Lepke (1975)
-
63% of users liked it
(51 ratings)
Tony Curtis stars as the feared leader of "Murder Incorporated" in this underworld drama based on the life of Louis "Lepke" Buchalter. Lepke began his criminal career as a petty thief in his teens; a stretch in prison taught him the finer points of life on the wrong side of the… More Tony Curtis stars as the feared leader of "Murder Incorporated" in this underworld drama based on the life of Louis "Lepke" Buchalter. Lepke began his criminal career as a petty thief in his teens; a stretch in prison taught him the finer points of life on the wrong side of the law. After getting out of jail, Lepke and his pal Gurrah Shapiro (Warren Berlinger) join a gang who hire themselves out as strikebreakers, and the vicious but clever Lepke soon rises through the ranks. Lepke makes powerful friends with mob kingpins "Lucky" Luciano (Vic Tayback) and Albert Anastasia (Gianni Russo), and when high-ranking but deranged gangster "Dutch" Schultz (John Durren) announces he's going to kill District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey (Richard C. Adams), Lepke is chosen to rub "Dutch" out. Lepke handles the assignment well, and he's able to strike up a deal with the various Mafia families -- he'll form a separate organization to handle executions and assassinations, and he'll hire out his services to any mobsters who need it, provided the mob bosses approve the killings. Between "Murder Incorporated" and a drug ring operated with Luciano, Lepke has become a wealthy and important man in the underworld, but ironically he finds soon himself himself investigated by the man whose life he unwittingly saved -- Dewey. Lepke also features comedian and impressionist Vaughn Meader as the voice of Walter Winchell. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Menahem Golan
- Written By
- Tamar Simon Hoffs, Wesley Lau
- Genres
- Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- May 23, 1975 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros
Critic Reviews
-
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
So-so Prohibition-era mobster tale that's ripped from the tabloid headlines of the day.
-
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
Tony Curtis gives one of his best performances in this violent, overlooked underworld drama about the famed Jewish gangster. A really good movie that suffered from poor distribution.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
Tony Curtis
as Louis "Lepke" Buchalter
-
Anjanette Comer
as Bernice Meyer
-
Michael Callan
as Robert Kane
-
Warren Berlinger
as Gurrah Shapiro
-
Gianni Russo
as Albert Anastasia
-
Vic Tayback
as Lucky Luciano
-
Milton Berle
as Mr. Meyer
-
Jack Ackerman
as Little Augie
-
Lillian Adams
as Mama Meyer
-
Simmy Bow
as Tannenbaum
-
Guy Christopher
as Reporter
-
Albert Cole
as Gross
-
John Durren
as Dutch Schultz
-
Matt Greene
as Skinny
-
Louis Guss
as Max Rubin
-
Jon Ian Jacobs
as Big Hesh
-
Zitto Kazann
as Abe "Kid Twist" Reles
-
Joseph Kim
as Lin Phoo
-
Wesley Lau
as Detective
-
Vaughn Meader
as Walter Winchell
-
Barry Miller
as Young Lepke
-
Johnny Silver
as Schwartz
-
Jack Tesler
as Feldman
-
Mary Charlotte Wilcox
as Marion
-
Crane Jackson
as Judge
-
J.S. Johnson
as Mendy Weiss
-
Thomas Castranova
as Policeman
