With each passing year fewer and fewer of us have distinct
memories of shows long gone. Those classic television programs seem quaint by
today’s standards as we witness more and more shows injecting sex and extreme
violence into the mix. But there was a time when shows didn’t rely on those to
get the point across, to tell a story. They seem simple now after all this time
but that doesn’t take away their entertainment value.
The film as presented here was first shown as a two part
episode of the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse. What is available here is a
compilation of those two episodes into one seamless feature length film.
Included are the introductions from the original airings done by both Desi
Arnaz and Walter Winchell.
For those who aren’t as old as I am and unaware of the story
behind it all THE UNTOUCHABLES was a series based on the work of federal agent
Elliott Ness who worked in the Chicago area trying to take down the mob during
prohibition. Each week he and his crew of “untouchables”, so named because they
were honest cops who refused to take bribes, would face off against the
gangsters of the day in different situations.
THE SCARFACE MOB tells the story of Ness (Robert Stack) and
his team taking on the worst of the worst, Al Capone (Neville Brand). When the
movie opens Capone is serving time for a minor infraction and his mob is left
under the control of right hand man Frank Nitti (Bruce Gordon). They’ve got a
good business going and are easily able to thwart the efforts of Ness to put an
end to their illegal liquor operation thanks to the amount of corruption going
on in Chicago at the time.
Ness discusses the situation with his superior and is given
the go ahead to create a new team, a collection of specially trained officers
who have a deep respect for the law and little chance of being corrupted. Among
those officers is an ex-con who knows the ropes, Joe Fuselli (Keenan Wynn).
Rather than be frowned upon the team welcomes him with open arms, using his
knowledge of how the mob works as well as his links to the neighborhood where
they operate. Soon the team is making headway and putting a hurt on the mob’s
operations.
When Capone returns from prison (in what would have been the
second episode) he rages at what’s gone on. He sets out to destroy Ness and his
team, going so far as to threaten Ness’ fiancé. Of course all this does is
increase the determination of the team who continue to put the screws to Capone
and his mob. But in the end only one group will win the fight.
This two part program led to the series being picked up and
running from 1959 to 1963. It made a star out of Stack. It was also one of the
first times a show or movie actually named the mafia as the main criminal force
to contend with. Sure movies from the 30s mentioned gangsters but rarely
discussed the organizations behind them, making it seem more like random mobs
than an organized effort.
The black and white story of good versus bad may seem far
too simple to wrap a show around but it does it and does so with skill. The
acting is a tad broad by today’s standards but still every person on screen
does a fantastic job. It offers a solid bit of entertainment that stands the
test of time. For many like myself it presents a bit of nostalgia as well, a
chance to see something we grew up with and enjoyed both when first aired and
later in syndication. Not all shows can do that, but this one did. And to see
those first two episodes edited together like this is a treat for fans.
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