Mafia: the History Of the Mob In America

Originally called Target Mafia, a five-part mini-series which appeared on A&E's American Justice series, this detailed overview of the rise of the Mafia in America is based on historian Stephen Fox's 1989 book Blood and Power: Organized Crime in Twentieth-Century America. Hosted by Bill Kurtis, the first video opens with The Prohibition Years, a look at the struggle between the White Hand (Irish) and Black Hand (Italian) gangs for control of the New York City waterfront early in the century, and how WASP fears over immigration (specifically ethnic groups drinking and fighting) contributed to Prohibition--an act which kind of backfired, since it had the effect of pouring yeast into the budding Mafia's mix. Tracing the birth of the mob during the days of Prohibition, viewers will learn some interesting tidbits (the Seagram's empire in Canada, for instance, grew because of illegal bootlegging in the U.S.) As the financial stakes rose, so did the violence--creating thugs like Alfonse Capone. Combining interviews with author Fox and other writers and professors, along with grisly stills, and gangster movie footage, Mafia scoots right along--with the broader narrative being routinely interrupted for gory little anecdotes. In the second episode, Birth of the American Mafia, however, the seams begin to show. Using the same terminology, much of the story of Al Capone is recounted (no doubt to refresh the television audience's memory). Then, too, there are those constant intonations by Bill Kurtis about "great" or "sad" days "for American justice," which are basically cues to cut to a commercial. The other tapes in the boxed set are: The Kennedys and the Mob, Unions and the Mob, and Empire of Crime. Overall, then, Mafia: The History of the Mob in America is not a great documentary about the Mafia, but it's good in parts, exceptionally low-priced for a four-tape series, and likely to be quite popular. Recommended. (R. Pitman)