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| narrator =
| narrator =
| starring = [[Robert Stack]]
| starring = [[Robert Stack]]
| music =
| music = Wilbur Hatch
| cinematography =
| cinematography = Charles Straumer
| editing =
| editing = Robert L. Swanson
| studio =
| studio = Desilu Productions
| distributor =
| distributor =
| released = 1962
| released = 1959 (UK)<br>1962 (US)
| runtime =
| runtime = 100 mins
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| budget = $400,000<ref name="wall">{{cite news|newspaper=Movies' New Role: More Producers Turn To TV Films to Offset Drop in Theater-Going How Desilu Builds Profits; Barbara Stanwyck, Betty Hutton Make Switch Taking a Flyer on Pilots Movies' New Role: More Producers Turn Out Films for Television|first=Thomas W.|last=Bush|newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=7 July 1959|page= 1}}</ref>
| budget =
| gross =
| gross =
| preceded_by =
| preceded_by =
Line 27: Line 27:
}}
}}


'''''The Scarface Mob''''' is an American feature film directed by [[Phil Karlson]] and starring [[Robert Stack]]. It consists of the pilot episodes for the TV series ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'' (1959) that originally screened as a two-part installment of ''[[Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse]]'' in April 1959. The episodes were cut together and released in 1962.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=9 May 2017 |title=The Scarface Mob |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Untouchables-The-Scarface-Mob/23277 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512030733/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Untouchables-The-Scarface-Mob/23277 |archive-date=12 May 2017 |publisher=TV Shows on DVD |access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref>
'''''The Scarface Mob''''' is an American feature film directed by [[Phil Karlson]] and starring [[Robert Stack]]. It consists of the pilot episodes for the TV series ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'' (1959) that originally screened as a two-part installment of ''[[Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse]]'' on April 20 and 27 1959. The episodes were cut together and released theatrically as a stand-alone feature outside America in 1959 and inside the US in 1962.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |date=9 May 2017 |title=The Scarface Mob |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Untouchables-The-Scarface-Mob/23277 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512030733/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Untouchables-The-Scarface-Mob/23277 |archive-date=12 May 2017 |publisher=TV Shows on DVD |access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref><ref>SCARFACE MOB, The
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 27, Iss. 312, (Jan 1, 1960): 39. </ref>


==Premise==
==Premise==
In 1929 Chicago, Federal investigator Eliot Ness struggles to in the fight against [[Al Capone]]. He decides to form a special team of reliable, dedicated, honest law enforcement officers.
A team of Federal investigators goes after [[Al Capone]].


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 45: Line 46:
*Robert Osterloh as Tom Kopka
*Robert Osterloh as Tom Kopka
*Paul Dubov as Jack Rossman
*Paul Dubov as Jack Rossman
==Production==
There were a number of stories set in this area on film and TV at the time, including ''[[Seven Against the Wall]]'' on ''[[Playhouse 90]]'' and the film ''[[Al Capone (1959 film)|Al Capone]]'' (1959).


[[Desi Arnaz]] optioned the rights to Eliot Ness' book about fighting Al Capone and decided to turn it into a two-part episode of ''Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse'' under the title of "The Untouchables". It was always intended to be released theatrically in Europe.<ref>THE TV SCENE---: It Takes Blood, Sweat and Beer
Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 20 Apr 1959: A12. </ref> ''Westinghouse'' paid $200,000 for the episodes but they cost $400,000. Arnaz was willing to risk the short fall in order to get greater production values and highly regarded cast like Robert Stack and Neville Brand.<ref name="wall"/>
==Reception==
Reviewing part one, the ''New York Times'' said "while it was not superlative drama or a novel theme, it held the interest. Whether it will be worth two chapters remains to be seen."<ref>Two-Part Study of Al Capone Begins
Shepard, Richard F. New York Times 21 Apr 1959: 7</ref>

The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "a harsh and ugly slab of violence , expertly done with the true metal of history."<ref>THE TV SCENE---: Capone Story Has Ring of History
Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 27 Apr 1959: A10. </ref>

The ''New York Times'', reviewing part two, praised the quality of the production design.<ref>TV: The End of Capone: Final Installment of Mobster's Story Presented on 'Desilu Playhouse'
By JACK GOULD. New York Times 28 Apr 1959: 71. </ref>

Four days after the series aired, the ABC network offered Desilu $3,620,000 to make 32 episodes of a series about The Untouchables. ABC held 35%, Desilu 35% and the rest was held by Stack and other outside interests.<ref name="wall"/>
==''The Big Train''==
Neville Brand later reprised his role as Capone in "The Big Train" a two part episode of ''The Untouchables''.

The two episodes were cut together and released theatrically as ''Alcatraz Express''.
===Plot===
Al Capone is about to be sent to prison in Atlanta on a tax-evasion charge. Elliot Ness insists that Capone be taken by train to San Francisco. Capone tries to escape while on board.
===Reception===
Reviewing the original episodes, the ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "about the slickest two hours of warfare ever shown on the tube."<ref>Big Al Loses as Ness Bags Another Big Winner
Page, Don. Los Angeles Times 13 Jan 1961: A7. </ref>
==''The Unhired Assassin''==
''The Unhired Assassin'' was another two-part episode of ''The Untouchtables'' that was released theatrically, this time under the title ''The Gun of Zangara''. It focused on [[Giuseppe Zangara]]'s attempted assassination of [[Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt]].<ref>THE TV SCENE---: Hitler to Be Seen in a New Light
Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 25 Feb 1960: A10. </ref>

The project as a labor of love for writer [[Bill Spier]].<ref>{{cite news|title=THE TV SCENE---: Assassin's Attempt on F.D.R. to Be Re-lived Ironic Tale of Florida Shooting on Untouchables The Untouchables Will Re-Live Grim History|last=Smith|first= Cecil|newspaper= Los Angeles Times |date=21 Feb 1960|page= J5}} </ref>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
Line 51: Line 81:
==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0056449}}
*{{IMDb title|0056449}}
*[https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b523940 The Scarface Mob] at BFI
*[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/89194/The-Scarface-Mob/ ''The Scarface Mob''] at [[TCMDB]]
*[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/89194/The-Scarface-Mob/ ''The Scarface Mob''] at [[TCMDB]]
*[https://tv.avclub.com/the-violent-legend-of-eliot-ness-and-al-capone-1798240893 Review] at AV Club
*[https://tv.avclub.com/the-violent-legend-of-eliot-ness-and-al-capone-1798240893 Review] at AV Club
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0737788/ The Big Train Part 1] at [[IMDB]]
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0737789/ The Big Train Part 2] at [[IMDB]]
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0270824/ The Alcatrax Express] at [[IMDB]]
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311238/ Gun of Zangara] at [[IMDB]]
{{Phil Karlson}}
{{Phil Karlson}}


Revision as of 06:11, 10 January 2020

The Scarface Mob
Directed byPhil Karlson
Written byPaul Monash
Produced byQuinn Martin
StarringRobert Stack
CinematographyCharles Straumer
Edited byRobert L. Swanson
Music byWilbur Hatch
Production
company
Desilu Productions
Release dates
1959 (UK)
1962 (US)
Running time
100 mins
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$400,000[1]

The Scarface Mob is an American feature film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Robert Stack. It consists of the pilot episodes for the TV series The Untouchables (1959) that originally screened as a two-part installment of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse on April 20 and 27 1959. The episodes were cut together and released theatrically as a stand-alone feature outside America in 1959 and inside the US in 1962.[2][3]

Premise

In 1929 Chicago, Federal investigator Eliot Ness struggles to in the fight against Al Capone. He decides to form a special team of reliable, dedicated, honest law enforcement officers.

Cast

Production

There were a number of stories set in this area on film and TV at the time, including Seven Against the Wall on Playhouse 90 and the film Al Capone (1959).

Desi Arnaz optioned the rights to Eliot Ness' book about fighting Al Capone and decided to turn it into a two-part episode of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse under the title of "The Untouchables". It was always intended to be released theatrically in Europe.[4] Westinghouse paid $200,000 for the episodes but they cost $400,000. Arnaz was willing to risk the short fall in order to get greater production values and highly regarded cast like Robert Stack and Neville Brand.[1]

Reception

Reviewing part one, the New York Times said "while it was not superlative drama or a novel theme, it held the interest. Whether it will be worth two chapters remains to be seen."[5]

The Los Angeles Times called it "a harsh and ugly slab of violence , expertly done with the true metal of history."[6]

The New York Times, reviewing part two, praised the quality of the production design.[7]

Four days after the series aired, the ABC network offered Desilu $3,620,000 to make 32 episodes of a series about The Untouchables. ABC held 35%, Desilu 35% and the rest was held by Stack and other outside interests.[1]

The Big Train

Neville Brand later reprised his role as Capone in "The Big Train" a two part episode of The Untouchables.

The two episodes were cut together and released theatrically as Alcatraz Express.

Plot

Al Capone is about to be sent to prison in Atlanta on a tax-evasion charge. Elliot Ness insists that Capone be taken by train to San Francisco. Capone tries to escape while on board.

Reception

Reviewing the original episodes, the Los Angeles Times called it "about the slickest two hours of warfare ever shown on the tube."[8]

The Unhired Assassin

The Unhired Assassin was another two-part episode of The Untouchtables that was released theatrically, this time under the title The Gun of Zangara. It focused on Giuseppe Zangara's attempted assassination of Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt.[9]

The project as a labor of love for writer Bill Spier.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Bush, Thomas W. (7 July 1959). Wall Street Journal. p. 1. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ Lambert, David (9 May 2017). "The Scarface Mob". TV Shows on DVD. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  3. ^ SCARFACE MOB, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 27, Iss. 312, (Jan 1, 1960): 39.
  4. ^ THE TV SCENE---: It Takes Blood, Sweat and Beer Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 20 Apr 1959: A12.
  5. ^ Two-Part Study of Al Capone Begins Shepard, Richard F. New York Times 21 Apr 1959: 7
  6. ^ THE TV SCENE---: Capone Story Has Ring of History Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 27 Apr 1959: A10.
  7. ^ TV: The End of Capone: Final Installment of Mobster's Story Presented on 'Desilu Playhouse' By JACK GOULD. New York Times 28 Apr 1959: 71.
  8. ^ Big Al Loses as Ness Bags Another Big Winner Page, Don. Los Angeles Times 13 Jan 1961: A7.
  9. ^ THE TV SCENE---: Hitler to Be Seen in a New Light Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 25 Feb 1960: A10.
  10. ^ Smith, Cecil (21 Feb 1960). "THE TV SCENE---: Assassin's Attempt on F.D.R. to Be Re-lived Ironic Tale of Florida Shooting on Untouchables The Untouchables Will Re-Live Grim History". Los Angeles Times. p. J5.

External links


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