The American Gangster The American Gangster The American Gangster is a 1992 American crime documentary film directed by Ben Burtt and written and produced by Ray Herbeck Jr. The documentary is narrated by Dennis Farina and explores the lives of America's gangsters like Pretty Boy Floyd, John Dillinger, Al Capone, and Bugsy Siegel. It was directly released on VHS in 1992 and later released as part of a DVD box set in 2006. "The American Gangster" is a documentary that chronicles the formation of the first generation of American gangsters. The documentary explores the illegal businesses involving gambling, prostitution, and defiance of prohibition
American Gangster (film) as a rock", and that it was "far too convinced of its import to be any fun." Giving "American Gangster" a two out of five stars, Peter Bradshaw of "The Guardian" was disappointed with Washington's acting, asserting, "He doesn't seem to relax and enjoy himself in the role, or even inhabit it very satisfyingly." He resumed: "He never has the menace of his dirty cop in "Training Day", and we don't see anything like the transformation from street-hustler to leader in "Malcolm X". That shoulder-shimmying swagger is rarely seen, and the brand-classic robes of "American Gangster" sit on him heavily."