Ruby (1992)

An exploration of certain conspiracy theories surrounding the JFK assassination from Jack Ruby's perspective. Ruby owns a run-down strip club in Dallas, and does what he can for credibility... See full summary »

Director:

John Mackenzie

Writers:

Stephen Davis (play), Stephen Davis (screenplay)

Stars:

Danny Aiello, Sherilyn Fenn, Tobin Bell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Danny Aiello	...	Jack Ruby
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Sheryl Ann DuJean / Candy Cane
Tobin Bell	...	David Ferrie
Joe Cortese	...	Louie Vitali
David Duchovny	...	Officer Tippit
Richard C. Sarafian	...	Proby (as Richard Sarafian)
Leonard Termo	...	Tony Ana
Arliss Howard	...	Maxwell
Carmine Caridi	...	Sam Giancana
Marc Lawrence	...	Santos Alicante
John Roselius	...	Detective Smalls
Joe Viterelli	...	Joseph Valachi
Frank Orsatti	...	Action Jackson
Jeffrey Nordling	...	Hank
Veronica Hart	...	Telephone Trixie (as Jane Hamilton)

Storyline

An exploration of certain conspiracy theories surrounding the JFK assassination from Jack Ruby's perspective. Ruby owns a run-down strip club in Dallas, and does what he can for credibility, both by giving information to the FBI and by doing the odd favor for his mafia contacts. When hitman Action Jackson is hit, Louie Vitali asks him to help get crime boss Santos out of a Cuban jail. When they get back, the bosses take his headliner Candy Cane under their wing to develop her career in Vegas. A mysterious government man named Maxwell expresses his displeasure to Ruby over his Cuban activities. Slowly all the pieces of a massive conspiracy begin to emerge to Ruby, who can do nothing to stop it.

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Plot Keywords:

conspiracy | mafia | looking at one's self in a mirror | government corruption | political cover up | 

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Taglines:

The incredible story of the man who shot Lee Harvey Oswald

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

UK USA Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 March 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jack Ruby - Im Netz der Mafia

Filming Locations:

Palm Springs, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$919,286 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kuzui Enterprises, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Propaganda Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 95 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bob Hoskins was originally signed to play Jack Ruby but filming delays meant that he had to report for duty on the set of Hook (1991).

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Goofs

A title card tells us it's 1962. A few scenes later, Ruby watches Joe Valachi on TV testifying about the Mafia before Senator John L. McClellan's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The hearings took place in September, 1963.

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Quotes

Jack Ruby: [In Cuba] What do you think of Cuba?
Sheryl Ann DuJean: Mmmm... I think it's gonna be swell when they get it finished.

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Connections

Referenced in London (1994)

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Soundtracks

AMAZING GRACE
Traditional
Performed by Judy Collins
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment
By arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Since The Federal Government Classifies It As Entertainment, So Does He!

Jack Ruby was an individual that epitomized the plight of someone who became perpetually victimized by his environment. Growing up in a tough and tumble south side neighborhood in Chicago, Jack Ruby had to earn everything the hard way! His testosterone driven theatrics were always justified under the belligerent premise that he loathed and excoriated all caitiff behavior and mannerisms which lurked in his threatened existence! Actor, Danny Aiello, was extremely well suited to the role of Jack Ruby. Desultarily assembled and jagged around the edges, Aiello portrayed the role of the disgruntled owner of the Dallas strip club lounge, Jack Ruby, with an absolutely powerful and well articulated perfection. The mindset of Jack Ruby was one in which he had an emblematic adoration of John F. Kennedy. Ruby was keenly aware of the fact that the assassination of Kennedy was a conspiracy! Knowing this, Ruby's conception of the entire fiasco was one whereby he felt that it was incumbent upon him to implement a simple eye for an eye endeavor of vigilante justice. This being Ruby's objective, Lee Harvey Oswald became his prime target! Love, lust, collusion, money, violence, and organized crime were elements in Ruby's life that ended up becoming a lethally inconclusive and ephemeral obsession with him! Nothing ever made sense in Jack Ruby's world, and, as a result, his adversarial circumstances made him respond accordingly! The intensity with which this film depicts Ruby's rudimentary defense mechanisms, wound up being incredibly thought provoking. Jack Ruby's life became one big tenet for convoluted sensationalism; Killing John F Kennedy and killing Lee Harvey Oswald, were actions which were induced by the prevailing agitation which emanated from the megalomania cal underworld! All in all, the intertwining integral facets of implication in this aggregate potpourri of political tumultuousness for all of this violence, eventually collaborated as a scenario for situational pandemonium. This politically high profile charade brought about a pejorative pique for a bevy of fame famished reprobates to thrive on. Throughout history, this has always been the nefarious scourge; Who was John Wilkes Booth? Who was Lee Harvey Oswald? Who was Sirhan Sirhan? And, of course, it goes without saying; Who was Jack Ruby? What made them famous? The heinous ordeal of murdering, or being related to the murder of a highly prominent political leader, has given all of these men an indelibly dreadful notoriety! The film "Ruby" authenticates the prevailing rancor during the Kennedy assassination escapades in a very scathing, yet poignant manner! The aspects to the Dallas strip club paradigm during the early 1960's was something which the directors and producers of this film executed flawlessly! Films which are candidly cogent about genuinely dire reactions tend to garner my favor far more readily than a high budget Hollywood bombshell flick with a myriad of special effects. The film "Ruby" is a one of a kind diamond in the rough which manifests an unpleasant amelioration concerning the vicious circle of assassinations during the Kennedy era. This movie did not just simply depict the occurrences pertaining to John F. Kennedy's and Lee Harvey Oswald's assassination, they also encompassed the visceral and motivational depravity behind these occurrences as well! Ultimately, cerebral vindication amongst many felonious misfits, as well as people who dealt with these sordid walks of life, became the intellectually diabolical villain which vitiated any respect which these people should have had for law and order in our American system of democracy! Having been to Dallas many times, the historical correlation this film makes to this city is very fascinating! The strip club which Jack Ruby owned is located in one of the nicest hotels in downtown Dallas! As a matter of fact, what was once Jack Ruby's strip club, is now a sports bar, that is somewhat amusing, isn't it? The assassination of John F. Kennedy, and the demented wiles associated with it, all have the dubious distinction of putting Dallas on the map for political terrorism! This movie is covertly compelling, and, I would recommend to any history buff, as well as all movie viewers, that they should see this film whenever they possibly can. "Ruby" is a difficult movie to find, and, it may only be available on video cassette, as in the thing you put in a -VCR- -YES, THAT ANTEQUATED MONSTER!!- Nevertheless, people should try to get a hold of it and view the movie, mostly on account of the fact that the film "Ruby" is very insightful and emotionally innovative! I give it a definite and resounding thumbs up!