This work investigates the evolution of the American gangster film as a reflection of societal anxieties and the shifting moral landscape of the United States. Eugene Rosow, a scholar of cinema, utilizes a comprehensive historical framework to analyze how the archetype of the criminal protagonist has been shaped by economic instability, urban development, and the changing role of the American Dream. By examining the intersection of popular entertainment and cultural reality, the author argues that these films serve as a mirror for the nation's own internal conflicts regarding power, success, and the rule of law.

Scholars and film historians frequently cite this text as a foundational study for understanding the sociological underpinnings of the crime genre in American cinema. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of the genre's development over several decades.