Gangsterland DVD

• By: Written and Directed by Bick Smith
• Format: DVD, 40 min.
• Publisher: CyBlick Creative
• Usually ships in: 1 to 3 business days
• Product ##: 6362

Meet the gangsters who came to Minnesota in the early 1930’s. Saint Paul had a system which allowed criminals free reign. Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, Edna Murray “The Kissing Bandit,” the Barkers and John Dillinger were among those who made money the old-fashioned way...by stealing it.

In the 40-minute documentary-style movie, “Gangsterland,” Depression-era criminals come back to life as they talk about some of their biggest jobs, toughest situations and their greatest fears. “Gangsterland” captures a dark, chaotic time when the Depression, Prohibition and ruthless outlaws all converged on Minnesota.

The idea for producing "Gangsterland" came from researching 1930s gangsters in Minnesota and how they converged on Saint Paul because of the city's "safe city" status. Much of the impetus to shoot the movie came from the research of many local people including Cynthia Schreiner Smith, who plays Edna Murray "The Kissing Bandit" and also did all the costuming for the movie. Cynthia has spent a decade playing Edna and other characters for tours offered by Saint Paul's Down In History Tours.

The creators of "Gangsterland" attempt to present historical information in an entertaining way from the mouths of characters such as Alvin Karpis, John Dillinger and others in this documentary-style movie. The scenes were shot in Saint Paul, Hastings, Hampton, North Saint Paul, Maplewood, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake and Minneapolis, Minnesota, with local actors and business owners.