Topic: Inspiration for Gangbusters (Read 1,270 times)
Finarvyn Administrator Dungeon Master member is offline
Joined: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 4,674 Location: Near Chicago Karma: 178
Inspiration for Gangbusters « Thread Started on Apr 16, 2009, 9:01pm »
I know that the movie The Untouchables really inspired me to look into Gangbusters, but I'm curious what other movies or books get others all fired up about the era?
I'm planning on watching The Godfather with my son, but I think it's actually more modern day than 1920's.
I know that Call of Cthulhu has some 1920's sourcebooks.
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" - Dave Arneson
Joined: Nov 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 245 Location: Behind the Orange Curtain Karma: 10
Re: Inspiration for Gangbusters « Reply #1 on Apr 19, 2009, 5:32pm »
I'm rather fond of "The Razor's Edge", even though it starts in the teens and ends in the 30's. If you are in the mood for something far more 'madcap comedy'-ish, there is always "Thoroughly Modern Millie." You can also raid the A&E and BBC collections for just about anything by Agatha Christie.
As for books, Only Yesterday is probably the single best introduction to the era; it was written by the journalist Frederick Lewis Allen in 1931, so the memories were still fresh. It is still in print, and if you look online, one of the mid-western universities has an HTML version online.
Joined: Mar 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 138 Location: Reading, PA Karma: 12
Re: Inspiration for Gangbusters « Reply #2 on Apr 19, 2009, 5:43pm »
The original Untouchables TV show with Robert Stack and Walter Winchell narrating. Many show available on You Tube. See how many 60s & 70s TV stars made early appearances in this top 10 series. Godfather 2, the early days scenes Rod Steiger in Al Capone Classics: "Little Caesar" with Edward G Robinson, "Public Enemy" with Jimmy Cagney
Rick Krebs Creator/designer of Gangbusters Contributor to AD&D DM's Guide-1st edition "D&D meets the Electronic Age" Dragon #26 "Non-Player Characters have Feelings, too" Dragon #29 Founder/owner: Original Gamer's Guild game store Designer of EAMON Adventures Pubisher/Editor: Phanta Carta
Joined: Nov 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 245 Location: Behind the Orange Curtain Karma: 10
Re: Inspiration for Gangbusters « Reply #3 on Apr 19, 2009, 7:32pm »
Another movie for you: "Chinatown." Granted, the film was set in the 1930s, but it's got that great "just how deep does this conspiracy GO?" vibe. Plus Jack Nicholson as a sleazy PI, and a few nifty investigative tricks.
Happily chasing game systems down dark alleys, clubbing them senseless, and rifling through their pockets for loose tables since 1978 Shameless plug
Finarvyn Administrator Dungeon Master member is offline
Joined: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 4,674 Location: Near Chicago Karma: 178
Re: Inspiration for Gangbusters « Reply #4 on Apr 19, 2009, 7:43pm »
A good point about the 1930's stuff being somewhat similar in many ways to that of the 1920's. I'll bet I could import some of my Raymond Chandler books into the '20's without much problem.
Hey, and don't forget A Piece of the Action, the Original Star Trek episode where Kirk lands on a planet influenced by the gangsters of the 1920's. One of my all-time favorite episodes!
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" - Dave Arneson
Joined: Mar 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 138 Location: Reading, PA Karma: 12
Re: Inspiration for Gangbusters « Reply #5 on Apr 19, 2009, 8:31pm »
The 20s may have been roaring, but most of the gangster action occurred in the 30s. Remember, it wasn't until 1934 till the Feds were allowed to carry weapons. Thus, the Feds were operating mostly with permissions extended by local authorities. You, bet on Raymond Chandler characters as well as Dashiell Hammet. Gangbusters wasn't possible without our versions of Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade.
For additional inspiration: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedora The sight of playtesters coming into the game shop wearing the appropriate headware was priceless.
I guess that even brings into play Indiana Jones.
« Last Edit: Apr 21, 2009, 11:00am by rick krebs »
Rick Krebs Creator/designer of Gangbusters Contributor to AD&D DM's Guide-1st edition "D&D meets the Electronic Age" Dragon #26 "Non-Player Characters have Feelings, too" Dragon #29 Founder/owner: Original Gamer's Guild game store Designer of EAMON Adventures Pubisher/Editor: Phanta Carta
For additional inspiration: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedora. The sight of playtesters coming into the game shop wearing the appropriate headware was priceless.
You might want to edit this link - the '.' at the end became part of the URL and while there is a "/Fedora" article on wikipedia, there is no "/Fedora." article.
I will freely admit that I have never played Gangbusters, but I have owned a copy since the early 80s, having bought it to raid for ideas for Call of Cthulhu. The information about the economics and procedures of illegal activities is pure gold.
On the subject of fedoras (my own fedora has been old enough to legally drink in California for several years now), there was one time at a Call of Cthulhu game where one of the players, a woman who was playing a very hard-boiled PI character, snagged her boyfriends fedora to wear while gaming. On one particular evening, she was also running an absent player's character, a oh-so-very-proper English professor of archaeology. She was doing a marvelous job of speaking in character, using completely different voices, accents, and mannerisms, and would put on or take off the hat as she switched from one character to another. At one point, the two characters got into a lengthy and bitter argument; the one woman playing both (male) roles, facing to one side or the other, donning and doffing her hat, swapping voices and even body language. When she finally stopped, she realized that the rest of us were just staring at her, utterly dumbfounded, our jaws all hanging open. It was one of the most amazing "in character" displays we've ever seen. We should have applauded, but we were too stunned.
Rick Krebs Creator/designer of Gangbusters Contributor to AD&D DM's Guide-1st edition "D&D meets the Electronic Age" Dragon #26 "Non-Player Characters have Feelings, too" Dragon #29 Founder/owner: Original Gamer's Guild game store Designer of EAMON Adventures Pubisher/Editor: Phanta Carta
Eric's Grampa
Finarvyn Administrator Dungeon Master member is offline
Joined: Jun 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 4,674 Location: Near Chicago Karma: 178
Re: Inspiration for Gangbusters « Reply #8 on May 3, 2009, 7:06pm »
Marv / Finarvyn DCC playtester (2011) C&C playtester (2003) I'm partly responsible for the S&W WhiteBox Builder of the TrollBridge Master of Mutants; MA since 1976 OD&D Player since 1975
"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!" - Dave Arneson
Joined: Mar 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 138 Location: Reading, PA Karma: 12
Re: Inspiration for Gangbusters « Reply #9 on May 3, 2009, 8:54pm »
Should rethink the title as "Roaring 20s, Bloody 30s". Stock market crashes '29, but it was '33 when 20 plus % unemployment and the criminals decided to declare war on the US government. Ness & Capone late 20s (St Valentine's Day Massacre is '29). Purvis & Dillinger in '34. Bonnie & Clyde, Baby Face Nelson, and Pretty Boy Floyd all died in '34 after the Feds are allowed to carry weapons and prosecute felons.
Rick Krebs Creator/designer of Gangbusters Contributor to AD&D DM's Guide-1st edition "D&D meets the Electronic Age" Dragon #26 "Non-Player Characters have Feelings, too" Dragon #29 Founder/owner: Original Gamer's Guild game store Designer of EAMON Adventures Pubisher/Editor: Phanta Carta
Eric's Grampa
chgowiz Guest
Re: Inspiration for Gangbusters « Reply #10 on May 6, 2009, 1:26pm »
Joined: Feb 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 35 Location: Fayetteville, AR Karma: 2
Re: Inspiration for Gangbusters « Reply #11 on Feb 12, 2010, 11:25pm »
Inspirational material for GB? Miller's Crossing is a great film. Mobsters with Christian Slater is filled with period detail (Check out the toaster and coffee pot). Anything written by Dashiel Hammett, especially Red Harvest. Not period, but so proper in feel, are Estleman's Amos Walker series. I love the cars, clothes, slang, and hats. Art Deco is fantastic....
Gods but I wish I had some players! I've owned GB since it's original printing. I've played it exactly 6 sessions. Most people aren't interested> They would far prefer playing fantasy.
Same problem, come to think of it, I have with Privateers and Gentlemen, Boot Hill, Swashbucklers and etc. Too darned bad.
![[Home]](http://images.proboards.com/menu/home.gif "[Home]")
![[New Topics]](http://images.proboards.com/menu/topics.png "[New Topics]")
![[Help]](http://images.proboards.com/menu/help.gif "[Help]")
![[Search]](http://images.proboards.com/menu/search.gif "[Search]")
![[Login]](http://images.proboards.com/menu/login.gif "[Login]")
![[Register]](http://images.proboards.com/menu/register.gif "[Register]")
![[Search This Thread]](http://images.proboards.com/search2.gif "[Search This Thread]")
![[Share Topic]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/share.png "[Share Topic]")
![[Print]](http://images.proboards.com/buttons/print.gif "[Print]")
Author
![[avatar]](http://images.community.wizards.com/community.wizards.com/user/finarvyn/avatar.jpg "[avatar]"){kind=avatar}
Logged
![[avatar]](http://www.toplessrobot.com/gangbusters.jpg "[avatar]")
![[homepage]](http://images.proboards.com/buttons/www_sm.gif "[homepage]")
![[avatar]](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4qI6i7wKX1c/SdZoRveimpI/AAAAAAAAADI/N5Grto0YRg4/S220/Mage.JPG "[avatar]")