A two part episode for Westinghouse Desliu Playhouse this cost a lot and was cut together to make a feature film. It is very handsome for a 50s TV production - Desi Arnaz deficit financed to give it extra production value - there's plenty of extras, and shoot outs.
You've got crisp black and white photography, Phil Karlson's decent direction, Walter Winchell's staccato delivery narrating it, a striking sense of cynicism (it's constantly reinforced how apathetic the public are).
I was struck at the story similarities to the 1987 film version - Ness and Capone barely meet, Ness has a polite nice love interest (Pat Crowley), Ness has an ethnic sidekick cop whose death is the end of act two, the opening bit is a raid ruined by corruption, a slimy official tries to bribe Ness in his office.
It's not as good as the later film - less poetic and moving - but it works on its own terms. Most of the Untouchables are indistinguishable except for Wynn with his vaguely comic accent. It has the pleasures of late 50s gangster tales - well done studio settings, tough actors spitting out dialogue, violence, character actors playing weasel informants and strippers.
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