Billy Bathgate (film)


Billy Bathgate is a 1991 American gangster film directed by Robert Benton, starring Loren Dean as the titular character and Dustin Hoffman as reallife gangster Dutch Schultz. The film costars Nicole Kidman, Steven Hill, Steve Buscemi, and Bruce Willis. Although Billy is a fictional character, most of the other characters in the film represent real people from 1930s New York. The screenplay was adapted by British writer Tom Stoppard from E.L. Doctorows novel of the same name. However, Doctorow distanced himself from the film for the extensive deviations from the book.

Facing legal charges in a court in upstate New York, Schultz brings Billy and Drew along. He successfully charms the locals, presenting himself as charming and good natured. While his boss Dutch stands trial, Billys job is to watch over Drew. His loyalties to Schultz are tested as he begins falling in love with the flirtatious Drew. Realizing that Drew is about to be killed, Billy calls her husband, who hurries to town and takes her home before Schultzs men can make their move.Having beaten the rap in court, Dutch is indicted again on federal tax evasion charges. He wants to have federal prosecutor Thomas Dewey murdered, but his request is rejected by the Mafia Commission. Schultz sends Billy to another gangster with some bribe money, but the effort is rejected. When Billy returns with the bad news, he and Schultz have a falling out and Billy is fired by Schultz associate Otto, who lets him keep the bribe money as a severance package. As Billy leaves, he is abducted and beaten by gangsters working for Lucky Luciano. The men storm Dutchs hideout and kill everyone inside. Billy is taken before Luciano, who warns him that he knows where Billys family lives, before letting him go. ........

Source: Wikipedia


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