Al Capone - Profession: Gangster

Icon: Al Capone (2014)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Here's another highly entertaining episode in the series that takes a look at various icons and how they achieved their status. This episode takes a look at the rise and fall of gangster Al Capone who for a while was a notorious celebrity as he was ruling the Chicago mob.

There have been countless documentaries and movies based around Al Capone but this one here gives us a fresh take on the subject. Sure, we get the typical stories like the St. Valentine's Day Massacre as well as stories about Ness and of course what finally brought Capone down. What this documentary offers is the cultural impact that Capone had. This includes how the media covered him, his impact on Hollywood as well as the Jazz scene.

I thought the stories dealing with the impact Capone had on the media as well as the music business was the most fascinating and especially how the Jazz scene was used to help push the gambling and the alcohol. All of this is told is a great way that keeps the viewer entertained from start to finish.

Not sure how this has a 6.6/10 here on IMDb, but I found this to be a wonderful Documentary. I did feel it was a tad too short and they didn't go into too much detail, but this really gives you an overall picture of who this man was and how he influenced America. They did also have some interesting imagery that I've never seen before and the commentary from the cast also adds a lot. Even if you know everything about Al Capone, I think you will find yourself entertained watching this.

To be sure - At the absolute height of his far-reaching power (where he actually wielded more authority than the law) Al Capone (aka. "Scarface") was, indeed, the "King of Organized Crime".

And, even today (more than 70 years after his death at 48) Capone's criminal legacy still rings as recognizable (the world over) in all genres of pop culture, including rap music.

Through stills, archival footage, and interviews - "Al Capone - Icon" takes a close-up look at the rise and inevitable fall of this ultimate bully whose illegal activities have even been glorified by the likes of Hollywood movie-making.

Icon: Al Capone (2014)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Highly entertaining documentary from the PBS station that takes a look at the rise and fall of Al Capone. This documentary features interviews with retired Police Detective Thomas Reppetto, UNLA Mob Historian Michael Green, writer-director Vince Gilligan, journalist Tim Weiner, ex-mob member Frank Calabrese, Jr. and jazz musician Cassandra Wilson.

ICON: AL CAPONE is just one of countless documentaries that deal with the legendary gangster but I personally found this one to be incredibly entertaining and full of information. Not only do we learn about Capone's rise to fame but we also take a look at how it helped change the culture. There are jazz musicians here to talk about jazz in the 1920s and we also get film experts talking about how he changed the type of gangster pictures that were being made. The documentary goes into good detail about Capone's downfall, starting with the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. If you're a fan of Capone or just want to know more about him then this here would be a great place to start.