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Frank Nitti: The Enforcer

  • TV Movie
  • 1988
  • PG-13
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
529
YOUR RATING
Anthony LaPaglia in Frank Nitti: The Enforcer (1988)
CrimeDrama

True story of Al Capone's notorious hitman.True story of Al Capone's notorious hitman.True story of Al Capone's notorious hitman.

  • Director
    • Michael Switzer
  • Writer
    • Lee David Zlotoff
  • Stars
    • Anthony LaPaglia
    • Vincent Guastaferro
    • Trini Alvarado
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    529
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Switzer
    • Writer
      • Lee David Zlotoff
    • Stars
      • Anthony LaPaglia
      • Vincent Guastaferro
      • Trini Alvarado
    • 14User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top Cast50

    Edit
    Anthony LaPaglia
    Anthony LaPaglia
    • Frank Nitti
    Vincent Guastaferro
    Vincent Guastaferro
    • Al Capone
    Trini Alvarado
    Trini Alvarado
    • Anna
    Michael Moriarty
    Michael Moriarty
    • Hugh Kelly
    Michael D. Russo
    • Paul Ricca
    Louis Guss
    Clayton Landey
    Clayton Landey
    • Ted Newberry
    Bruce Kirby
    Bruce Kirby
    • Anton Cermack
    Renata Vanni
    Renata Vanni
    Michael Collins
    Mike Starr
    Mike Starr
    • Sergeant Harry Lang
    Wayne Grace
    Wayne Grace
    Peter Iacangelo
    Peter Iacangelo
    Pat Renella
    Pat Renella
    Lynn Tufeld
    Lynn Tufeld
    John Shepherd
    John Shepherd
    Alan Blumenfeld
    Alan Blumenfeld
    Lloyd Alan
    • Director
      • Michael Switzer
    • Writer
      • Lee David Zlotoff
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    5.9529
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    Featured reviews

    5co6779

    I wasn't disappointed but it could be better = AGREED

    Wife & I enjoyed this, found Al Capone to be depicted as a imbecile we found that off since they both had similar backgrounds.

    Not much to say its worth a watch if you like these old "The Untouchables" gangster type movies.

    Give it a watch
    8bbond-91618

    Definitely Worth Watching

    Doesn't completely line up with multiple documentaries I have seen on Nitti, but lines up more than not. Pretty accurate for Hollywood at least. And Hollywood seldom gets things right, especially when it comes to a guy nicknamed "The Enforcer". Acting was very good. Set design, wardrobe, etc were excellent. Hard to believe this movie is 36 years old.

    Casting is incredible. Anthony LaPaglia plays Nitti in a way that you see he was completely impressed in the role. He isn't playing your standard gangster role. Nitti was a complex person, equally confident as he was broken.

    Honestly, a few more historical accuracies and this would be a perfect movie.
    9janet-55

    Surprisingly good

    I believe that this made-for-TV-biopic was Anthony LaPaglia's first major leading role on screen - and what a great start! The film is beautifully made and acted by all throughout. As has been already mentioned it is illuminating to see a member of the mafia being depicted as a truly caring husband and father, thus making the scene concerning the death of his wife intensely poignant - LaPaglia is always streets ahead of most other actors in putting over the deeper emotional aspects of a character and here in this role he excels. I assume the story keeps basically to the truth though as a Brit I'm not totally au fait with the intricacies of Nitti's life. I think anyone interested in the US mafioso and who found "The Untouchables" film and the old TV series enjoyable but a little far-fetched would thoroughly enjoy and appreciate this incarnation. For any LaPaglia fan out there I would have to say that this film definitely falls into the category of compulsory and compulsive viewing!!
    7georgewilliamnoble

    Well made and well cast biopic made for TV

    This is a well made TV movie that succeeds in getting real depth to its story, the film looks and has a authentic feel of the era represented. The real strength of the film is in its major casting of Australian actor the very reliable Anthony LaPaglia as the title charterer of Frank Nitti to whom he has more than a passing resemblance.I found this little known gangster film,well worth watching and very surprisingly good.7 out of 10.
    6Krogh71

    I wasn't disappointed but it could be better.

    This is an interesting story about the man who were known as Capone's right hand but wasn't he more than that? The story skips some parts of his life that could have been explored better if they weren't crammed into a 95 minute TV film. This could have been an excellent movie with a better supporting cast and the directing could also have been polished some. Anthony LaPaglia does an excellent job in this. I think he has many sides to him other than the lawyer in the TV series (he also performs outstandingly in the movie "Phoenix"). I rated this one 6/10 >

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    Related interests

    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
    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Al Capone and Frank Nitti were first cousins in real life unlike their portrayal in the movie. This is not true.
    • Goofs
      When the man in Hugh Kelly's office is reading Nitti's biography, it says he was born in 1888, when in fact Frank Nitti was born in 1886. Now he did arrive in Chicago from New York in 1913, as it says, but at the age of 27.
    • Quotes

      Anna: My husband left me because I couldn't give him any children. And if we marry, I can't give you any children either, Frank.

      Frank Nitti: [pulls her even closer to him] Then we won't have children.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 17, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nitti - Der Bluthund
    • Production companies
      • Giro International
      • Leonard Hill Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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