Free | CinemaNow
Posted: 5/27/2012
The terrible true-life events of February 14, 1929 thrust gangster Al Capone into the national spotlight, but marked the beginning of the end of Chicago's criminal empire. Director Roger Corman chronicles the Chicago gangster wars of the 1920s in the film named after the event itself, THE ST. VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE. Rival Chicago mobsters Al Capone (Jason Robards) and Bugs Moran (Ralph Meeker) battle for control of the city's crime element, which leads to a bloody showdown in which Capone's men, dressed as policeman, kill seven key members of Moran's gang in a warehouse. The legendary Roger Corman is credited with discovering and nurturing numerous top-name talents who were given their start at his prolific studio. Jack Nicholson, one of Corman's discoveries and a frequent collaborator, makes a cameo appearance in what is one of his first screen roles. George Segal, Jean Hale and Clint Ritchie also star. The film's sets carefully replicate prohibition-era Chicago, and a voice-over narration adds historical details and contributes to a documentary like feel. Lionel Newman and Fred Steiner's score is adeptly combined with popular songs of the day.