Al Capone is getting a crack at the big screen once again. Probably the most famous gangster in history is getting another biopic. Played in films numerous times before, Robert De Niro’s turn in The Untouchables is the most memorable in recent times.
A little bit of history info: Capone was an Italian-American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate, known then as the “Capones,” dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor and other illegal activities, in Chicago, from the early 1920s to 1931, when he was sentenced to federal prison, including a stay at the infamous Alcatraz federal prison, for tax evasion.
The studio has set up CICERO, a project that would follow Capone’s rise from a Brooklyn kid to the head of organized crime in Prohibition-era Chicago. The film takes its name from the small town in suburban Illinois where Capone set up shop.
CICERO is expected to be more of a throwback to classic gangster films like ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES and Edward G. Robinson’s “yeahhhh see!” classic LITTLE CAESAR.
CICERO was written by Walon Green, a veteran writer/producer on TV series like “Law and Order,” “ER” and “NYPD Blue.” So far no director is attached.
This guys’s life is made for a movie. That’s why he’s been covered so many times. Last gangster film we saw was Johnny Depp’s Public Enemies, which was a pretty good modern take. Hopefully they do something good with this story too. I mean, the elements are there. It’s just a matter of how you present the story. And, really important – who will take on the role?
Who would you give this role to? You interested in this film at all? What’s your all-time favorite gangsters movie?
I am Al Capone"s third Cousin. From The D'Amato Family Tree.
Al capone and Baby Face is played by Stephen Graham who most people would know as tommy from snatch. Great actor but not big enough to pull off Al in Big Screen.
I think it would be tough to find someone to encompass the man but maybe it could be a diff actor early life, middle life, later life type deal?
I’m guessing somebody saw the trailer for Boardwalk Empire which featured a young Al Capone. What’s funny too is that the guy who’s playing him in the show also played Baby Face Nelson in Public Enemies.
GoodFellas hands down…
However, I live in Las Vegas, and recently read “Casino”. My house less than a mile from most of the action spots.
In a retirement role, I’d love to see a Scarface channeling Al Pacino as Capone.