Billy Bathgate (film)
| Billy Bathgate | |
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 Original Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Robert Benton |
| Written by | Novel: E.L. Doctorow Screenplay: Tom Stoppard |
| Starring | Dustin Hoffman Nicole Kidman Loren Dean Steven Hill Steve Buscemi and Bruce Willis |
| Music by | Mark Isham |
| Cinematography | Néstor Almendros |
| Editing by | Alan Heim David Ray Robert M. Reitano |
| Distributed by | Touchstone Pictures |
| Release date(s) | November 1, 1991 |
| Running time | 106 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $48,000,000 |
| Box office | $15,565,363 |
Billy Bathgate is a 1991 American crime film directed by Robert Benton, starring Loren Dean as the titular character and Dustin Hoffman as gangster Dutch Schultz. The film co-stars Nicole Kidman, Steven Hill, Steve Buscemi, and Bruce Willis. It is based on the novel of the same name by E.L. Doctorow. The screenplay is by Tom Stoppard. Doctorow distanced himself from the film for the extensive manner in which it deviated from the book in style and content.
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[edit] Plot
Billy Behan is a poor 15-year-old kid in the 1930s Bronx. After the wealthy gangster Dutch Schultz takes him under his wing, Billy adopts the name of a neighborhood street and begins to work for the organization.
Billy is taught the ropes by Dutch's business associate Otto Berman and given menial chores. Dutch, meanwhile, is busy trying to beat a rap in court and also determine whether his partner Bo Weinberg has been betraying him. Even though he likes Bo, it is Billy who eventually helps prove that Bo lied about his whereabouts.
Dutch and his thugs take Bo captive and prepare to send him to a watery grave. Dutch proceeds to claim the attentions of beautiful Drew Preston, a married young socialite Bo has been seeing who clearly has a weakness for powerful, dangerous men.
Facing a court case in an upstate New York rural community, Dutch brings along his "protege" Billy and the sophisticated lady Drew to put up a front of respectability, ingratiating himself to the locals with good manners and money. While his boss Dutch stands trial, Billy's job is to keep an eye on Drew, a free spirit who likes having Billy's eye on her as she bathes nude in the woods.
Billy falls for her and admires his new boss, at least until witnessing first-hand exactly how ruthless a criminal Dutch really is. Unable to intervene on Bo's behalf, the best Billy can do in the end is try to save Drew's life and his own.
[edit] Cast
- Dustin Hoffman as Arthur "Dutch Schultz" Flegenheimer
- Nicole Kidman as Drew Preston
- Loren Dean as Billy Bathgate
- Bruce Willis as Bo Weinberg
- Steven Hill as Otto Berman
- Stanley Tucci as Lucky Luciano
- Mike Starr as Julie Martin
- Steve Buscemi as Irving
- Frances Conroy as Mary Behan
- Moira Kelly as Becky
- Jack Mulcahy as Fire Inspector (uncredited)
[edit] Production
The film was shot in Hamlet, North Carolina and Saratoga Springs, New York.
In an episode of VH1 television's Confessions of a Teen Idol, Jamie Walters claimed he was up for a part in Billy Bathgate and even went to Dustin Hoffman's house to audition, but ultimately did not get the part.
[edit] Awards and nominations
The film received one Golden Globe nomination;
[edit] External links
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