Title The Untouchables is a fascinating film directed by Brian De Palma. This film demonstrates how the law of prohibition impacted Chicago. The Untouchables does a great job with accuracy toward historical events but there are occasions that stretch the truth to bring excitement to the audience. In the film there are two different groups that control the city of Chicago, mobsters and the law enforcements. Al Capone (Robert De Niro) is the leader of all the mobsters in Chicago, his job is to look over the operations that are taking place underground such as; boot legging and smuggling. In the era of the Roaring Twenties Al Capone was considered the most powerful man in Chicago; “Just from selling illegal alcohol he made roughly 1.5million dollars a week, not including his other income” (Woodwiss …show more content…
He tried to get Elliot Ness on his payroll a couple of times, but Ness didn’t crack and he stayed strong with the rest of his team. Elliot Ness and his team relentlessly tried to prosecute Al Capone with Prohibition Violations and Tax Evasion, but every time they came close to catching him in the act, someone under his payroll would tip him off and he would sneak out of their before getting caught. This only made Ness mad and once Agent Wallace was killed that was the final straw and something inside Elliot Ness snapped forcing him to confront Capone and almost getting into a fistfight in a hotel lobby. Eventually the “Untouchables” collected enough evidence to have Capone go to court and be on trial. The “Untouchables” thought they had him, but Capone had a trick up his sleeve, he paid the jury and the judge to have it go his way. Ness finally caught on and asked if the judge could switch the jury with the room next door, Ness’s wishes were allowed and this caused for Capone to be found guilty but only for Tax evasion never for Prohibition
The PBS Frontline Documentary The Untouchables shined light on the claim that wealthier people in today’s society get off easier when they break the law. During the financial crisis of 2008, it was said that fraud was committed when many mortgage bankers and high-end executives on Wall Street knowingly bought loan portfolios that didn’t meet their policy credit standards. Even with the evidence in place, no one was arrested and held responsible for a stock crash that nearly destroyed the entire financial system of the United States. With a powerful justice system and justifiable evidence in place, no was prosecuted. Did the justice system not take the necessary steps to ensure that justice was served
One of the biggest controversies of the twentieth century is the eighteenth amendment. Mississippi was the first state to pass the bill of prohibition. From there on out the entire country followed in Mississippi’s lead in the crusade of prohibition. The eighteenth amendment was a law, which tried to reform and protect the American people against alcohol, as some called, “the devil’s advocate”. The outcome of prohibition was more negative than positive and reeked more havoc than good on the American society.
When I sell liquor, it’s called bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on silver trays on Lake Shore Drive, it’s called hospitality. Al Capone made himself known during the Progressive Era and it’s hard for him not to come to mind when “prohibition” is mentioned. Al Capone was best known for his many crimes, including bootlegging, murder, and tax evasion. Because of his bootlegging, Capone lived an extravagant life which allowed him many opportunities. The murders he committed showcased the power he had, and being convicted of tax evasion seemed like a joke. Although Al Capone was a ruthless gangster there was a side to him that many still don’t know about; a kinder side.
Alphonse Gabriel Capone was the most notorious bootlegger in American History. He was born on January 17, 1899 and died of a heart attack on January 25, 1947. Capone grew up in Brooklyn and became a member of the Five Points Gang. During a street fight he had received a scar on his face that gave him the nickname “Scarface”. Capone quickly moves up the ranks in the mafia world, often noticed for his toughness, in 1919 he grabbed the attention of mobster John Torrio of Chicago. Capone was promoted to bodyguard of the mob boss James Colosimo. When Capone moved to Chicago, bootlegging was just starting to blow up. These bootleggers pounced on the opportunity to completely control the business of making, importing, and distributing alcohol and all alcohol products. Alcohol wasn't the only flourishing industry for the the mob, they also did trade in
Although the temperance movement was concerned with the habitual drunk, its primary goal was total abstinence and the elimination of liquor. With the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the well-organized and powerful political organizations, utilizing no holds barred political tactics, successfully accomplished their goal. Prohibition became the law of the land on January 16, 1920; the manufacturing, importation, and sale of alcohol was no longer legal in the United States. Through prohibition, America embarked on what became labeled “the Nobel Experiment.” However, instead of having social redeeming values as ordained, prohibition had the opposite effect of its intended purpose, becoming a catastrophic failure.
Al Capone (Alfonso or Alphonse Capone) was born in 1899 and passed away in the year of 1947. Once he had been brought up in New York City, Capone became connected with crimes and was the subject of murder investigations. In 1920 he moved to Chicago and became a lieutenant to John Torrio, a notorious gang leader. They established numerous speakeasies in Chicago in the Prohibition era. After eliminating his opponents, "Scarface" Capone took over control from Torrio. He was implicated in brutal murders and received tribute from businessmen and politicians. Al Capone was a well known powerful, murderous gangster in America in the 1920’s. (MasterFile EbscoHost)
and make a fresh start. At the time, Torrio was working for his uncle, the current leader of the Chicago underground, Big Jim Colosimo. With the prohibition came possibilities for large alcohol based profits. Torrio knew that Big Jim could make extremely large amounts of money, but Colosimo could not be persuaded to try his hand. So, in 1920, Torrio had Capone plan and carry out the murder of Big Jim, making Torrio the new boss of Chicago, with Capone as his right hand man, and manager of bootlegging alcohol (Internet 3, 1).
...s. Was Capone fully to blame for the violence that plagued his life? Or was he adapting to the times in which he lived? Maybe he was a man who believed in self-defense in a cruel time where he was just as likely to be killed by an opposing bootlegger. In several interviews, he spoke of peace. He asked for peace from other men that challenged him. Some might even call him generous. Whatever Al Capone was, there was one type of person that he believed to be truely evil. In the words of Capone, "There's one thing worse than a crook, I think...and that's a crooked man in a big political job. A man who pretends he is enforcing the law and is really making dough by breaking it. Even a self-respecting hoodlum hasn't any use for that kind of fella..he buys them like he'd buy any other article necessary to his trade. But he hates them in his heart," (Blumenthal 102).
Organized crime has developed a stigma regarding its power and influence, especially during its hay day in the 1930’s. The mob has always been viewed as a powerful “family-like” organization. In Scarface, Hawkes brings the mafia into a seemingly more realistic light. By overturning Lovo’s position of power, Tony represents the idea of “every man for himself,” within a supposed organized group. The viewer steps into a cut-throat world of power hungry men, all trying to get rich quick. In this world, Hawkes asks, how can you organize men towards any goal if they all seek personal gain?
The federal government became involved in the case, and a man by the name of Eliot Ness pioneered the way. Unable to be bribed like an ordinary official, Ness secured “indictments against Capone and sixty-eight confederates, citing 5,000 offences,” although alcohol was not involved in any of them (Cyriax, “The Untouchables”). During his time investigating Capone, it was documented that Capone was so frustrated by his inability to bribe the man that Capone raged and shouted that he would kill Ness himself, however, the mob boss was unable to accomplish this, and the prideful man was reduced to a sitting duck, as his sales declined and he could feel the Feds coming closer and closer (Cyriax, “The Untouchables”).
...out $32,488 in 1924. They charged Capone with 22 counts of tax evasion for $200,000. They discussed that if Capone pleaded guilty they would lighten the sentence to 2-5 years in prison. This agreement leaked out to the public and they were outraged. Capone knew he couldn’t escape with a light sentence. After nine hours and a jury change Capone was sentenced to 11 years in prison with a $50,000 in fees and a court cost of $30,000. Bail was denied.
Prohibition in the 1920s America sits for its portrait through an era of wonderful nonsense as stated in the book, This Fabulous Century 1920-1930, describes the Roaring 20s, which was a frivolous, free wheeling decade when ladies. wore flapper gowns and bobbed their hair. Men started to engage in business affairs, such as the Stock Market and many sports events. held like a derbie. Many new dances like the Charleston were invented.
Al Capone was one of the most known of all of the gangsters. He was one of the biggest gangsters in the underworld of chicago. Al capone was a sharp dresser a classy gentleman. Capone was the best at what he did. capone originally liyed in naples which is in italy .
Prohibition was trying to address too broad of a problem. People who backed prohibition were trying to address a lot of domestic problems with one general solution. Congress thought that by outlawing alcohol, domestic issues like suicide, domestic disputes, and domestic violence. Through the outlawing of alcohol, they tried to make people conform to their way of thinking, which doesn’t really address each problem individually.
...et of alcohol. The leader of the crime during the time was Al Capone. Capone was the ring leader of the mafia. He would do anything to get his money from his underground alcohol trafficking ring. Al Capone is a well known mafia leader. Al Capone Was the major trafficking leader during the prohibition. Al Capone was involved with gangs most of his life. This formed him into one of the greatest gang leader.