven't seen any of The Godfather movies. Although to be honest I don't really care if I do or not. Since I have Battles Without Honor And Humanity.

I was talking more about the style of things though, mobster movies and media and what not. I always liked the Pinstripe suit and Tommy Gun look. To a point where I would, if I could afford it, walk around like that on any given day.

I think you'd scare people away walking around with a Tommy Gun in hand. haha I forgot about that Hoodlum movie lol

My first exposure to Gangster films were with my dad who would force me to watch Spaghetti westerns, and old black and white war and gangster movies. The war movies were the only ones that I liked until I caught the first Godfather by which time I was a pre-teen and could better appreciate what 'dad' was trying to put me on to. So while I'm in the more modern cinema camp for gangster films, I have a wide collection of good films from Godfather series to Road to Perdition and a whole lot in between and beyond.

Remy, I enjoy all of them, from the old to the new, and I'm glad that you and
your Dad got to watch the old B&Ws.

Also, from back in the day there were the cinematography schools of cinema
verite, and film noir, which I feel that you as an artist can appreciate.

CT, as you are aware "Hoodlum" was based on the real life Harlem gangster
Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson.

Madame Queen as portrayed by Cicely Tyson was also based on the real life
female gangster Stephanie St. Clair.

The story of Stephanie St. Clair begins with her birth in the eastern caribbean on the island of Marseilles. According to passed-down stories, St. Clair reportedly told people that she was born in “European France” and was able to speak “flawless French,” as opposed to the less-refined French spoken by those in the Caribbean. She was known to speak in French when cursing people out.

Moving to Harlem in 1912, St. Clair was known for her deep involvement in the New York gangster underworld. Through her connections, St. Clair developed the first numbers bank, located in Harlem. There, she and her partners, including Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, made the first significant criminal fortunes in black New York's early 1930s.

When the depression hit, white mobsters would turn to Harlem’s illegal gambling scene for a profit, meaning St. Clair and her gangster crew. They would run across resistance, mainly from Dutch Schultz, a gang leader who wanted to take the streets back. The result was a bloody war with St. Clair and her allies for control of organized crime in Harlem. Over 40 people were killed in street gang violence, mostly the numbers operators.

St. Clair's story was a likely one. She would later be harassed by police for going public by naming cops she paid kickbacks to. She would have to give control to the Italian mafia and Lucky Luciano, who eliminated Dutch Schultz. They, in turn, made Bumpy Johnson the head of the Harlem mobs, and St. Clair left the mob scene. She died in 1969.

Stephanie St. Clair

Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson


Arthur Flegenheimer aka "Dutch Schultz"

Charles "Lucky" Luciano

[peggygee]

Honestly, my face does that enough on it's own. But a Tommy Gun would certainly increase the effect by 300 points.



I used to avoid westerns beyond all reason. Then one day I sat down and watched one... I felt like such a tool. All these years I'd been thinking they were boring old flicks filmed in dust bowl towns... Within a mere hour and a half I understood how guys like Charlton Heston and Clint Eastwood became so prominent in those genres. How shows like Bonanza could be such a big deal. Never again would I look away from a man wearing a stetson carrying a six shooter... Never... again. o _O

Growing up in the era that I did, one was bombarded by cowboy shows,
and movies.

Being the proud Black woman that I am, I sought out and found that we Black
Americans were very much a part of the old West, and that there were many
Western movies made "for us, by us, and with us".

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAr2UzErToA[/ame]


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvgh7Pr8s-E[/ame]

[CosmicTraveler]

I was aware of the Bumpy Johnson info but, I didn't know about St. Clair at all. That's interesting to know. There's actually an RPG for PS2 that portrays the 1920's mob scene for a short bit. At one point you have to break into Alcatraz to get to Capone, Elliot Ness also appears. They portray Capone as a rather handsome charismatic gangster, contrary to his real life looks. ( No accounting for tastes I suppose but dammit... he wasn't good looking at all. )

When watching the film American Gangster, I wasn't particularly happy with Cuba Gooding's portrayal of Nicky Barnes... maybe because I find him to be less threatening than Bryant Gumble trying to swat me with cotton swabs... ( Which is kinda threatening when I think about it because it means he's fucking crazy. ) But I was just not sold on it. I did like Denzel's portrayal but, he plays damn near any role well.

[CosmicTraveler]

Growing up in the era that I did, one was bombarded by cowboy shows,
and movies.

Being the proud Black woman that I am, I sought out and found that we Black
Americans were very much a part of the old West, and that there were many
Western movies made "for us, by us, and with us".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAr2UzErToA


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvgh7Pr8s-E

There's actually a Federation of Black Cowboys near where I used to live with my grandmother. I'd pass it on my way to work ( when I had work to go to. ) Other than Rosewood though, I never saw many black cowboy movies... Not entirely sure that counts now that I think about it... Not a movie I prefer to watch too often either.

[peggygee]

There's actually a Federation of Black Cowboys near where I used to live with my grandmother. I'd pass it on my way to work ( when I had work to go to. ) Other than Rosewood though, I never saw many black cowboy movies... Not entirely sure that counts now that I think about it... Not a movie I prefer to watch too often either.

Like much of our history, it has been lost, destroyed, or re-written,
but we were there.

[CosmicTraveler]

Ordinarily I avoid drawing such lines, but... it is a shame when things like this happen.

[Ms Remy M]

Honestly, my face does that enough on it's own. But a Tommy Gun would certainly increase the effect by 300 points.



I used to avoid westerns beyond all reason. Then one day I sat down and watched one... I felt like such a tool. All these years I'd been thinking they were boring old flicks filmed in dust bowl towns... Within a mere hour and a half I understood how guys like Charlton Heston and Clint Eastwood became so prominent in those genres. How shows like Bonanza could be such a big deal. Never again would I look away from a man wearing a stetson carrying a six shooter... Never... again. o _O

*nods* The westerns of the 80's-present are great, love Eastwood. Heston always rubbed me the wrong way.

[Ms Remy M]

Growing up in the era that I did, one was bombarded by cowboy shows,
and movies.

Being the proud Black woman that I am, I sought out and found that we Black
Americans were very much a part of the old West, and that there were many
Western movies made "for us, by us, and with us".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAr2UzErToA


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvgh7Pr8s-E

I lived in Kansas from 95-97 so I had the chance to attend a fair share of Rodeo's and met a great many black cowboys living all walks of life, from Corporate America to Rancher. We use to take trips to Arkansas for big shows. Good times that was, when the biggest attraction was a Super Center Walmart lol

[CosmicTraveler]

*nods* The westerns of the 80's-present are great, love Eastwood. Heston always rubbed me the wrong way.

Really? I never really thought ill of Charlton Heston... he seemed like a real man's man... Although he was no Clint Eastwood. But he has kind of an unfair advantage... I mean... Clint Eastwood is one hell of a name.