The Verne Miller Story (1987)

Upon his release from prison, Verne Miller works his way into Al Capone's organization. He becomes a top assassin and earns Capone's trust. Miller's failing health and an oversized ego get ... See full summary »

Director:

Rod Hewitt

Writer:

Rod Hewitt

Stars:

Scott Glenn, Barbara Stock, Thomas G. Waites

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Scott Glenn	...	Verne Miller
Barbara Stock	...	Vi Miles
Thomas G. Waites	...	Al Capone
Lucinda Jenney	...	Bobby
Sonny Carl David	...	Frank 'Baldy' Nash
Diane Salinger	...	Mortician's Wife
Ed O'Ross	...	Ralph Capone
Vyto Ruginis	...	Fitzsimmons
Andrew Robinson	...	Pretty Boy Floyd
Xander Berkeley	...	Cardogan
Joseph Carberry	...	Hymie Ross
Richard Bright	...	Adam Richetti
Gil Boccaccio	...	Hoptood Guinto
Kathy Brynner	...	First Maid
Antonia Dauphin	...	Teacher

Storyline

Upon his release from prison, Verne Miller works his way into Al Capone's organization. He becomes a top assassin and earns Capone's trust. Miller's failing health and an oversized ego get him into trouble with the law and Capone. His only true friends are two women -- a lover and a nurse.

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Plot Keywords:

mafia | syphilis | independent film | character name in title

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 June 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gangland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alive Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the opening scene Verne shoots his initials into the side of a car getting 18 shots out of two revolvers.

User Reviews

Very unusual "gangster" biography

I'm posting this quite some time after the other two people, but I've always been attached to this one, and saw it again last night. As with so many gangster / bank robber biopics, I couldn't really care less how much of this film is the truth. I do care about whether it's entertaining, and it is. I have to agree with "Helen" about several things, especially that remark, "Any more attitude and it would have become camp." Because it DOES know when to stop. Many times, it has an "arty" look, almost like (at the risk of labeling things) an early ' 70s film instead of one from ' 87. There's the mannequin scene, the house of prostitution scene, with Al Capone looking sadly at all the women in their costumes, the carnival scenes, all very strange ones. And the comical scenes, like Ralph Capone (I can't think of the actor's name) "pantsing" the man who came directly from Herbert Hoover! I know nothing about him in real life, but he seemed almost modeled on Fredo Corleone, because he's the older brother who gets the younger brother upset. I think Scott Glenn, Andrew Robinson and all the other actors, and the story, came together very well.