The Untouchables: Difference between revisions

[[File:the-untouchables_8027.jpg|frame]]

 

 

A live action television series aired between 1959 and 1963 based on the exploits of ([[Real Life]]) [[The Roaring Twenties|1920s]] Chicago Prohibition agent Eliot Ness and his group of loyal agents, nicknamed "The Untouchables" because of their refusal to be bribed by the Mob as many others were at the time. Most notable for pursuing bootleggers and gangster [[Al Capone]] (and eventually arresting him--[[Justice by Other Legal Means|on tax evasion charges]]!) Later adapted as a movie in 1987, directed by [[Brian De Palma]] and written by [[David Mamet]]. It starred [[Kevin Costner]], [[Sean Connery]] and [[Robert De Niro]]. The film itself inspired a second television series in 1993, with Tom Amandes.

 

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{{tropelist}}

* [[The Big Bad]]: Capone, even after he is incarcerated, remains the puppet master.

* [[Bond One-Liner]]: Delivered in typical hard-boiled fashion, Ness uses these with enough subtlety to avoid [[Narm]].

* [[You Look Familiar]]: typically of the era.

 

* [[Agree to Disagree]]

* [[At the Opera Tonight]]: Robert DeNiro as Al Capone is seen attending an opera when Frank Nitti comes up and whispers the news that {{spoiler|Jim Malone had been killed}}.

* [[Team Shot]]: See the image up there. Also a in-universe example, the four pose for a family photo in a restaurant.

* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: No, Mr. Nitti, I don't think it's a particularly good idea to taunt Ness about his partner you murdered when both of you are standing on top of a tall building.

* [[Tragic Keepsake]]: {{spoiler|Malone's keychain}}.

* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]: The leader of the [[Canada, Eh?|RCMP]] calls out the Untouchables' [[Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique|brutal]] [[Disproportionate Retribution|methods.]]

** Also an example of [[Where Do You Think You Are?]].

* [[What You Are in the Dark]]: Ness is sorely tempted to shoot Nitti during the rooftop chase, when it's just the two of them there. He decides against it and arrests Nitti instead. {{spoiler|But then Nitti [[Berserk Button|just had to go taunting]] about how Malone died by his hand, and how he'll still beat the rap...}}

 

* [[Guns Akimbo]]: Subverted when the senior member confronts a villain who framed him. The villain tries to resist with twin tommy guns. However, the idiot doesn't realize that given how heavy the gun type is, he can't even keep them level and so doesn't do much more than shoot up the floor in front of him with a lot of noise. For his part, the Untouchable simply shoots the villain with two carefully aimed pistol shots.

** In the 1980s version, 'George Stone' has two guns on him at the train station when they separate. Stone notices Eliot has run out of ammunition, charges in, and passes Eliot one of his own pistols.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Films of the 1980s]]

[[Category:American Series]]

[[Category:Cop Show]]

[[Category:The Great Depression]]