AL CAPONE , which movie was the best portrayal of mr Capone?

• May 5, 2017

• #1

green papaya

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They made several movies about AL CAPONE , which ones were the best portrayal of the gangster known as AL CAPONE?

I thought Roberto Deniro did a good job of him in the movie UNTOUCHABLES

 

• May 6, 2017

• #2

Inkstainedwretch

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My favorite is AL CAPONE (1959) starring Rod Steiger as Capone. Steiger was a good physical match, and the look of the '20s-'30s was spot-on, emphasized by the B&W photography. Of course, this was barely 30 years after the events of the movie, like a 2017 movie about the '80s.

 

• May 6, 2017

• #3

Doctor Strange

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Capone#Film_and_television

Though he wasn't a close physical match, I enjoyed Stephan Graham in Boardwalk Empire... Though it's not really fair to compare a TV series that ran for years with individual feature films: the added time in a series allows for lots more character development.

 

• May 6, 2017

• #4

Worf

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I like both mentioned above. Steiger bought his manic presence to the role as did DeNiro. I did NOT like Ben Gazzara's take on the mobster but what can I say.

Worf

 

Last edited: May 7, 2017

• May 6, 2017

• #5

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Agree, Steiger (just an amazing actor) and Graham (interesting to see a not-fully-formed portrayal of a young Capone) did outstanding jobs.

Gazzara's never done much for me as an actor, period.

That said, years ago, my girlfriend and I took my mother out to a very nice NYC restaurant for her birthday and Ben Gazzara was seated at the next table - my mother was really excited to see him in person.

 

• May 6, 2017

• #6

Doctor Strange

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My mom was gaga over Ben Gazzara. She loved Run For Your Life, a now forgotten sixties series where he played a man given six months to live who traveled to make the most of his remaining time... and helped troubled folks he met in every episode (a la: Route 66, The Saint, The Fugitive, The Incredible Hulk, etc.) The series ran for three seasons... which was a lot longer than he was supposed to survive!

 

• May 6, 2017

• #7

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⇧ Maybe Gazzara was a man, moment, machine phenomena and if you were of the right age as a fan - like your and my mom seem to have been - he was "the man." My mom literally was distracted all evening because he was at the next table.

And that night, he did look the part of the older, very successful Hollywood star: Every hair in place, teeth gleaming and his clothes appeared custom and were impressive; he had a big, heavy, insanely expensive looking watch on and his wife (of course, an assumption, but she was about his age) had half of Tiffany's on her, also beautiful looking clothes and professionally done make-up with, of course and like him, not a hair askew - not a single strand. And the wait staff was fawning on them like they were regulars that tipped very well.

 

• May 8, 2017

• #8

AdeeC

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Though not a biopic I really like Edward G Robinson as "Rico" in LITTLE CEASER 1931. This fictional film was loosely based on the real Al Capone. Kick started the whole gangster film genre.

 

• May 8, 2017

• #9

Benzadmiral

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How about Neville Brand as Capone in the TV series The Untouchables? Several episodes in Decades Channel's marathon this weekend showed flashbacks in which he didn't speak, but glared and grinned at the camera. Scary.

 

• May 8, 2017

• #10

Worf

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AdeeC said:

Though not a biopic I really like Edward G Robinson as "Rico" in LITTLE CEASER 1931. This fictional film was loosely based on the real Al Capone. Kick started the whole gangster film genre.

Click to expand...

Agreed but I think Paul Muni's "Scarface" (1932) is closer to the real deal... but both really add to the Capone mythos.

Worf

 

• May 8, 2017

• #11

green papaya

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I found the AL CAPONE with Rod Steiger (1959) version on DVD at a local music store marked down to $5.99 still factory sealed.

Yes, I agree, Steiger does a excellent job of "SCAR FACE" AL CAPONE , they picked the right actor to play the part , at the end he died after serving 7 years in Federal Prison from disease, his mind was gone.

Rod Steiger also looked more like Capone.

 

Last edited: May 8, 2017

• May 8, 2017

• #12

AdeeC

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Worf said:

Agreed but I think Paul Muni's "Scarface" (1932) is closer to the real deal... but both really add to the Capone mythos.

Worf

Click to expand...

Yes SCARFACE is excellent and certainly based on Capone. I believe Edward G Robinson was deliberately chosen by Warner's for his role in LITTLE CEASER because he did resemble Capone but had to make it fictional as Capone then a notorious public figure but still a free man and convicted of nothing. Made Robinson into a star.

 

Last edited: May 9, 2017

• May 9, 2017

• #13

emigran

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Doctor Strange said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Capone#Film_and_television

Though he wasn't a close physical match, I enjoyed Stephan Graham in Boardwalk Empire... Though it's not really fair to compare a TV series that ran for years with individual feature films: the added time in a series allows for lots more character development.

Click to expand...

I was just gonna say...