Boardwalk Empire 

In 1920 Atlantic City, politician Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson makes arrangements to operate a liquor smuggling business during the early days of Prohibition. His driver, Jimmy Darmody, wishes to prove his usefulness.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers:

Terence Winter (created by), Terence Winter

Stars:

Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald

1 nomination.

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Buscemi	...	Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson
Michael Pitt	...	James 'Jimmy' Darmody
Kelly Macdonald	...	Margaret Schroeder
Michael Shannon	...	Nelson Van Alden
Shea Whigham	...	Elias 'Eli' Thompson
Aleksa Palladino	...	Angela Darmody
Michael Stuhlbarg	...	Arnold Rothstein
Stephen Graham	...	Al Capone
Vincent Piazza	...	Lucky Luciano
Paz de la Huerta	...	Lucy Danziger
Michael Kenneth Williams	...	Chalky White
Anthony Laciura	...	Eddie Kessler
Paul Sparks	...	Mickey Doyle
Dabney Coleman	...	Commodore Louis Kaestner
Greg Antonacci	...	Johnny Torrio

Storyline

Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson, entertainment tycoon at the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, has gathered some of the most important members of the city council to a dinner at his nightclub Babette's Supper Club. It is two hours before the Prohibition will come into force on midnight January 17, 1920. At the dinner they discuss how to organize the distribution and selling of illegal alcohol. Next day Nucky makes an agreement with the smuggler Bill McCoy to buy 500 crates with Canadian whiskey for 35 grand. At a meeting at Nucky's restaurant the crime bosses Johnny Torrio and Big Jim Colosimo from Chicago, Arnold Rothstein and Lucky Luciano from New York, and Nucky himself discuss common interests. Outside Nucky's chauffeur Jimmy Darmody befriends Torrino's chauffeur Al Capone, both being veterans from World War I. Jimmy is frustrated with his inferior position in Nucky's new organization. He and Al Capone decide to rob the trucks that transport the 500 crates of illegal whiskey that Arnold ...

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Plot Keywords:

whiskey | abusive husband | nightclub | robbery | treasurer | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Airport, Long Island, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Leverage Management, Closest to the Hole Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The expression, "Joe, say it isn't so" is a reference to Shoeless Joe Jackson and the 'fixed' 1919 World Series with the Chicago White Sox (a.k.a Black Sox Scandal.)

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Goofs

Charles Luciano is referred to as "Lucky" Luciano in the show. Some sources state that he didn't earn this nickname until a failed murder attempt in 1929, but other sources assert that his nickname came from his ability to avoid police in his younger days.

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Quotes

Eddie Kessler: I heard screaming. Are you all right? May I enter?
Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson: No! What do yo want?
Lucy Danziger: Steinman's on the wire.
Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson: Oh, Christ!
Lucy Danziger: What?
Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson: All right!
Lucy Danziger: He is always interrupting us! Jeez Louise! Arggh!
Eddie Kessler: What?
Lucy Danziger: Screaming? We were fucking, Eddie! Fucking!

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Connections

References Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

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Soundtracks

Tenting on the Old Campground
(uncredited)
Written by Walter Kittredge
Performed by Seabreeze Park Wurlitzer Band Organ

User Reviews

I declare Prohibition on 10 star reviews.

Steve Buscemi was great in movies like Reservoir Dogs and Fargo. I had high expectations because of him, plus all the positive reviews. Boy, was I disappointed. I could only get through the pilot episode, when I expected to enjoy the whole first season, and maybe more.

The pacing was slow, and the storyline lacking. There really weren't any surprises. The jokes were not very amusing, and the constant dropping of F-bombs caused them to lose their sting.

Two positive things I can say. The period sets were fairly impressive, and the music by Vince Giordano's band was pretty good.

Two out of ten stars because I need to offset the high ratings. It's a three at best.