Although New World Pictures took up the bulk of Roger Corman’s attention during the 70s, he still produced films for other companies, such as AIP and 20th Centry Fox. This was one he made for Fox, for whom he also did Fighting Mad and, several years early, the St Valentine’s Day Massacre. Perhaps that it what prompted this production – it meant Corman could use the same writer of the latter film (Harold Browne) plus some footage.
There’s a good cast - Ben Gazzara is Capone; Harry Guardino plays his mentor Johnny Tonio, Gazzara’s great mate John Cassavetes is Frankie Yale; Sly Stallone (very effective) is Frank Nitti; Dick Miller is a corrupt cop. It’s very blokey for Corman – the only sizeable female part is Susan Blakely as a gangster's moll. (This is doubly surprising when one considers Corman and director Steve Carver enjoyed such success with girl gangsters on Big Bad Mama).
You do wish Cassavetes’ part was bigger. At first I also wished that Cassavetes was playing Gazzara’s role – he had a madder glint in his eye, more humour – but I found Gazzara grew into it. And chubby cheeked Gazzara looked closer to the real Capone.
The main problem with this film was that it felt too familiar. The Capone story is well known from Scarface and its impersonators– cocky kid, violent, becomes right hand to another gangster, get involves with a major crime war, comes out on top, etc. Although here Capone is called Capone, it doesn’t feel any more real – just like a movie made by people who have watched a lot of old gangster films.
There’s a little swearing, blood and nudity (some from Blakely), but take away that and it could have easily been made in the 1930s – and you’d have had taunter handling too.
There are some interesting touches – like use of red frames to segue between scenes, and Sylvester Stallone as a seemingly loyal but actually treacherous Nitti (according to the film he’s the one who gives the Feds info for tax evasion.) But ultimately it's flat and not very good.
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