THE RISE AND FALL OF LEGS DIAMOND
US, 1960, 101 minutes, Black and white.
Ray Danton, Karen Steele, Elaine Stewart, Jesse White, Simon Oakland, Robert Lowery, Warren Oates, Dyan Cannon.
Directed by Budd Boetticher.
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond was a popular gangster film of the early 1960s, a period when Hollywood was looking back at some of the gangsters of the Depression era. Commentators note that the details in the film are not always accurate.
The film focuses on Ray Danton as Jack Diamond who comes to New York with his brother as a jewel thief. After some time in prison, they decide that they will get close to the mob leaders and cash in on their activities.
The film traces a familiar picture from many of the gangster films. However, a number of character actors from the 1950s star in the central roles. It also was an early film for emerging stars such as Warren Oates and Dyan Cannon – in her first film.
The film was directed by Budd Boetticher, a prolific television director who was interested in action genres. He was interested in bullfighting the The Bullfighter and the Lady and The Magnificent Matador. However, he is best known for his series of westerns in the 1950s with Randolph Scott, including Seven Days From Now and The Tall T.
1. The overall popularity of the gangster genre, Hollywood's presentation of it over the decades? This as an example of the 1960's style (the contrast with the 30s and 40s, the newer crop of gangster films in the 70s.) Why is the genre so popular, not only In America, but elsewhere?
2. The use of black and white photography, music, the sets, the atmosphere of New York? The gangster flavour of the film in its locations and settings?
3. The significance of the title, Diamond himself, his being nicknamed 'Legs' by Rothstein, the emphasis on the rise and the fall? The treatment given him by the film, the emphasis on New York spawning him? How much of a hero of the film was he? How much the villain? The fascination and repulsion of the gangster and the self-made man? The presentation of his breathtaking rise, the inevitability of his fall? How human a man was he?
4. The setting of New York in the 20s, the visualizing of Prohibition, the protection rackets, the initial robbery and Diamond's success? His relationship with Eddie at the beginning and his using him? The robbery as the way up, his using the girl? The contrast with the impact of prison and his desperation being there? How was this a pattern of his rise and fall?
5. How interesting a character was he? The particular traits of his personality? How psychotic was he? A suave and smooth style, yet a brutality underneath? His overall plan, his toughness, his using of people, his lies? How much fear was there in him?
6. The importance of his rise in the challenge to Rothstein, his wanting to be in his entourage but his being thrown out, the melodrama of his being shot (and the myth of his not being able to die, and his own believing it), his recovery, the cheque account as a way in to meet Rothstein, his being accepted, taking on jobs, going up, his practising to shoot and kill thugs, his using Rothstein's girlfriend, his ultimately being framed, and this as the lever for killing Rothstein? Audience response to this kind of rise, moral
issues?
7. The brutality of his takeover, his standing over the other thugs, the gangster bosses, the black book and his using all the information that he had got, his instilling fear into people, the murders that he committed, organized? Again his being shot and his not dying?
8. The relationship with his wife? Her happiness at the beginning, her loving him, helping him when he was shot? Her drinking, sinking lower and lower, the effect on her? The contrast with his treatment of Eddie, helping him, Eddie's being shot in both legs, Diamond's avenging him, but then letting him die?
9. His judgement in going to Europe, his making a mistake? The techniques of informing him about the changing situation in America, the newsreels and the different languages, the psychological interest in his gaining more interest as he found more information? An effective technique?
10. His discovery that his time had passed? The other gangsters despising him?
11. The irony of people all walking out on him? His wife's comments on people loving him and her finally not loving him? Her final comments when his body was taken away?
12. The inevitability of the set-up, his desperation for friendship, the disbelief in his death?
13. The boy's comment about his not being able to be killed and the policeman's grabbing him? As a message for the audience not to glamorise him? What is the interest in the American gangster, revulsion at his deeds, amazement at the power of evil? Why are gangster films an important look at Americana?
