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IMDbPro

The Purple Gang

  • 19591959
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
322
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
107,244
36,234
The Purple Gang (1959)
CrimeDrama
The story of the infamous Purple Gang, a ring of bootleggers, hijackers and killers in 1920s' Detroit.The story of the infamous Purple Gang, a ring of bootleggers, hijackers and killers in 1920s' Detroit.The story of the infamous Purple Gang, a ring of bootleggers, hijackers and killers in 1920s' Detroit.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
322
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
107,244
36,234
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Frank McDonald
    • Writer
      • Jack DeWitt
    • Stars
      • Barry Sullivan
      • Robert Blake
      • Elaine Edwards
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Frank McDonald
    • Writer
      • Jack DeWitt
    • Stars
      • Barry Sullivan
      • Robert Blake
      • Elaine Edwards
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos11

    Robert Blake and Barry Sullivan in The Purple Gang (1959)
    Robert Blake and Barry Sullivan in The Purple Gang (1959)
    Robert Blake, Marc Cavell, and Paul Dubov in The Purple Gang (1959)
    Barry Sullivan in The Purple Gang (1959)
    Robert Blake and Barry Sullivan in The Purple Gang (1959)
    Barry Sullivan in The Purple Gang (1959)
    Elaine Edwards and Barry Sullivan in The Purple Gang (1959)
    Barry Sullivan in The Purple Gang (1959)
    Robert Blake in The Purple Gang (1959)
    Robert Blake in The Purple Gang (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Barry Sullivan
    Barry Sullivan
    • Police Lt. William P. Harley
    Robert Blake
    Robert Blake
    • William Joseph 'Honeyboy' Willard
    Elaine Edwards
    Elaine Edwards
    • Gladys Harley
    Marc Cavell
    Marc Cavell
    • Henry Abel 'Hank' Smith
    Jody Lawrance
    Jody Lawrance
    • Joan MacNamara
    Suzanne Ridgway
    Suzanne Ridgway
    • Daisy
    • (as Suzy Marquette)
    Joe Turkel
    Joe Turkel
    • Eddie Olsen
    • (as Joseph Turkel)
    Victor Creatore
    • Al Olsen
    Paul Dubov
    Paul Dubov
    • Thomas Allen 'Killer' Burke
    Ray Boyle
    Ray Boyle
    • Tom Olsen
    • (as Dirk London)
    Kathleen Lockhart
    Kathleen Lockhart
    • Nun
    Nestor Paiva
    Nestor Paiva
    • Laurence Orlofsky
    Lou Krugman
    • Dr. Riordan
    Robert Anderson
    Robert Anderson
    • Police Commissioner
    Mauritz Hugo
    Mauritz Hugo
    • Licovetti
    James Roosevelt
    • Self in Prologue
    • (as Congressman James Roosevelt)
    Don Ames
    • Citizen
    • (uncredited)
    Benjie Bancroft
    • Police Officer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Frank McDonald
    • Writer
      • Jack DeWitt
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The real Purple Gang was made up of mostly Jewish members. The script of this film gave the members non-Jewish names.
    • Quotes

      Joan MacNamara: [after she sees Harley backhand a boy, grabs Harley's arm] He's just a boy! I'm from the welfare department.

      [shows her badge]

      Police Lt. William P. Harley: [to the desk sergeant] Book him, book all of 'em.

      [he starts to walks away]

      Joan MacNamara: Now wait a minute.

      [she grabs his arm, turns him towards her]

      Joan MacNamara: Some of these young men are- are underage!

      Police Lt. William P. Harley: They're not young men, miss, they're hoodlums.

      Joan MacNamara: There is a law in this state that says no juvenile can be locked up with an adult criminal.

      Police Lt. William P. Harley: I know the law, miss. I've already got a special tank prepared just for them. Does that satisfy you?

      Joan MacNamara: [with attitude] No. The whole system is wrong. Those boys should not be locked up at all. You see, what youth needs now days is a little psychological adjustment.

      Police Lt. William P. Harley: [interrupts, moves closer] They're three-syllable words, lady. How do you expect a policeman to understand them?

      [walks away]

    • Crazy credits
      [Prologue] This picture is based on information from official files which revealed the shocking story of the wave of juvenile delinquency which spawned Detroit's Purple Gang. Incredible as it may seem, this youthful rat-pack of terrorists dominated the city's underworld for more than a decade during the prohibition era.

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Classic Example of a "B" movie
    Low budget "exposee" style film paints a somewhat accurate picture of Detroit's Purple Gang from the 20s. Worth seeing for Robert Blake's performance, which transcends the movie.
    helpful•0
    1
    • siskokid888-923-973294
    • Feb 18, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 5, 1960 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Ratten von Detroit
    • Filming locations
      • Detroit, Michigan, USA
    • Production company
      • Allied Artists Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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