Story of how a group of incorruptible federal lawmen helped put 1920s' Chicago gangster Al Capone in prison.Story of how a group of incorruptible federal lawmen helped put 1920s' Chicago gangster Al Capone in prison.Story of how a group of incorruptible federal lawmen helped put 1920s' Chicago gangster Al Capone in prison.
Robert Stack
- Eliot Ness
- (archive footage)
Keenan Wynn
- Joe Fuselli
- (archive footage)
Barbara Nichols
- Brandy LaFrance
- (archive footage)
Pat Crowley
- Betty Anderson
- (archive footage)
Bill Williams
- Martin Flaherty
- (archive footage)
Joe Mantell
- George Ritchie
- (archive footage)
Bruce Gordon
- Frank Nitti
- (archive footage)
Neville Brand
- Al Capone
- (archive footage)
Peter Leeds
- LaMarr Kane
- (archive footage)
Eddie Firestone
- Eric Hansen
- (archive footage)
Robert Osterloh
- Tom Kopka
- (archive footage)
Paul Dubov
- Jack Rossman
- (archive footage)
Abel Fernandez
- William Youngfellow
- (archive footage)
Paul Picerni
- Tony Liguri
- (archive footage)
John Beradino
- Johnny Giannini
- (archive footage)
Wolfe Barzell
- Picco
- (archive footage)
Frank Wilcox
- U.S. District Attorney Beecher Asbury
- (archive footage)
Peter Mamakos
- Bomber Belcastro
- (archive footage)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAbel Fernandez's character was based on William Jennings Gardner, a real-life Native American member of Elliot Ness' "Untouchables."
- Quotes
Betty Anderson: [Eliot Ness arrives after two Capone men pay his fiance a visit] Eliot what kind men are they?
Eliot Ness: They are warped, sadistic, rotten little cowards!
- Alternate versionsThis was originally a two part presentation on the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse under the title of simply "The Untouchables," the title given to the subsequent television series.
- ConnectionsEdited from The Untouchables (1959)
- SoundtracksAin't Misbehavin
Written by Fats Waller (as Thomas Walter), Harry Brooks and Andy Razaf
Featured review
Brutal, Violent, Great Fun
Unlike the DePalma picture of the late 80's, this original pilot film for the Untouchables TV show features great performances and really conveys the look and feel of Prohibition era Chicago. Well, it makes you feel as if you were there, whether or not it's all that accurate. Robert Stack once said he didn't so much act as react to the colorful gangsters of the show.
My favorite is Neville Brand, who plays Scarface Al Capone. He's a riot to watch, particularly in the scene where he's berating his lieutenants one moment, then laughing lasciviously the next. Bruce Gordon is Frank Nitti, "The Enforcer". He's crude and brutal, all in all the perfect villain. Watch for the scene where he's working over one of his boys because he can't get Ness and his crew to play ball. Each blow is accented by a musical flourish, while the unlucky victim of his rage sobs and cries out "mama mia! mama mia!".
The TV show dispensed with the Hollywood Italian accents. I can't say whether they'd be offensive to the average Italian-American viewer or not. I do know that the Chicago Outfit, or mob, didn't like it. They went to far as to put a contract on Desi Arnaz, whose studio, Desilu, produced the series. Needless to say, it was never filled.
This will always be one of my favorite gangster films. It's not on the same level as The Godfather, Casino or Goodfellas, Key Largo or Scarface, but it's just as entertaining. It gets a solid Three Stars in my book...
My favorite is Neville Brand, who plays Scarface Al Capone. He's a riot to watch, particularly in the scene where he's berating his lieutenants one moment, then laughing lasciviously the next. Bruce Gordon is Frank Nitti, "The Enforcer". He's crude and brutal, all in all the perfect villain. Watch for the scene where he's working over one of his boys because he can't get Ness and his crew to play ball. Each blow is accented by a musical flourish, while the unlucky victim of his rage sobs and cries out "mama mia! mama mia!".
The TV show dispensed with the Hollywood Italian accents. I can't say whether they'd be offensive to the average Italian-American viewer or not. I do know that the Chicago Outfit, or mob, didn't like it. They went to far as to put a contract on Desi Arnaz, whose studio, Desilu, produced the series. Needless to say, it was never filled.
This will always be one of my favorite gangster films. It's not on the same level as The Godfather, Casino or Goodfellas, Key Largo or Scarface, but it's just as entertaining. It gets a solid Three Stars in my book...
helpful•180
- JohnnyCNote
- Feb 3, 2002
Details
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
Top Gap
What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of The Scarface Mob (1959) in Australia?
Answer