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Murder, Inc. | 
 enlarge | Directors: Burt Balaban, Stuart Rosenberg
Actors: Stuart Whitman, May Britt, Henry Morgan, Peter Falk, David J. Stewart
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $6.38
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New (29) Used (10) from $6.38
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 19343
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 103 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 024543242727
UPC: 024543242727
EAN: 0024543242727
ASIN: B000EHSVQY
Theatrical Release Date: 1960
Release Date: May 23, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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Product Description
No Description Available.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: NR
Release Date: 23-MAY-2006
Media Type: DVD
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| Customer Reviews:
 Educating, sober and interesting June 26, 2008
Pork Chop (Lisbon, Portugal)
Murder, Inc. (1960) is worth renting as a DVD, for the simple reason that
it shows the ugliness of murder, rubouts, contract killings in a Post-Prohibition
era, during which various gangs cooperated in a national syndicate, for profit
maximization as opposed to rival gangs competing for the same turf.
In fact, the gangs now prefer taking the low key approach, staying off the radar screen of
law enforcement. The biggest profit generators the movies suggests, are shakedowns of the
management of a company, by micromanaging the labor unions and their ability to strike and
hold the company hostage for a large pay increase unless the underworld is used to mitigate
the union's greed, or so they say. Another one, is the protection money required
from shopkeepers, under the risk of retaliation and complete destruction of their livelihood
( of the actual productive assets and inventory) should they refuse and resist payment.
This work is completely non-glossy in terms of a film, as it shows the underbelly of crime,
and the actual implications of taking part in the underworld, once the gang draws the
attention of law enforcement and the top bosses rub out their own helping hands, to avoid
being connected with the dastardly deeds they ordered be carried out.
One of the few artistic merits of their work, is the clarity, sharpness and good editing
coupled with the great wide-screen release, while the story itself (the script) is mixed
with a sentimental love story (perhaps not grounded in reality) to keep viewers interested
despite the hard hitting facts. Clearly, this movie was intended as an "educational tool"
by the police, to discourage crime and enlighten youth from partaking in profit generating
but illegal behavior.
Centered in Brooklyn, NY in the 1930's, the film is modern except for the telephones, and
automobiles shown, whereas the rest has stood the test of time.
The protagnonist, Falk, is an enigma, as sometimes he appears aloof, like a sitting duck
or Momma's Boy, but at other times, able to transform himself as a hard hitting criminal,
keen to violence, even to ruthlessness and generosity so long as it suits his agenda, even
rape. His oversized coat draws away from the movie's credibility, as it looks it just came
off the clothes rack, spotless, no dust.
It also gives horse betting and pawnshop keepers a bad name, as shylocking and betting is
condoned.
The movie is also brave, in terms of the mini skirts of the dancing girls shown on screen,
as the gangsters enjoy the entertainment of night clubs as well as crooners and the girls.
The story is valuable in showing how peer and economic pressures can sometimes push an
honest but vulnerable man to get involved in criminal activities, even when simply driving
or cooperating on a contract, vs. pulling the trigger.
For those familiar with the hierarchy found in the military, that of the underworld
syndicate is much alike, in the expectation of taking orders from the top without asking
questions, and respecting higher ranked individuals in the movement.
The psychology of criminals is also portrayed as that of greedy individuals, who are
unable to tame their desires and impulses. Falk yells " Whatever I want, I take! That's
what hands are for! To take!"
Bizarrely, the script is critical and mocking of showgirls as worthy housewives, as they
can't cook, (boil an egg), dress themselves decently or even maintain an interesting
conversation. It also associates those characteristics with women from European countries,
who arrive to the USA, as opposed to home grown USA women.
Overall, the story tells how 200 murders in 2 years were committed in Brooklyn alone, by a
small gang for maximizing their underworld revenue generation operations.
The story touches slightly on the law, in terms of Habeas Corpus, and corroborating
witnesseses and subpoenas and the like - needed in preparation of a court date, and how,
at the end of the day, st00l pigeons are a gang's archilles heel.
Punchy crime film from 1960 January 30, 2007
LGwriter (Astoria, N.Y. United States)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
This is Peter Falk's movie debut and it's a doozy. He plays Abe Reles, a killer with ice water instead of blood in his veins whose favorite instrument to dispatch his victims is an icepick--appropriately enough. He oozes menace--so much so that you can't take your eyes off him when he's on screen and when he's not on screen, you can't wait for him to show up again, even though he's seriously nasty.
The supporting cast is definitely good, but this is Falk's show, no question. In fact, he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this movie. The story is of a contract killer organization, whose name is the movie's title, put together by Louis Lepke in New York in the 1930s. Reles is Murder Inc's top hit man. Made in 1960, this is a tough film that reeks of filmmaking at that time. Although the vintage cars are possibly the only real indicator of the timeframe (since the dialogue doesn't use much, if any, of the slang at that time in vogue), Falk's propulsive acting moves the movie slam-bang from beginning to end.
The aforementioned supporting cast includes Stuart Whitman before he started grating on most moviegoers' nerves, May Britt as his sexy wife, and Simon Oakland (really good) and Henry Morgan as the two cops committed to bringing down Murder Inc, as well as Vincent Gardenia (when he was actually thin!!) as Reles' sleazy lawyer (Gardenia is also very good here).
Hard to believe that the rumpled seemingly confused Columbo got his silver screen start as a really nasty piece of work, but there you go. He's a lot of fun to watch. Kudos as well to Oakland and Gardenia.
Recommended.
Fascinating Gangster Movie July 16, 2006
Terence Allen (Atlanta, GA USA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Murder Inc. is a fictionalized account of the real-life syndicate killing machine created by Louis "Lepke" Buchalter to tie up loose ends within the organization.
The film, based on a book written by the New York DA who prosecuted the group, is a told in semi-documentary style, and features a fantastic performance by Peter Falk as Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, one of the group's top killer, who, in a fictional subplot, involve a nightclub singer and the singer's dancer/wife in the group's mayhem.
The fictional subplot isn't strong, and doesn't really add to the story, but the great acting by Falk and his co-stars, including May Britt, Stuart Whitman, and Simon Oakland, plus the fact that this is essentially a true story, make Murder, Inc a fascinating look at the innerworkings of the earlier days of the Mafia.
 And You Thought Columbo Was A Nice Guy June 28, 2006
Jeff Marzano (Essex Junction, VT USA)
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is an interesting movie due to the casting of Peter Falk as the ice pick wielding Abe Reles.
This is a true story which is based on a book written by the main detective in the movie I guess.
It's a classic case of a nice guy (Joey) who gets involved with a bad crowd. This brings tragedy on not only himself but those he loves.
Reles rapes Joey's wife but then later says to her "If you're not sore I'm not sore."
He also tells them later: "I really like you kids."
Mory Amsterdam gets the ice pick treatment I guess due to the quality of the jokes he was telling in a mob controlled night club.
Some casting agent eventually realized that maybe Peter Falk would be better cast as one of the good guys.
The casting of Falk later as Detective Columbo must certainly be one of the greatest casting decisions in history.
Jeff Marzano
Columbo - The Complete First Season
Columbo - The Complete Sixth and Seventh Seasons
Chilling Crime Drama May 26, 2006
David Baldwin (Philadelphia,PA USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This film is a gripping account of the crime syndicate that terrorized the nation during the waning days of the Great Depression. Filmed in black-and-white in a cinema verite style this film lays out the methodically brutal methods of the consortium that spread fear to the lawless and law abiding alike. The film focuses on the crime empire of Lepke (David J. Stewart) and how he held his grip on power through his vicious subordinates. None of his cronies was more brutal than Abe Reles, portayed here by Peter Falk in a volcanic film debut. Falk is listed in a supporting role here but his aura elevates an already fine film to another level. If you want to contrast Falk's work here I found it akin to that of Joe Pesci's portrayal of Tommy DeVito in "Goodfellas". Stuart Whitman and May Britt play a young couple ensnared by circumstance as accomplices to Lepke. Whitman and Britt, the film's ostensible stars, are kind of bland but do not detract from the overall power of this film.
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