Murder, Inc. (1960)

The rise and fall of a 1930's Brooklyn crime syndicate, known as Murder Incorporated, led by mobster Lepke Buchalter.

Directors:

Burt Balaban, Stuart Rosenberg

Writers:

Irve Tunick (screenplay), Mel Barr (screenplay)

Stars:

Stuart Whitman, May Britt, Henry Morgan

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stuart Whitman	...	Joey Collins
May Britt	...	Eadie Collins
Henry Morgan	...	Burton Turkus
Peter Falk	...	Abe Reles
David J. Stewart	...	Louis 'Lepke' Buchalter
Simon Oakland	...	Det. Sgt. William Tobin
Sarah Vaughan	...	Singer
Morey Amsterdam	...	Walter Sage
Eli Mintz	...	Joe Rosen
Joseph Bernard	...	Mendy Weiss
Warren Finnerty	...	Bug Workman
Vincent Gardenia	...	Lazlo
Helen Waters	...	Mrs. Corsi
Leon B. Stevens	...	Loughran
Howard Smith	...	Albert Anastasia (as Howard I. Smith)

Storyline

Based on the true-life book of lawman Burton Turkus, this movie chronicles the rise and fall of the organized crime syndicate known as Murder, Incorporated. Focusing on powerful boss Lepke and violent hitman Reles.

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Plot Keywords:

organized crime | crime boss | new york city | brooklyn new york city | star witness | 

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Taglines:

The Super-Corporation of Crime!

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 1960 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Asesinato S.A.

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Princess Production Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 99 min (FMC Library Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

An even more fictionalized version of the same events and time period, and told from the point of view of the prosecuting attorney, the 1951 film, The Enforcer (1951), starred Humphrey Bogart and Zero Mostel, was released in the U.K. under the title Murder, Inc.

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Goofs

When Joey and Abe are being kept under wraps by the police in a hotel awaiting their trial, the camera shows the exterior window of Joey's room first (on the left) then pans right to show the exterior of Abe's room (to the right of Joey's). Shortly thereafter, when Turkus walks down the hall from Abe's room to Joey's room, it becomes apparent that the configuration is just the opposite. As the drama transpires, it's confirmed that Abe's room was indeed the one on the left.

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Quotes

Abe "Kid Twist" Reles: Hey, Joe, c'mon in, we've been waitin' for you.
[Reles lets Joey Collins into the luxury apartment he has been using]
Joey Collins: Eadie, I'd like to talk to you.
[to his wife sitting in the living room]
Abe "Kid Twist" Reles: Hey, Joe, listen, Joe, I was just telling Eadie, that you know, you're both friends of mine and I like ya, what I'd like to do is I'd like for you and Eadie to have this apartment.
Joey Collins: We don't want it.
Abe "Kid Twist" Reles: What do you mean, you don't want it?
Joey Collins: Well, just what I said.
Abe "Kid Twist" Reles: Well, maybe, Eadie wants it.
Joey Collins: Well, she doesn't.
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Hilde (2009)

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Soundtracks

Fan My Brow
Written by George David Weiss (as George Weiss)
Performed by Sarah Vaughan

User Reviews

30's mobsters stop at nothing to keep business running smoothly

Crime czar uses contract killers to take out those who would undermine his organization. The unfeeling crime boss, Lemke, who constantly complained about his stomach problems, and his blindly loyal enforcer, Mendy, were frightening in their deadly lust for power. Peter Falk's portrayal of the psychotic Reles was chilling with his murderous, take what you can attitude. This was a gritty look at the New York underworld during the depression. The ending was a tad abrupt, but overall this was a pretty good film.