Billy Bathgate (1991)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Robert Benton

Writers (WGA):

E.L. Doctorow (book)
Tom Stoppard (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 November 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

A seductive look at a notorious gangster's dazzling and decadent empire about to crumble.

Plot:

In the 1935, fifteen year old street hustler Billy Bathgate becomes the protege of fledgling gangster Dutch Schultz and begins a love affair with a flighty moll.

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Box Office Flop | Nudity | Red Pubic Hair | Erotica

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Dutch Schultz
Nicole Kidman	...	Drew Preston
Loren Dean	...	Billy Bathgate
Bruce Willis	...	Bo Weinberg
Steven Hill	...	Otto Berman
Steve Buscemi	...	Irving
Billy Jaye	...	Mickey
John Costelloe	...	Lulu
Timothy Jerome	...	Dixie Davis (as Tim Jerome)
Stanley Tucci	...	Lucky Luciano
Mike Starr	...	Julie Martin
Robert F. Colesberry	...	Jack Kelly
Stephen Joyce	...	Mr. Hines
Frances Conroy	...	Mary Behan
Moira Kelly	...	Becky

MPAA:

Rated R for some gangster violence, and for language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Durham, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

To date, remains one of the most accurate recreations of the Chophouse Massacre that took the life of Arthur "Dutch Schultz" Fleggenheimer and several of his men.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Billy and Becky are first seen on the roof in long shot she is exhaling smoke; in the close-up immediately after, she doesn't have a cigarette.

Quotes:

Drew Preston: I'm not his girl, he's my gangster.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Attack of the Giant Leeches (#5.6)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

The Mule Walk

Hoffman Rules!

This film had some problems, but is still underrated. Hoffman is intense and frightening as Dutch Schultz and I can't believe he wasn't nominated for this. The lead kid, Loren Dean, simply has no acting talent whatsoever. Nicole Kidman is fetching as the spoiled, rich girl and Steven Hill is excellent. Robert Benton is a wonderful filmmaker and I rate this a 7 out of 10.

The novel is better than this, but there are wonderful scenes and even Bruce Willis is believable for the only time other than Pulp Fiction. I can't believe this bombed as it did, but I think in the future people will give a higher rating than they did at the time. One of Hoffman's best performances along with Midnight Cowboy and Straight Time.