Hoodlum
Short description
Hoodlum is set in 1930s New York, where running the numbers game in Harlem was one of the city's most profitable illegal enterprises. Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson goes to work for Stephanie St. Clair, the woman known as Madame Queen, who controls the racket, and rises quickly within her organization. When she is imprisoned, Bumpy takes charge of the business and finds himself defending Harlem against Dutch Schultz, a ruthless gangster determined to move in on the territory. The conflict draws in other powerful figures of the era, including Lucky Luciano.
Bill Duke directed the film, his third feature after Deep Cover in 1992 and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit in 1993. Chris Brancato wrote the screenplay, and Frank Mancuso Jr. produced. Laurence Fishburne plays Bumpy Johnson, with Tim Roth as Dutch Schultz opposite him. Vanessa Williams appears as Francine Hughes, Andy García as Lucky Luciano, and Cicely Tyson as Stephanie St. Clair. The production assembled a large credited cast and crew.
Released in August 1997 by United Artists and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film cost about 30 million dollars to make and took roughly 23 million dollars worldwide, less than its budget. On IMDb and TMDB it holds a mixed audience rating, with a lower critics' score from 21 reviews. It followed Duke's earlier studio work and preceded his 2009 film Not Easily Broken.
What's left behind the scenes
- When Luciano’s face is shown in close-up, it is noticeable that his right eye doesn’t open as wide as his left. Photographs have been preserved showing his right eye completely closed. All of this is a result of a knife wound sustained during his kidnapping by unknown criminals in 1929.
- The depiction of Tom Dewey (1902-1971) in the film – as a corrupt official taking bribes from members of the criminal underworld – was harshly criticized by people who knew him personally. During his time as District Attorney and Governor of New York State, Dewey proved to be an exceptionally honest man. It was precisely this honesty that allowed him to go so far in the race for the US presidency in 1948.
- Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson (1905-1968), Dutch Schultz (1901-1935), Lucky Luciano (1897-1962), and Stephanie St. Clair (1897-1969) were real people, and the plot is based on events from their lives during that era (although they are not very accurately portrayed). Many other characters, including Francine Hughes, Captain Faulke, and Calvin, are fictional.
- The film is set in New York, but it was shot in Chicago, where buildings similar to those that existed in Harlem in the 1930s can still be found.
- The film doesn’t focus on this, but Dutch Schultz was killed because he was planning the murder of prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey (1902-1971). Schultz was under investigation on charges of racketeering and tax evasion. Impetuous Schultz was prepared to take an incredible risk and eliminate the prosecutor. However, this became known to a gathering of mafia leaders, who sentenced Schultz, fearing the consequences of killing the prosecutor. Two gunmen, Abe “Longy” Zwillman (1904-1959), shot Schultz and three of his men at a restaurant in Newark; Schultz died in hospital.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
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