Billy Bathgate (1991)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Robert Benton

Writers (WGA):

E.L. Doctorow (book)
Tom Stoppard (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 November 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

A seductive look at a notorious gangster's dazzling and decadent empire about to crumble.

Plot:

In the 1935, fifteen year old street hustler Billy Bathgate becomes the protege of fledgling gangster Dutch Schultz and begins a love affair with a flighty moll.

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Box Office Flop | Nudity | Red Pubic Hair | Erotica

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Dutch Schultz
Nicole Kidman	...	Drew Preston
Loren Dean	...	Billy Bathgate
Bruce Willis	...	Bo Weinberg
Steven Hill	...	Otto Berman
Steve Buscemi	...	Irving
Billy Jaye	...	Mickey
John Costelloe	...	Lulu
Timothy Jerome	...	Dixie Davis (as Tim Jerome)
Stanley Tucci	...	Lucky Luciano
Mike Starr	...	Julie Martin
Robert F. Colesberry	...	Jack Kelly
Stephen Joyce	...	Mr. Hines
Frances Conroy	...	Mary Behan
Moira Kelly	...	Becky

MPAA:

Rated R for some gangster violence, and for language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Durham, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

At 54, Dustin Hoffman was more than 20 years older than the real Dutch Schultz was when he was killed.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Billy and Becky are first seen on the roof in long shot she is exhaling smoke; in the close-up immediately after, she doesn't have a cigarette.

Quotes:

Drew Preston: I'm not his girl, he's my gangster.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Attack of the Giant Leeches (#5.6)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

I Only Have Eyes for You

This Is NOT Goodfellas or Sopranos stuff, this is Drama with that as a backdrop.

Well acted, with a nice dual story going on, add in Nicole Kidman naked and hey.. this isn't bad at all!! Add in Dustin damn Hoffman as our lead gangster, and stuff is getting interesting!! Our main character however, is BILLY- a streetwise kid with a heart of gold that wants to see if he has a shot at making it big with Dutch - the guy who owns the neighborhood. Things are in transition for Dutch, and Billy is exposed to the pressures and pitfalls of running a criminal organization by falling in with Dutch.

Enter Nicole Kidman- Dutch is smitten with her beauty, she's married but she has a thing for gangsters apparently...

This has a lot of tension in the triangle between Mrs. Harrison (Nicole), Dutch (Dustin) And Billy.

A cameo from Bruce Willis is a welcome counterpoint to the interpretation of Dutch, and you will recognize one of Dutch's henchmen from Fargo or Reservoir Dogs. ;-) I would have liked the ending to be a bit more elaborate but the ride there was pretty damn elaborate so it's all good.