IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Neo-noir about a small-time New York City criminal whose ambition is to become a big-time crime boss during the Prohibition era.Neo-noir about a small-time New York City criminal whose ambition is to become a big-time crime boss during the Prohibition era.Neo-noir about a small-time New York City criminal whose ambition is to become a big-time crime boss during the Prohibition era.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
Dyan Cannon
- Dixie
- (as Diane Cannon)
Don Anderson
- Bartender
- (uncredited)
Sammy Armaro
- Cab Driver
- (uncredited)
Herb Armstrong
- Cherry Nose Gioe
- (uncredited)
Nesdon Booth
- Pawnbroker
- (uncredited)
- …
George Bruggeman
- Nightclub Patron
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFilm debut of Dyan Cannon. This is her first released film. She made This Rebel Breed (1960) previously, but it was released after this film.
- GoofsWhen Jack returns to Alice in the movie theater he's been gone so long that she was worried what happened to him, yet he tells her his brother's phone was busy, and she believes him. He also tells her that even though no one answered the phone, his brother is all right. She also believes that.
- Quotes
Jack 'Legs' Diamond: You can't kill me, I'm Legs Diamond.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Histoire(s) du cinéma: Toutes les histoires (1989)
Featured review
Discarding People Along the Way
Jack "Legs" Diamond was the alias of John T. Noland (1897-1931) who had one spectacular career in the underworld of the Roaring Twenties. Though we are far from seeing the real story of Legs Diamond, Ray Danton gives us a riveting portrayal of a totally amoral man who uses and discards people in his rise to the top. Diamond's career and this film about him is very much a harbinger of stuff like Goodfellas in the last decade.
Right around this time Hollywood took a nostalgic interest in the gangster era. A whole lot of films like Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly an early Charles Bronson starrer, Dutch Schultz Portrait of a Mobster, and Murder, Inc. among others came out at this time. There was even a good series from Warner Brothers television that came out called The Roaring Twenties that starred Dorothy Provine. And of course heading the list was The Untouchables. The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond is part of this trend.
This came from Warner Brothers and they certainly had the best gangster films back in the day. Had this been done back in the thirties, James Cagney or Edward G. Robinson would have been the star. However the best guy for the part back then would have been Tyrone Power. That is the Tyrone Power of Nightmare Alley. Ray Danton's portrayal of Diamond borrows a lot from Power's Stan Carlisle.
This part and Danton's role in the George Raft Story should have made Danton a star, but it didn't, who knows why. Danton gave up acting and settled for life behind the camera, directing lots of television shows.
Other good portrayals in this are Robert Lowery as Arnold Rothstein, Warren Oates as Diamond's brother, Karen Steele as his much used and abused wife, and Frank DeKova in one riveting scene as Lucky Luciano. DeKova is only identified as the "chairman" in the film as Mr. Luciano was very much alive when this came out.
However the best supporting part is Jesse White's as a gangland rival. White who normally plays comic tough guys very well really does a fine job as a rival who Diamond makes crawl for mercy.
Good portrayal of the tumultuous Roaring Twenties though not the real story of Legs Diamond.
Right around this time Hollywood took a nostalgic interest in the gangster era. A whole lot of films like Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly an early Charles Bronson starrer, Dutch Schultz Portrait of a Mobster, and Murder, Inc. among others came out at this time. There was even a good series from Warner Brothers television that came out called The Roaring Twenties that starred Dorothy Provine. And of course heading the list was The Untouchables. The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond is part of this trend.
This came from Warner Brothers and they certainly had the best gangster films back in the day. Had this been done back in the thirties, James Cagney or Edward G. Robinson would have been the star. However the best guy for the part back then would have been Tyrone Power. That is the Tyrone Power of Nightmare Alley. Ray Danton's portrayal of Diamond borrows a lot from Power's Stan Carlisle.
This part and Danton's role in the George Raft Story should have made Danton a star, but it didn't, who knows why. Danton gave up acting and settled for life behind the camera, directing lots of television shows.
Other good portrayals in this are Robert Lowery as Arnold Rothstein, Warren Oates as Diamond's brother, Karen Steele as his much used and abused wife, and Frank DeKova in one riveting scene as Lucky Luciano. DeKova is only identified as the "chairman" in the film as Mr. Luciano was very much alive when this came out.
However the best supporting part is Jesse White's as a gangland rival. White who normally plays comic tough guys very well really does a fine job as a rival who Diamond makes crawl for mercy.
Good portrayal of the tumultuous Roaring Twenties though not the real story of Legs Diamond.
helpful•298
- bkoganbing
- Apr 22, 2006
- How long is The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Life and Death of Legs Diamond
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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By what name was The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960) officially released in India in English?
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