Italian Americans

First Published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

They came from the cultured cities of the north and the hardscrabble farms of the south. They battled prejudice and ignorance to make a better life for themselves. They fought to keep their traditions intact even as they were pressed to assimilate. Eventually, they were embraced by the nation named after one of their own. Discover how World War II was pivotal in winning acceptance for America's Italian immigrants and see how, through entertainers, the Italian-American community completed their transformation from outsiders to a defining element of mainstream America.

Late night visits from Jack Kerouac, illicit love affairs, and the occasional murder are just a few of the surprises in this intimate, hilarious, and award-winning portrait of an outspoken and fiercely independent 104-year-old Italian-American woman

Guzzetti's personal documentary traces his family history from his grandparent's emigration to the United States from Italy through to the present day. Juxtaposes his father's color home movies and family photos with his own black and white interviews which consist predominately of static shots and slow pans.

The personal stories of prominent Italian Americans from all walks of life are featured in this entertaining and touching exploration of what it means to be Italian in America. The stories are told with vintage film footage, family photos, and personal interviews.

Chronicles the experiences of Italian-Americans and Italian prisoners of war during World War II, and their assimilation into American culture. Includes historical photographs, archival footage, literature, music, poetry, and personal interviews.

The forgotten story of prejudice and violence against Italian immigrants and Italian-Americans in the United States in late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Through interviews, historical film and photographs, this documentary depicts a resilient culture and tells us much about family, community and ethnic identity in modern America.

Studies the discrimination faced by early Italian immigrants, which included violence and lynchings, and teh social and psychological impact that stereotyping of Italian Americans still has today, especially on young people.

Sofia Loren, Edward James Olmos, John Turturro, Ron Marquette, Hal Holbrook
Set in New York's depression-era lower East Side, Sophia Loren plays an Italian immigrant who strives to preserve her family's integrity while coping with enormous cultural changes

Four short films by Martin Scorsese. In "What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" a writer becomes obsessed with a picture. "It's not just you, Murray!" depicts a mobster looking back at his life as a bootlegger and his rise to wealth. In "The big shave" a young man enters a bathroom, lathers his face, and shaves over and over again, nicking his face and drawing blood. "Italianamerican" is a documentary in which Martin Scorsese interviews his parents about their personal experiences as Italian Americans and life in New York's Little Italy.

Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello
An "unlucky in love" Italian-American widow just weeks away from her wedding falls for her fiance's younger brother.

"...features personalities with ties to Federal Hill including three former Providence mayors, a Rhode Island lieutenant governor and a Providence City Council president. Also included are an historian, a judge and a U.S. ambassador, as well as priests, artisans, entrepreneurs and other Italian Americans from Federal Hill. Attacking stereotypes, this moving and lively depiction of the Italian American experience was filmed on location in historic Federal Hill. The soundtrack features traditional Italian folk and music recorded live."