Summary
"Seven Against the Wall" is an episode of the American anthology series Playhouse 90. It was about the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.
| "Seven Against the Wall" | |
|---|---|
| Playhouse 90 episode | |
 | |
| Episode no. | Series 3 Episode 11 |
| Directed by | Franklin J. Schaffner |
| Written by | David Davidson |
| Story by | Howard Browne |
| Presented by | Edward G. Robinson |
| Produced by | John Houseman |
| Original air date | December 11, 1958 |
| Running time | 90 mins |
Cast edit
- Paul Lambert as Al Capone
- Dennis Patrick as George 'Bugs' Moran
- Frank Silvera as Nick Sorrello
- Paul Stevens as Jack 'Machine Gun Jack' McGurn
- Dennis Cross as Pete 'Goosey' Gusenberg
- Barry Cahill as Frank 'Tight Lips' Gusenberg
- Richard Carlyle as Reinhardt Schwimmer
- Al Ruscio as Albert 'Gorilla Al' Weinshank
- George Keymas as James Clark
- Milton Frome as Adam Heyer
- Wayne Heffley as John May
- Nesdon Booth as Mike 'The Pike' Heitler
- Joe de Santis as Charlie 'Trigger Happy' Fischetti
- Tige Andrews as Frank 'The Enforcer' Nitti
- Lewis Charles as Jake 'Greasy Thumb' Guzik
- Paul Burke as Paul Salvanti
- Don Gordon as 'Bobo' Borotta
- Richard Sinatra as John Scalise
- Tito Vuolo as Albert Anselmi
- Karl Lukas as Willie Marks
- Warren Oates as Ted Ryan
- Nicholas Georgiade as Rocco
- Sid Cassel as Angelo
- Joe Abdullah as Joey
- Robert Cass as O'Meara
- Paul Maxwell as Cooley
- Arthur Hanson as Mueller
- Connie Davis as Mrs. Walsh
- Jean Inness as Mrs. Greeley
- Celia Lovsky as Mrs. Schwimmer
- Louise Fletcher as Pete's Girl
- Richard Venture as Passerby
Production edit
The show was based on a book by Howard Browne.[1]
Reception edit
The Los Angeles Times called it "a serviceable documentary" with "some extremely effecitve moments."[2]
The show was very popular and John Houseman claimed it helped revive the popularity of gangster films. "There hadn't been a real Al Capone gangster film for a long time and this brought them back again, both at the cinema and on television", he said.[3]
Howard Browne later wrote other film versions of the story, including The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967) and Capone (1975).[4]
Lawsuit edit
Industrialist Titus Haffa sued the show's makers for $10 million for libel and defamation complaining the show showed a headline "Titus Haffa gets two years" associating him with crime.[5] Haffa later issued a second complaint.[6] A person called Abe Bernstein also sued claiming the show said "Abe Bernstein" was head of The Purple Gang.[7]
References edit
- ^ Wolters, L. (Aug 4, 1958). "WHERE TO DIAL TODAY". Chicago Daily Tribune. ProQuest 182093769.
- ^ Smith, C. (Dec 15, 1958). "THE TV SCENE". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167373285.
- ^ "OBITUARY john houseman 'late starter' was 30 before artistic debut, then won an oscar". The Globe and Mail. Nov 1, 1988. ProQuest 385828917.
- ^ Norma, L. B. (Jun 25, 1967). "'Not just another tinseltown gangster film'". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 179212065.
- ^ "$10,000,000 SOUGHT IN A TV LIBEL SUIT". New York Times. Sep 25, 1959. ProQuest 114899036.
- ^ "HAFFA AGAIN SUES CBS FOR TEN MILLIONS". Chicago Daily Tribune. Dec 10, 1959. ProQuest 182431734.
- ^ "ASKS MILLION IN GANG SHOW USE OF NAME". Chicago Daily Tribune. Dec 5, 1959. ProQuest 182457400.
External links edit
- "Seven Against the Wall" at IMDb
- Seven Against the Wall at Paley Centre
