Cast: Jason Robards, George Segal, Ralph Meeker, Jack Nicholson (uncredited)
I'm reviewing this film not just because of Jack Nicholson's cameo appearance, but because this is, in my opinion, the greatest gangster film of all time. In my opinion, the last great gangster film before The Untouchables, which was the absolute last.
THE PLOT: It's basically the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Everyone in the film is based on the actual people that helped--and hindered--Al Capone in his slaughter of Bugs Moran's Irish North Side gang. I used to be really into this stuff, so of course I know all about this stuff, but I'll tell you anyway.
On February 14, 1929, hit men from Al Capone's (Jason Robards) South Side gang in Chicago are hired buy Vincenzo Gibaldi (alias "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn, played by Clint Richie) to kill George "Bugs" Moran (Ralph Meeker). The plan was that the hit men would enter the SMC Cartage warehouse on North Clark Street with two of the shooters disguised as policemen, and the others wearing suits and ties and overcoats. Once they had cornered the seven men against the wall, the "cops" opened fire, killing the seven in a pool of blood.
THE REVIEW: This movie is SOO COOL!!! The narration by Paul Frees adds to the realistic value that this film has. It really is brilliant, and everyone does a superb job of acting, although Jason Robards kind of reminds me of Dracula when he confronts Giuseppi (Joe) Aiello (Alexander D'Arcy), what with all the hissing noises. Even Jack Nicholson's cameo is superb. I didn't know he could pull off such a good raspy voice! Well, he IS from New York, after all...but he's Irish...oh, well.
I give this film 5 out of 5. It's such a real gangster film, and while it seems way ahead of its time, it brings back the spirit of the gangster films of the 1930s extremely well.
All parts are on YouTube. I will post them here. Enjoy! :)
^Jack's cameo is in this part starting at 2:55.
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