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:

true crime | stabbing | hitting a woman | face slapping | habeas corpus | 

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Taglines:

The Most Notorious Killers-for-Hire in History!

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stuart Rosenberg was originally hired to direct the movie. Because of a Screen Actors Guild strike, which occurred from March 7-April 18, 1960, Rosenberg left the project and was replaced by the film's producer Burt Balaban.

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Goofs

Joe and Eadie Collins and their story are fictional. The key witness against Lepke after Reles' death was fellow mobster Allie Tannenbaum.

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Quotes

Joey Collins: Why'd you do it? Why did you kill him?
Abe "Kid Twist" Reles: He had bad breath.

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Connections

Referenced in Hilde (2009)

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Soundtracks

The Awakening
Written by George David Weiss (as George Weiss)
Performed by Sarah Vaughan

User Reviews

Falk as Abe Reles

I remember watching this movie on TV with my father in the mid-60s when I was about 10 years old.

When Peter Falk was on the screen, my father said that when he was about my age (in the early 1930s), he used to set pins in a bowling alley in Brooklyn, and the real Abe Reles bowled there nearly every day.

I recall what a mad dog that Falk portrayed and how it chilled me that my dad set pins for him.

I will be on the lookout for this movie again, so I can piece it all back together again.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 1960 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Murder, Inc.

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