Rod Steiger gave a splendid performance here as the ruthless gangster who spared no one in his quest to attain the top of the mob world. Cunning, vicious and any other nasty adjective I could think of, Steiger was memorable here in the title role. He totally captured the man he portrayed.
He also had great support with Nehemiah Persoff, who played his mentor. Persoff seemed to relish in these kinds of parts. He played a comedic hoodlum in the same year in "Some Like it Hot," and was often on the show in top gangster form in television's "The Untouchables."
The movie showed that Steiger tried to have a private life, no less than with the widow of one of his many victims. Of course, business always came first.
The movie was a little spoiled when the ending came very quickly. Otherwise, we have a fascinating portrait of a mobster at his worst and the times he lived in.
He also had great support with Nehemiah Persoff, who played his mentor. Persoff seemed to relish in these kinds of parts. He played a comedic hoodlum in the same year in "Some Like it Hot," and was often on the show in top gangster form in television's "The Untouchables."
The movie showed that Steiger tried to have a private life, no less than with the widow of one of his many victims. Of course, business always came first.
The movie was a little spoiled when the ending came very quickly. Otherwise, we have a fascinating portrait of a mobster at his worst and the times he lived in.