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The Gangster Chronicles

  • TV Mini Series
  • 1981–
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
318
YOUR RATING
The Gangster Chronicles (1981)
BiographyCrimeDrama

The series follows the lives of the three main characters from their youth into becoming major criminal figures in 1920's America.The series follows the lives of the three main characters from their youth into becoming major criminal figures in 1920's America.The series follows the lives of the three main characters from their youth into becoming major criminal figures in 1920's America.

  • Stars
    • Michael Nouri
    • Joe Penny
    • Brian Benben
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    318
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Michael Nouri
      • Joe Penny
      • Brian Benben
    • 11User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Episodes15

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season1981

    Photos1

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    Top cast50

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    Michael Nouri
    Michael Nouri
    • Charles 'Lucky' Luciano
    • 1981
    Joe Penny
    Joe Penny
    • Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel
    • 1981
    Brian Benben
    Brian Benben
    • Michael Lasker
    • 1981
    Kathleen Lloyd
    Kathleen Lloyd
    • Stella Siegel
    • 1981
    Madeleine Stowe
    Madeleine Stowe
    • Ruth Lasker
    • 1981
    Chad Redding
    • Joy Osler
    • 1981
    Markie Post
    Markie Post
    • Chris Brennan
    • 1981
    Allan Arbus
    Allan Arbus
    • Goodman
    • 1981
    Louis Giambalvo
    Louis Giambalvo
    • Al Capone
    • 1981
    James Andronica
    • Frank Costello
    • 1981
    Robert Davi
    Robert Davi
    • Vito Genovese
    • 1981
    Joseph Mascolo
    Joseph Mascolo
    • Salvatore Maranzano
    • 1981
    David Patrick Wilson
    David Patrick Wilson
    • Vincent 'Mad Dog' Coll
    • 1981
    Kenneth Tigar
    Kenneth Tigar
    • Thomas E. Dewey
    • 1981
    Richard S. Castellano
    Richard S. Castellano
    • Giuseppe 'Joe the Boss' Masseria
    • 1981
    Jon Polito
    Jon Polito
    • Thomas 'Three Finger Brown' Lucchese
    • 1981
    Jonathan Banks
    Jonathan Banks
    • Dutch Schultz
    • 1981
    E.G. Marshall
    E.G. Marshall
    • Narrator
    • 1981
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    8.1318
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    Featured reviews

    10terri-102

    Gangster Chronicles

    I would like to see this mini-series again,(also I would like my boys to see this) I watched this round about 1981 possibly, it was when my children were small I used to get them into bed so I did not have any disturbance, phone would be left off the hook - it used to come on at 11.00 on a Monday night for 2 hours. I have seen a condensed version of the story but it does not have the characters in it who are in the mini-series. Me and my family loved this series we couldn't wait for the next Monday to come. I bought the Gangster Chronicles DVD on the ebay just before Christmas 2006 but its like a documentary thing not what I want, I wondered if there was anybody out there who has this series so i can watch it along with the rest of my family. This miniseries was great, you did not want to get up and make a cup of tea as I did not want to miss any of it. I like the Godfather but I preferred this because it showed you how they were when they were kids. thanks hopefully Terri.
    10frank-ravlen

    Superb series, but did it finish without a proper ending??

    Whether it was the TV company scheduling (or mis-scheduling!) but it seemed to me to stop in mid- action. Did you feel this? Just like 'Amazon' did! This was my first sight of both Joe Penny and Michael Nouri and I have followed with interest their careers from then to date. As an avid reader of all things Mafia styled this was the most authentic portrayal of that lifestyle until the more recent Sopranos and Goodfellas.Why have the TV companies never repeated this series? It would be a welcome change from some of the current dross that is being shown. The epithet 'Lucky' was given to Luciano after he survived a severe beating and left for dead in a wooded area, not as some say due to his gambling luck.
    10pierretn

    I tried to get and see the Series but you tube don't play the hole series I don't why

    How can I get or see 👀 this Siri's in its entirety I tried on YouTube but it didn't give me the whole series I would love to see the entire series can you help me do that sincerely yours Tyrone Neal !!! 👍🏾💕🌹👌🏾
    10shermanj-2

    Gangster Chronicles

    I own a VHS of the Gangster Chronicles from the mini series but I think I may be missing some episodes. I have about 5 hrs without commercials.

    I just bought the Gangster Wars on DVD but its condensed to about 2 hrs.

    The Godfather was great( at least 1 & 2) but The Gangster Chronicles is better in my opinion as they were real characters. I mean who really is Vito Corleone? Is it Luciano or Genovese or Anastasia?

    My father got me interested in Gangster movies when I was a young kid as my father was born and raised in Brownsville,NY. My Grandfather was even involved in a shootout with Murder Inc.

    I wish I could go back to the 20s and I would have ran sh*t
    9r-dury

    I want to obtain The Gangsetr Chronicles (1981) mini-series

    I notice a comment from Terri in the UK. I have the same problem. I want a copy of the original Gangster Chronicles - not the documentary sent to me from Amazon. This was still very good but, as Terri found, it was virtually 'news' clips and was NOT the original mini-series, as I remember it. As others have said - it was a proper history performed as portrayed by proper actors - such as Michael Nouri as Luck Luciano, Robert Davi as Vito Genovese and in particular Richard Castellano as Joe 'The Boss' Masseria. Can anybody out there tell me where I can get a copy? I cannot get, also, in the UK The Borgia Stick (1967) TV. and Timestalkers (1987) TV. Where do I go to get these please? RON DURY

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    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
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    Drama

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The character of Michael Lasker was based on Meyer Lansky. The name was changed because Lansky was still living at the time.
    • Connections
      Edited into Gangster Wars (1981)

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    FAQ17

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 12, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gangsterkriget
    • Filming locations
      • Capitola, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)

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