Al Capone (1959)

Al Capone Poster

In this unusually accurate biography, small-time hood Al Capone comes to Chicago at the dawn of Prohibition to be the bodyguard of racketeer Johnny Torrio. Capone's rise in Chicago gangdom is followed through murder, extortion, and political fraud. He becomes head of Chicago's biggest "business," but moves inexorably toward his downfall and ignominious end.

Film Overview
"Al Capone", released in 1959, is an American biographical crime movie that clearly narrates Al Capone's life. This well-known American gangster's story is depicted from his early days in New York and his rise to power in Chicago, through to his inescapable failure. The film was directed by Richard Wilson and Rod Steiger played the role of Al Capone.

The Plot
The motion picture begins by introducing Al Capone, an enthusiastic however ruthless male working as a bouncer in Brooklyn, New York. He relocates to Chicago to work for Johnny Torrio, an established figure in the city's underworld, and we witness the initiation and development of his criminal career.

In Chicago, Capone is recognized for his hostility, cunningness, and sharp impulses. After successfully removing his employer's competitors, he slowly starts to increase in power, eventually changing Torrio as the boss. Capone develops a powerful track record, running brothels, gambling dens, and speakeasies during the Prohibition age.

The film reflects on the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, among the darkest episodes of Capone's reign, where seven members of Chicago's North Side Gang were carried out. The public reaction that followed, stirred by a blossoming media landscape, cast a progressively negative light on Capone's empire.

Capone's Downfall
Regardless of Capone's criminal activities, he leaves the hand of the law many times due to the inadequacy of proof and his deep network of corruption that extended into the city's organizations. However, the character's undoing comes in the kind of his evasion of federal earnings taxes.

A thorough IRS officer, persistent and devoted to bringing Capone to justice, manages to accumulate tangible evidence against him. Capone's reign of horror ends as he is convicted on tax charges and sentenced to 11-year jail time, mainly served at Alcatraz. Capone's time in jail, wrecked by degrading health and his encounter with madness, marks the bleak end of his effective reign over Chicago's underworld.

Performances and Reception
Steiger's efficiency as Capone was commemorated commonly. His portrayal of Capone as brutal, shrewd, and deeply flawed was genuine and engaging. Wilson's instructions and Julian Blaustein's production were essential in creating a gripping cinematic experience that did not avoid the moral breakdown related to the mob.

The movie industry and the audience valued the essential story that narrates both the fluctuate of one of America's most well-known gangsters. With its accurate depiction of Chicago during the Prohibition period, the film is not just a character research study of a guy who becomes a sign of lawlessness, it stands as a testament to the period he helped to shape.

In conclusion, "Al Capone" from 1959 is an ultimate criminal offense biography that provides an informative check out the life and activities of the infamous mobster. The film effortlessly combines historic precision and significant storytelling to paint a thorough photo of the guy behind the criminal empire.

Top Cast

  • Rod Steiger (small)
    Rod Steiger
    Al Capone
  • Fay Spain (small)
    Fay Spain
    Maureen Flannery
  • James Gregory (small)
    James Gregory
    Schaefler (narrator)
  • Martin Balsam (small)
    Martin Balsam
    Mac Keeley, reporter
  • Nehemiah Persoff (small)
    Nehemiah Persoff
    Johnny Torrio
  • Murvyn Vye (small)
    Murvyn Vye
    George 'Bugs' Moran
  • Robert Gist
    Dion O'Banion
  • Lewis Charles (small)
    Lewis Charles
    Earl Weiss
  • Joe De Santis (small)
    Joe De Santis
    Big Jim Colosimo
  • Sandy Kenyon (small)
    Sandy Kenyon
    Bones Corelli
  • Raymond Bailey (small)
    Raymond Bailey
    Lawyer Brancato