Boardwalk Empire (2010– )

Chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson, the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City, who was equal parts politician and gangster.

Creator:

Terence Winter

Stars:

Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 37 wins & 63 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Steve Buscemi	...	Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Kelly Macdonald	...	Margaret Schroeder (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Michael Shannon	...	Agent Nelson Van Alden (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Shea Whigham	...	Elias 'Eli' Thompson (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Michael Stuhlbarg	...	Arnold Rothstein (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Stephen Graham	...	Al Capone (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Vincent Piazza	...	Lucky Luciano (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Michael Kenneth Williams	...	Chalky White (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Anthony Laciura	...	Eddie Kessler (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Paul Sparks	...	Mickey Doyle (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Gretchen Mol	...	Gillian Darmody (33 episodes, 2010-2012)
Jack Huston	...	Richard Harrow (29 episodes, 2010-2012)
Lucy Gallina	...	Emily Schroeder (27 episodes, 2010-2012)
Josie Gallina	...	Emily Schroeder (27 episodes, 2010-2012)
Declan McTigue	...	Teddy Schroeder (26 episodes, 2010-2012)
Rory McTigue	...	Teddy Schroeder (26 episodes, 2010-2012)
Michael Pitt	...	James 'Jimmy' Darmody (24 episodes, 2010-2011)
Aleksa Palladino	...	Angela Darmody (24 episodes, 2010-2011)
Paz de la Huerta	...	Lucy Danziger (24 episodes, 2010-2011)
Dabney Coleman	...	Commodore Louis Kaestner (24 episodes, 2010-2011)
Brady Noon	...	Tommy Darmody (24 episodes, 2010-2012)
Connor Noon	...	Tommy Darmody (24 episodes, 2010-2012)
Charlie Cox	...	Owen Slater (23 episodes, 2011-2012)
Anatol Yusef	...	Meyer Lansky (22 episodes, 2010-2012)
Victor Verhaeghe	...	Ward Boss Fleming (20 episodes, 2010-2012)
Robert Clohessy	...	Ward Boss Neary (17 episodes, 2010-2011)
Kevin O'Rourke	...	Edward Bader (17 episodes, 2010-2012)

Storyline

Set in the Prohibition era of the 1920s Boardwalk Empire is the story of Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the treasurer of Atlantic County, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Due to his relationships with mobsters as well as political contacts, the Federal Government start to take an interest in him. His lavish lifestyle seems at odds with his position, and as well as his connections, there is prolific bootlegging in the area.

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Plot Keywords:

politician | atlantic city new jersey | gangster | boardwalk | 1920s | 

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Taglines:

Atlantic City, 1920. When alcohol was outlawed, outlaws became kings.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

HBO [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Boardwalk Empire - Gengszterkorzó

Filming Locations:

Catalpa Avenue, Ridgewood, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Leverage Management, Closest to the Hole Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

The age difference between Gretchen Mol and Michael Pitt, who play mother and son, is nine years. (Mol's character is portrayed as having become a mother at the age of 13.)

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Goofs

Al Capone's son, Sonny, is portrayed as being entirely deaf at the age of 2 years. In real life Sonny contracted an infection that only left him partially deaf and only did so at the age of 7. However, this series is intended to be fictional, but based on real life events. Factual inaccuracies are therefore not considered goofs.

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Quotes

Al Capone: [after killing a few enemies] Well I got that out of my system!
Chalky White: You and me both.

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Connections

Referenced in Chelsea Lately: Episode #6.178 (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Straight Up and Down"
Written by Anton Newcombe
Performed by The Brian Jonestown Massacre

User Reviews

The best show on small screen since the last best show on HBO

The show doesn't need any introduction and neither does the cast. It encompasses a generation where the political landscape is much the same as today but it is laced with more violence, sexism and corruption and in the midst is a thriving business of illegal alcohol.

A new standard is set with the storytelling, cinematography, elaborate sets on the shores of Brooklyn, carefully chosen custom tailored clothes and costumes that match the opulent lifestyles of the characters. The occasional inserts of magazines, books, manuals; all in their original form, which not only gives originality (to the show) for the era that is being depicted but also takes you back in time into the deeply woven lives of characters like Mrs Schroeder, Nucky, Eli, Nelson and my personal favorite character Mr. Kessler.

A barrage of other prominent real life characters like Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Liciano, Al Capone, (Jimmy Darmody?), Johnny Torrio, Senators, Congressmen, President and VP contenders make the show complete and give it a political as well as a mob dimension.

Much of what is in the show is based on true events and a cursory search on Wikipedia on some of the famous characters validates it. This is what makes this brilliant show dark just like it's setting - theme song with clouds over Atlantic city.

One of the less talked about part of the show perhaps are the melodious songs that the producers/writers have decided for the background score. The songs fill up the environment with melancholy just like much of the show and leaves us eagerly waiting for the next episode.

Any less than ten stars for the show would only reflect lack of fine taste.