MovieChat Forums > The Untouchables (1987) Discussion > Everybody knows this movie is mostly fic...

Everybody knows this movie is mostly fictional, right? SPOILERS

posted 10 years ago by GreenGoblinsOckVenom86
2 replies | jump to latest

This movie is more based off an old TV show by the same name than it is based on the actual events of Elliot Ness taking down Capone. Heck, I'm pretty sure Sean Connery's character is fictional. It is true that Elliot Ness had a friend who was killed by Capone but he was an ex con who I think was supplying info on Capone to Ness. Also Frank Nitti Was not thrown off a building by Elliot Ness. So there's another piece of fiction. I am not saying that I hate this movie but it is by no means a straight retelling of the events leading to Capone going to prison. I honestly think some people might not know this.

"You want me to roll 6,000 of these!? What? Should I quit my job!?"George Costanza, Seinfeld

[–] tonycarr 10 years ago

I read Ness's book back in the sixties and there was no Irish cop to be seen. From memory (not what it was I admit) it was Ness's friend and driver who was killed. Certainly Nitti wasn't thrown off a building by Ness. I always put this down as a plot device to explain how far Ness had to break the law to achieve his ends

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

Yes, I would have thought most educated people would have been aware that this is not a documentary on the Untouchables.🐭