1930s prohibition era

His film 'The Untouchables' (1987) is a masterclass in depicting 1920s-30s prohibition through stylized violence, moral ambiguity, and meticulous period detail.

The 'Godfather' trilogy, particularly its earlier sections, deeply explores organized crime networks born from and sustained by prohibition-era smuggling and corruption.

His noir films like 'Scarface' (1932) and 'Rio Bravo' directly engage with prohibition's criminal underworld and its impact on American society during the era itself.