Inspiration for Gangbusters

[Finarvyn]

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.

What else is out there?

[Thorulfr]

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.

[rick krebs]

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

[Thorulfr]

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.

[Finarvyn]

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! :-)

[rick krebs]

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: 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.

[Thorulfr]

Apr 19, 2009 19:31:59 GMT -6 rick krebs said:

For additional inspiration: 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]

Johnny Depp as Dillinger coming this summer "Public Enemies"
Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis

www.publicenemies.net/

[Finarvyn]

Apr 19, 2009 19:31:59 GMT -6 rick krebs said:

The 20s may have been roaring, but most of the gangster action occurred in the 30s.

Raymond Chandler characters as well as Dashiell Hammet. Gangbusters wasn't possible without our versions of Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade.

I guess that even brings into play Indiana Jones.

Ouch. I was so fixated on the prohibition era of the 20s that I didn't even think about the gangster era extending into the 30s.

Of course Dashiell Hammett and Indiana Jones!

[rick krebs]

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.

[chgowiz]

May 3, 2009 19:54:13 GMT -6 rick krebs said:

S Stock market crashes '29, but it was '33 when 20 plus % unemployment and the criminals decided to declare war on the US government.

I really hope history doesn't repeat itself.

[malchya]

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.

[coffee]

Well, Malchya, where are you located? Some of us are interested.

Or, if we're not near you, you could run something online. I'd be interested.

[malchya]

Fayetteville, AR. Never run anything on line. Been a game master since my first copy of Boot Hill back in '78, but never anything but face to face.

[coffee]

Well, if you want to give it a try, I'm sure we could round up some players for you!

[Random]

So if you want to play face to face...

[maxvale76]

I know I'm late to the party.....

But as many have said; the "Untouchables" Movie and BOTH TV series; the Robert Stack from the 50s-60s and the short-lived 90s version were both very entertaining...if almost entirely Hollywood; the real Ness and the Untouchables almost never got into any shoot-outs (though that's not too say they weren't treading dangerous ground; one of Ness's men did get murdered).

Some other inspirations: The Sting; Last man Standing; Public Enemies; and a soon to premier HBO series: "Boardwalk Empire"

As some have mentioned; one thing to keep in mind is that like many eras; the 'roaring 20s' have come to be portrayed in a certain light which didn't necessarily reflect reality. (I.e. everyone in the 60s was a hippie and everyone in the 70s loved disco)

For example: it wasn't until late '25 that the first 'hit' using a Tommy Gun was recorded in Chicago....and there were very few until the war between Capone and O'bannion really got hot in 1928. There's wasn't a Tommy Gun murder in NYC until 1928.

Much of what we tend to think of the 'roaring 20s' mobster/g-man wise really occured in the 30s; like Krebs said.

The FBI for example was an EXTREMELY obscure agency until about 1933 when Hoover really got the Agency into the Press after the Kansas City Massacre. The FBI, by the way, didn't go afte the Mob or Bootleggers at all; they pretty much stuck to Bankrobbers who used cars to cross State Lines (Dillinger, Bonny and Clyde, etc.) and kidnappers (Karpis, Machine Gun Kelly, etc.).

Still; the 'inspired by' era is a lot better suited to the fun gaming style of Gangbusters, in my opinion!

Well done Mr. Krebs and all associated writers/creators/play testers/etc. !

[malchya]

I am awaiting "Boardwalk Empire" with considerable enthusiasm!

[rick krebs]

It was indeed the "Roaring Twenties" and "Bloody Thirties", historically. But, one thing I've learned over the years is that most people prefer the "Hollywood/Entertainment" version of anything to the factual ;-)

An interesting fact, kidnapping was a very common and profitable form of crime during this period.

Maxvale76, welcome to the party. "better late, than never".

[maxvale76]

Thanks Rick! It's nice to be welcomed to the game by the wonderful designer of the game itself!

And please, just call me Max!