An unlikely figure to become one of America's most infamous, feared mob bosses, Al Capone descended from a family of pasta makers in a small Italian town, although his father became a barber in America. This PBS-aired documentary profiles the man who dominated and personified gangsta style during Chicago's Roaring Twenties. Like many immigrants, young Al pursued the American Dream, but quickly fell into a life of petty thievery, running with gangs in New York's "Five Points," and working as a bouncer in a saloon, where he acquired the nickname "Scarface Al" after a fellow hood slashed him during a brawl. When events required him to make a quick exit for Chicago, Capone was able to take advantage of the opportunities opened up by Prohibition—smuggling and distributing alcohol, while also promoting attendant vices (it helped that police and politicians accepted bribes). Hoodlums like Capone eagerly sought celebrity status, bragging that they simply provided what the public craved. In the emerging tabloid culture, Capone became the kingpin after mob boss Johnny Torrio fled the country and "retired," following a failed mob hit. Historian interviewees here describe the world of speakeasies, which not only allowed jazz to flourish, but also permitted a certain amount of mingling between black and white customers. When the Depression hit, Capone played the role of Robin Hood, financing a few soup kitchens, although experts claim his generosity was exaggerated. By this time, Capone's ego was growing out of control, and the famous 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre turned out to be the beginning of his end, as federal authorities vowed to "get" Capone (he was finally convicted of tax evasion). While in prison, Capone lived the good life for awhile, until he was sent to Alcatraz. Eventually declining into dementia from venereal disease contracted in his earlier days, Capone was paroled and died in 1947. Although the documentary covers familiar territory (and overuses the term "icon"), it's also a slickly-paced and solid biographical profile. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
Al Capone: Icon
(2014) 60 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62789-122-6. Volume 30, Issue 1
Al Capone: Icon
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