Capone (1975)

one of my absolute favorites!

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Despite giving Sly Stallone second billing (after Ben Gazzara) and a nice big picture on my DVD cover, he is not a lead actor in this movie. Ben Gazzara, Harry Guardino, Susan Blackeney (Yes that Susan Blackeney from "Lords Of Flatbush") are all listed before Sly who is listed under "Starring" with three other actors. Sly doesn't even appear until thirty one minutes in to it, and he doesn't speak a line of dialogue until ten minutes later, his part does grow as the movie enters its second half. Plot In A Paragraph; Set over several years, this is the story of Al Capone's rise and fall in the gangster underworld. Gazzara over acts and hams it up a lot. It's almost as if he thinks he is appearing in a spoof Capone movie. Harry Guardino is great as Johnny Torrio, as is Susan Blakely, I think her open crotch shot, must be the first one for a leading actress in a mainstream Hollywood film. Martivn Kove is very good in his supporting role. Dick Miller has an enjoyable small role as a cop on the take too. Following on from his first good role in 'Flatbush' the previous year, Sly under plays it as Frank Nitti and continues his early career with another steady supporting role.Nobody can fault Capone for its effort. It covers several decades (taking several liberties with the truth along the way) in a short running time, but it's campy B movie quality all the way, as it rushes through a lot of gangster activity. It's never dull and is quite entertaining in a trashy low budget way.

Several reviewers have mentioned that this movie is hard to find. It is currently available on HULU.COM. Unfortunately you have to watch a few commercials, but the good news is that the copy is excellent. The characters are well developed and the pace is quick. While I would not say that the plot is overly realistic, it is worth watching. If you are looking for an engrossing, albeit brutal, diversion then this is the fare for you. Definitely NOT FOR CHILDREN. One of Sylvester Stallone first movie appearance and well acted by him. The other characters offer excellent performances as well. You will recognize many character actors in this ensemble cast. Hope you all enjoy this nearly classic mob movie.

This film is a real curiosity.It is notable for a few reasons: raw language that would not have been allowed prior to the Seventies, but might be close to the way real gangsters would have spoken to each other; total frontal nudity, and an early appearance by Sylvester Stallone. The portrayal of Al Capone by Ben Gazzara is so broad as to be farcical, apparently on purpose.There is a lot of exaggerated humor and comic antics in the film that make it seem like it wasn't meant to be taken too seriously. By contrast, the 1959 Al Capone with Rod Steiger had a certain gallows humor and bleak comedy, but never at the expense of the historical figures being portrayed. When Rod Steiger bellows and blusters, connives and threatens, you believe he's Al Capone. Gazzara seems almost to play Capone as if he were in a Saturday Night Live sketch. I saw this movie in its original release to theaters, with a high degree of audience involvement. An elderly gentleman, who had apparently had a few too many before the show, talked to characters in the movie and gave advice and pointed out things throughout the screening, climaxing with a gunfight where Al Capone was ambushed by rivals, and the elderly viewer stood up in the aisle, pointed his cane at the screen like a tommy gun and hollered "I'll help you, Al!", while firing his cane at the screen. This somehow seems the appropriate spirit in which to view this film.

I found Capone to be a very interesting film. The action scenes were well staged and the acting was surprisingly good. Ben Gazzara was excellent as Capone. He managed to capture Al Capone's VD induced psychosis very well. It's a shame that this film was never put out on video in the US. Unlike most biopics, I found this one to be very entertaining. Yo, check out Stallone as Frank "The Enforcer" NittiRecommended, if you can find it.B+