Seven Against the Wall
| "Seven Against the Wall" | |
|---|---|
| Playhouse 90 episode | |
| Episode no. |
Series 3 |
| 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 |
Seven Against the Wall is an episode of the American anthology series Playhouse 90. It was about the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.
Cast
- Paul Lambert as Al Capone
- Dennis Patrick as "Bugs" Moran
- Frank Silvera as Nick Serrello
- Paul Stevens as Jack McGurn
- Dennis Cross as Pete Gusenberg
- Barry Cahill as Frank Gusenberg
- Richard Carlyle as Dr. Schwimmer
- Al Ruscio as Albert Weinshank
- George Keymas as James Clark
- Milton Frome as Adam Heyer
- Wayne Heffley as John May
- Nesdon Booth as Michael Heitler
- Joe de Santis as Charles Fischetti
- Tige Andrews as Frank Nitti
- Lewis Charles as Jacob Gusik
- Paul Burke as Paul Salvanti
- Don Gordon as Bobo Borotta
Production
The show was based on a book by Howard Browne.[1]
Reception
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
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] Haff 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
- ↑ Wolters, L. (1958, Aug 04). WHERE TO DIAL TODAY. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/182093769?accountid=13902
- ↑ Smith, C. (1958, Dec 15). THE TV SCENE---. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/167373285?accountid=13902
- ↑ OBITUARY john houseman 'late starter' was 30 before artistic debut, then won an oscar. (1988, Nov 01). The Globe and Mail Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/385828917?accountid=13902
- ↑ Norma, L. B. (1967, Jun 25). 'Not just another tinseltown gangster film'. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current File) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/179212065?accountid=13902
- ↑ Special to The New York Times. (1959, Sep 25). $10,000,000 SOUGHT IN A TV LIBEL SUIT. New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/114899036?accountid=13902
- ↑ HAFFA AGAIN SUES CBS FOR TEN MILLIONS. (1959, Dec 10). Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/182431734?accountid=13902
- ↑ ASKS MILLION IN GANG SHOW USE OF NAME. (1959, Dec 05). Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/182457400?accountid=13902
External links
- Seven Against the Wall at IMDB
- Seven Against the Wall at Paley Centre