King of the Roaring 20's: The Story of Arnold Rothstein (1961)

The story of flamboyant Prohibition-era gangster, gambler and bootlegger Arnold Rothstein.

Director:

Joseph M. Newman

Writers:

Leo Katcher (book), Jo Swerling (screenplay)

Stars:

David Janssen, Dianne Foster, Jack Carson

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

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.

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Plot Keywords:

drive by shooting | b movie | ambush | henchman | damsel in distress | 

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Taglines:

THE ROARING 20S, THE VICE-RIDDEN YEARS OF THE JAZZ-MAD ERA! original lobby card-all caps)

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

As Cartas Marcaram Sua Morte

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bischoff-Diamond Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tim Rooney (Young Johnny Burke) was the son of Mickey Rooney (Johnny Burke).

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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.

User Reviews

Big disappointment

Two points out of respect to David Janssen and his good track record.This movie is so boring I had to fast forward a lot.It's boring because of a lack of action and to much time is spent on the uninteresting subject of a mobster's love life.Not sure but someone wanted to dwell on Rothstein's gambling problem.Hello..a mob boss makes money because other persons have a gambling problem.As in other gangster movies it makes more sense that a mob boss is having a good time spending the losers money not gambling.Don't know if Janssen is part of the problem or not.Has anyone ever witnessed the private life of a mob boss to judge that Janssen didn't do a good job portraying Rothstein.More than likely Janssen is just a victim of this misguided script.This movie looks like a stinker that couldn't sell so someone named it the Arnold Rothstein story to take advantage of the interest in gangster movies at the time.One of the worst parts was having Mickey Rooney begging,horrible treatment to an outstanding actor.Someone compared this movie to The Untouchables..PUHLEEZE,in no way shape or form did I find this movie resembling one of my all time favorite shows except for both of them being filmed in black and white.For the person that wants to test their capacity for boredom this is the movie for them.