The Gangs of New York

Featuring interviews with almost every big job title among the cast and crew, copious production stills, the ostensibly complete screenplay and a nearly scholarly essay by New York historicist Sante, this melange of documentation and memorabilia pays homage to the epic production of Gangs of New York. Much of the information found in its pages is absorbing, in particular the list of films director Scorsese drew on for his grimy mise-en-scene, some of which seem intuitive, like The Bowery (1933) and Oliver Twist (1948), and others, like Fellini Satyricon (1970), that are more surprising. Also intriguing is the explanation of Scorsese's personal obsession in driving the film from its conception in the early 1970s to its final execution in 2002. The bloody New York street history and the nuts and bolts of filmmaking depicted in these pages makes for good browsing, and those inspired by the film will relish this celebration of it.