Gangster classic about one of the most notorious massacres of the Prohibition era.
Chicago, 1929. In the battle for control of the city’s crime syndicate, the rivalry between gangsters Al Capone and Bugs Moran has reached a fever pitch. On Valentine’s Day, seven gang members are brutally slaughtered in one fell swoop.
The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre is one of Roger Corman’s few major studio productions, made with a substantial budget for a change. The film wasn’t an immediate hit upon release but has since become a cult classic. In a pseudo-documentary style, Corman presents a fascinating reconstruction that follows the facts closely. He wanted to cast Orson Welles as Al Capone, but the studio decided otherwise. Instead, the film has an Orson Welles-esque, all-knowing voice-over playfully elaborating on what’s happening. Keep an eye out for Bruce Dern as one of the victims, as well as a cameo by a very young Jack Nicholson.
With an introduction by Julie Corman.
