The story of flamboyant Prohibition-era gangster, gambler and bootlegger Arnold Rothstein.
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Title: King of the Roaring 20's: The Story of Arnold Rothstein (1961)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| David Janssen | ... | Arnold Rothstein | |
| Dianne Foster | ... | Carolyn Green Rothstein | |
| Jack Carson | ... | Timothy W. 'Big Tim' O'Brien | |
| Diana Dors | ... | Madge | |
| Dan O'Herlihy | ... | Detective Phil Butler | |
| Mickey Shaughnessy | ... | Jim Kelly | |
| Keenan Wynn | ... | Tom Fowler | |
| William Demarest | ... | Henry Hecht | |
| Regis Toomey | ... | Bill Baird | |
| Robert Ellenstein | ... | Lenny | |
| Tim Rooney | ... | Johnny Burke as Young Boy (as Timothy Rooney) | |
| Murvyn Vye | ... | Williams | |
 |
Jimmy Baird | ... | Arnold Rothstein as Young Boy (as Jim Baird) |
| Joseph Schildkraut | ... | Abraham Rothstein | |
| Mickey Rooney | ... | Johnny Burke | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Moving from one scam to another Arnold Rothstein quickly becomes rich, and settles into the life of owning big-town gambling joints. Along the way he falls in loves and marries, makes a life-long enemy of a cop on the take, and gradually becomes hardened even to his closest friends. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26}
Plot Keywords:
drive by shooting | b movie | ambush | henchman | damsel in distress |Taglines:
THE ROARING 20S, THE VICE-RIDDEN YEARS OF THE JAZZ-MAD ERA! original lobby card-all caps) See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
11 June 1961 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
As Cartas Marcaram Sua Morte See more »Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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receptionist: [answers the telephone] International Tobacco. Yes. Just a moment, please.
Arnold Rothstein: [Rothstein hands a card to the receptionist] I'd like to see Mr. Simmons, please.
receptionist: Oh yes, you're expected. Go right in.
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Did You Know?
Quotes
[first lines]receptionist: [answers the telephone] International Tobacco. Yes. Just a moment, please.
Arnold Rothstein: [Rothstein hands a card to the receptionist] I'd like to see Mr. Simmons, please.
receptionist: Oh yes, you're expected. Go right in.
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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By 1961, splatter guns, bouncing flappers, and real gangsters of the 1920's were a hit on TV, especially with The Untouchables (1959-1963). So it's not surprising the formula would find its way into the movies. Real life gangster Arnold Rothstein (Janssen) gets the treatment here, except there're no splatter guns or much action, but there is lots and lots of talk. Spread out over nearly 2-hour time frame, that's a tough challenge for any 20's crime film. Then add Janssen's turn that's notably low-key and generally emotionless, and the upshot is a disappointingly listless crime film.
I guess the film is best taken as a character study built around a favorite Hollywood theme of one man's rise and fall on the ladder of success. The narrative's mainly about how slickly Rothstein maneuvers through the echelons of urban crime. There's some interest in his conniving, but the account gets draggy with too much slow pacing and mechanical editing. Then too, Dianne Foster's role as AR's ladylove further stretches out the narrative. It's like the producers are also using the movie to promote her career.
Anyway, Janssen was soon to star in that classic chase series The Fugitive (1963-67), where his thespic skills could really shine. On the other hand, I'm not sure what the producers were reaching for here, perhaps an abrupt departure from the Cagneys and Robinsons of old. But what they got instead was a sluggish result that now dwells in well-deserved obscurity.