Billy Bathgate (1991)

In the year 1935, a teen named Billy Bathgate finds first love while becoming the protégé of fledgling gangster Dutch Schultz.

Director:

Robert Benton

Writers:

E.L. Doctorow (book), Tom Stoppard (screenplay)

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Loren Dean

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Dutch Schultz
Nicole Kidman	...	Drew Preston
Loren Dean	...	Billy Bathgate
Bruce Willis	...	Bo Weinberg
Steven Hill	...	Otto Berman
Steve Buscemi	...	Irving
Billy Jaye	...	Mickey
John Costelloe	...	Lulu
Timothy Jerome	...	Dixie Davis (as Tim Jerome)
Stanley Tucci	...	Lucky Luciano
Mike Starr	...	Julie Martin
Robert F. Colesberry	...	Jack Kelly
Stephen Joyce	...	Mr. Hines
Frances Conroy	...	Mary Behan - Billy's Mother
Moira Kelly	...	Rebecca

Storyline

Based loosely on the organized crime syndicates of the 20's and 30's, Billy Bathgate is the story of a young man's rise from gopher to right hand man in Dutch Schultz' gang. Having been impressed by the youth, Schultz takes him under his wing so to speak. Billy soon finds himself in a world where wealth and fortune live next door to danger and death.

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Plot Keywords:

waterfall | lake | female full frontal nudity | 1930s | based on true story | 

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Taglines:

A seductive look at a notorious gangster's dazzling and decadent empire about to crumble.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some gangster violence, and for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bilis Batgeitas

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$48,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,051,590, 3 November 1991, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$15,965,919

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (DuArt)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final produced screenplay for Writer Tom Stoppard until Shakespeare in Love (1998), for which Stoppard shared winning the Best Writing for a Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Academy Award with Marc Norman.

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Goofs

When Drew Preston is walking with Billy Bathgate and takes his hand, the close-up shows her hand is on the front. In the next shot, her hand behind his and facing to the rear.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bo Weinberg: [being tied up] What do you think, Irving? Makes this cheap dago move on me, Bo Weinberg. The man who took out @Vincent Coll. The man who held Jack Diamond's ears so he could put the gun in his mouth. Who found the rackets he was to *stupid* to find for himself, who made him something more than the lowdown fucking guy that he is! The schmuck, I should expect something else. He pulls me off the the street right in front of my girl, like he don't know no better. Schmuck!
Dutch Schultz: Don't talk to...
[...]

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Connections

References Girl Without a Room (1933)

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Soundtracks

Who
Music by Jerome Kern

User Reviews

A Job with the Mob

While hanging out with friends in 1935 New York City, Prohibition-era poor Loren Dean (as Billy "Bathgate" Behan) notices notorious gangster Dustin Hoffman (as Arthur "Dutch Schwartz" Flegenheimer) doing his dirty work. After admiring Mr. Dean's ability to juggle four balls, Mr. Hoffman gives the younger man a job with the mob. Dean begins by sweeping the floor, but is quickly promoted to keeping smoking hot girlfriend Nicole Kidman (as Drew) satisfied under the sheets...

One of the problems with "Billy Bathgate" is that Dean appears as a fully grown man who is being treated, and often acts, like he's a 14-year-old kid. Sometimes he is made to appear shorter and younger, but it's really a lost cause. Consequently, the scenes with Dean and the other men seem silly. And, even on his own, top-billed Hoffman's character registers nothing but ugly.

Dean is more convincing with Ms. Kidman, who has a brief "full frontal" moment after a swim. A highlight is the "Saratoga" horse-racing sequence, with Dean, Kidman and Steve Buscemi (as Irving). Kidman has a husband (Xander Berkeley) who likes to unbutton a man's shirt on the couch, and another (Bruce Willis) who gets to try on a pair of Hoffman's cement shoes...

***** Billy Bathgate (11/1/91) Robert Benton ~ Loren Dean, Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Steven Hill