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IMDbPro

Hoodlum

  • 19971997
  • RR
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Laurence Fishburne, Andy Garcia, and Tim Roth in Hoodlum (1997)
Black gangsters in 1930 Harlem fights Dutch Schultz who is trying to horn in on their numbers racket.
Play trailer2:12
1 Video
70 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
Black gangsters in 1930 Harlem fights Dutch Schultz who is trying to horn in on their numbers racket.Black gangsters in 1930 Harlem fights Dutch Schultz who is trying to horn in on their numbers racket.Black gangsters in 1930 Harlem fights Dutch Schultz who is trying to horn in on their numbers racket.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bill Duke
  • Writer
    • Chris Brancato
  • Stars
    • Laurence Fishburne
    • Tim Roth
    • Vanessa Williams
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bill Duke
  • Writer
    • Chris Brancato
  • Stars
    • Laurence Fishburne
    • Tim Roth
    • Vanessa Williams
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 63User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 50Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Official Trailer

    Photos70

    Laurence Fishburne in Hoodlum (1997)
    Andy Garcia in Hoodlum (1997)
    Tim Roth in Hoodlum (1997)
    Andy Garcia in Hoodlum (1997)
    Clarence Williams III in Hoodlum (1997)
    Laurence Fishburne and Andy Garcia in Hoodlum (1997)
    Cicely Tyson in Hoodlum (1997)
    Vanessa Williams in Hoodlum (1997)
    Chi McBride in Hoodlum (1997)
    Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth, Cicely Tyson, Eddie Bo Smith Jr., J.W. Smith, and Clarence Williams III in Hoodlum (1997)
    Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth, and Dick Gjonola in Hoodlum (1997)
    Laurence Fishburne and Vanessa Williams in Hoodlum (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Laurence Fishburne
    Laurence Fishburne
    • Bumpy Johnsonas Bumpy Johnson
    Tim Roth
    Tim Roth
    • Dutch Schultzas Dutch Schultz
    Vanessa Williams
    Vanessa Williams
    • Francine Hughesas Francine Hughes
    Andy Garcia
    Andy Garcia
    • Lucky Lucianoas Lucky Luciano
    Cicely Tyson
    Cicely Tyson
    • Stephanie St. Clairas Stephanie St. Clair
    Chi McBride
    Chi McBride
    • Illinois Gordonas Illinois Gordon
    Clarence Williams III
    Clarence Williams III
    • Bub Hewlettas Bub Hewlett
    Richard Bradford
    Richard Bradford
    • Captain Foleyas Captain Foley
    William Atherton
    William Atherton
    • Thomas Deweyas Thomas Dewey
    Loretta Devine
    Loretta Devine
    • Pigfoot Maryas Pigfoot Mary
    Queen Latifah
    Queen Latifah
    • Sulieas Sulie
    Mike Starr
    Mike Starr
    • Albert Salkeas Albert Salke
    Beau Starr
    Beau Starr
    • Jules Salkeas Jules Salke
    Paul Benjamin
    Paul Benjamin
    • Whispersas Whispers
    Joe Guzaldo
    • Bo Weinbergas Bo Weinberg
    Ed O'Ross
    Ed O'Ross
    • Lulu Rosenkrantzas Lulu Rosenkrantz
    J.W. Smith
    • Calvinas Calvin
    Eddie Bo Smith Jr.
    • Tee-Ninchyas Tee-Ninchy
    • Director
      • Bill Duke
    • Writer
      • Chris Brancato
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, Dutch Schultz, Lucky Luciano, and Stephanie St. Clair existed in real life, the movie is fictional and only loosely based on incidents in their lives during this time period. Many other characters, including Francine Hughes, Captain Foley, and Calvin, are wholly fictional.
    • Goofs
      While Bumpy and Madame St. Claire are listening to opera on the Victrola, the record playing displays the Okeh label. Okeh Records, founded in 1918 recorded mainly middle-of-the road popular music, standards, light classical and blues, but not opera.
    • Quotes

      Dutch Schultz: I remember the days when you could get a guy hit for 40 bucks.

      Albert Salke: We live in inflationary times

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: She's So Lovely/Hoodlum/Excess Baggage/Paperback Romance/M/Le Samurai (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
      Written by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills

      Performed by Laurnea Wilkerson

      Laurnea Wilkerson appears courtesy of Yab Yum Entertainment

    User reviews63

    Review
    Top review
    Entertaining but ultimately shallow gangster film that's been done before
    `Harlem 1934. In a world impoverished by the great depression, the single largest business in Harlem is an illegal lottery known as the `numbers'. For many, a winning numbers slip is the only chance to put food on the table. The undisputed leader of the Harlem numbers is Madame Queen, who has run this multi-million dollar business quietly and peacefully for over a decade. Notorious gangster Dutch Schultz has defied the wishes of his partner, crime chief Charles `Lucky' Luciano and decided it's time to share in the profits. There is only one obstacle in Dutch Schultz's path of destruction. His name is Ellsworth `Bumpy' Johnson.'

    That's the legend that comes on screen before the film starts, it basically tells you everything you need to know about the plot. Essentially it's an old fashioned gang war style film - it even has the spinning newspaper headlines and the background shots of people firing machine guns! The story holds no surprises and it's nothing new, however it is entertaining enough stuff if a little too long for it's own good.

    The way it is put together is very workman-like way. It has all the old tricks that other gangster films do and it doesn't do anything new. As such the cast don't do anything special either. Fishburne is nowhere near his best, he could have done this in his sleep. Similarly Garcia doesn't do anything special. Roth however hams it up wildly with his American accent thick as ever. The support cast stick to their stereotypes well - Williams plays the beautiful `virgin' type sucked into the gangster world, and various henchmen do their thing well. The cast does have some terrible performances - many of the black gangsters in fact are quite bad. The worst by far is the actress who played Madame Queen. She isn't convincing for one second, her accent is ridiculous and her performance is bad ham in every scene.

    Overall it's entertaining, although could have easily been 30 minutes shorter. However it's nothing special and nothing new. Given the cast involved I was really disappointed with the end result and expected better.
    helpful•7
    5
    • bob the moo
    • Jan 28, 2002

    FAQ3

    • Is this movie historically accurate?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 27, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gangster
    • Filming locations
      • Between Cermak Road & 23rd Street, Michigan Avenue, Near South Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production company
      • United Artists
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,499,102
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,162,768
      • Sep 1, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,499,102
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • DTS-Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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    Laurence Fishburne, Andy Garcia, and Tim Roth in Hoodlum (1997)
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