The Brains: Lansky and Bad Immigrants in the Movies and Politics

The movie Lansky presents a version of the memoirs of Meyer Lansky, a central figure in the origin and management of the national crime syndicate. The development of the Syndicate accompanies the story of Lansky’s life and career. The evolution from a traditional to a modern organization is discussed as an example of the use by criminal organizations and the immigrant subcultures they are based in. These movies are cited in discussing the treatment of immigrants and their subcultures by generations of moviemakers. The depiction of Jewish and Italian involvement in American criminal organizations is discussed. The processes of modernization and Americanization in immigrant criminal communities and the way they are shown in movies are described.