The Untouchables film is a remarkable American criminality drama film released in 1987. The film was written and directed by David Mamet and Brian de Palma, respectively. The storyline behind the untouchable was constructed based on real-life historical events. The subject matter film, the unattainable, revolves around the US treasury agent Eliot Ness and his team, who are working extra hard to bring down a notable gangster in Chicago called AI Capone (Barot, np). The event took place during the prohibition era. i.e., between the years 1920 and 1930s. Typically the paper will focus more on this prohibition era.
There is a close relationship between the film Untouchable and the Criticism of Franklin Roosevelt (1935). Ideally, the Criticism of Franklin Roosevelt (1935) is the events during the new deal era. The era refers explicitly to the time frame between 1933 and 1938 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt put several economic and social reforms to solve the issues brought on by the Great Depression. The new deal policies comprised the amended financial system and some crucial aspects of society, which also saw the creation of government programs to provide jobs, help, and economic stimulation. Several groups criticized Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, especially in 1935. Conservatives criticized the New Deal as being excessively socialist and expanding government authority. The film clarifies the historical events during the Criticism of Franklin Roosevelt (1935), using its corruption and law enforcement themes. They both reflect the social and economic challenges of their respective times. (Abdelkader & Falzarano, 122). We may better grasp how the Prohibition era’s events illuminate the new deal era’s happenings, particularly the critiques of Franklin Roosevelt in 1935, by focusing on particular movie flow of events.
Foremost, the Prohibition era serves as an example of the limits of governmental authority, which helps to make the new deal era more understandable. When the government tried to outlaw alcohol during Prohibition, organized crime developed, and there was widespread corruption and bloodshed (Birc, pp. 4). In “The Untouchables,” we discover how even enforcement personnel were dishonest and worked with thugs like Al Capone law. The events demonstrate the challenges of upholding the rules in society without the community’s support.
Similarly to this, President Roosevelt formulated different strategies, such as the implementation of the new deal during the period, to ease and cube the economic challenge that the state was. However, many people criticized and highlighted that the approach needed to be revised for a long shot and long-term solution. This criticism drew attention to the limits of political authority since even considerable government activity could not adequately solve the country’s problems.
Nevertheless, emphasizing organized crime’s influence in forming American culture, the Prohibition era also helps to understand the Great Depression era. Gangsters dominated many facets of American society during Prohibition as organized crime dominated the country (Joseph & Chris, pp. 690). We can see how Capone and his gang exercised tremendous influence in “The Untouchables,” as they even hired judges and members of the legal system. The culture and institutions of the time may have been significantly impacted by organized crime.
Like John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde, criminals during the Great Depression turned into hated figures and wreaked havoc nationwide. The government tried to address the problem through law enforcement, but it also recognized that unemployment and poverty play a role in encouraging crime. Curriculums like the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration were created; as a result, offering employment opportunities for young men in public works and environmental conservation initiatives, respectively (Rauchway, pp. 205). By admitting that more than simply law enforcement was needed to address the causes of crime, these initiatives marked a change in government policy.
On top of that, the Prohibition-era events and how they were portrayed in “The Untouchables” might lighten the critiques of Franklin Roosevelt in 1935. Also, some detractors contended that Roosevelt was overstepping his presidential powers and that the New Deal was insufficiently successful in managing the economic instability during the significant Depression era (Jellison & Steven, np). In one scene in the film the untouchables, Ness is strongly criticized due to how technique to eliminate Capone. Moreover, the reporter argues that the elimination methods were against the state’s laws, neglecting due process. In response, Ness says he is carrying out his duties to defend the law and safeguard the neighborhood. The scene provides a vivid description of the relevant event that also took place in the significant depression era, whereby individual liberties wrestle from the government authorities (Cohen, np). Lastly, Roosevelt’s critics said that the New Deal violated individual rights and that the government had gone beyond legal control by meddling in the economy. However, the president stood firm in his decision by explaining to his opponents that the method was meant to solve the economic challenges they were facing in the country. The Prohibition era’s events highlight American history’s ongoing conflict between individual freedoms and governmental authority.
I recommend the film to anyone, especially my friend, to watch since the film entails a vital part of American economic history. The move successfully delivered the message via its well-elaborated themes and styles. Nonetheless, the film is more fiction, limiting the new audience to some critical data.
Work Cited
Barot, Mitali Usha. “Geeli Pucchi: An Account of the Inheritance of Trauma and the Desire of an Untouchable: A Critical Film Review.” Contemporary Voice of Dalit (2021): 2455328X211049127.
Abdelkader, Desireé A., and Charles Falzarano. “When the Sheriff in Town Got Served: A Review of Untouchable.” Social Licence and Ethical Practice 27 (2023): 121-124.
Birc, Stephanie. “A new prohibition era: Book banning, prison abolition, and librarians.” Education for Information Preprint (2022): 1-8.
Joseph, Jared, and Chris M. Smith. “The ties that bribe: Corruption’s embeddedness in Chicago organized crime.” Criminology 59.4 (2021): 671-703.
Jellison, Katherine, and Steven D. Reschly. “Amish Women and the Great Depression.” (2023).
Cohen, Eliot A. “History, Critical and Patriotic.” Education Next 20.2 (2020).
Rauchway, Eric. “The New Deal Was on the Ballot in 1932.” Modern American History 2.2 (2019): 201-213.
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