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Josef von Sternberg’s riveting breakthrough is widely considered the film that launched the American gangster genre as we know it. George Bancroft plays heavy Bull Weed, a criminal kingpin whose jealous devotion to his moll, Feathers (Evelyn Brent), gets him into hot water with a rival hood and, ultimately, the authorities. Further complicating matters is the attraction that blossoms between Feathers and an alcoholic former lawyer (Clive Brook). With its supple, endlessly expressive camera work and tightly wound screenplay based on a story by legendary scribe Ben Hecht (who won an Oscar for it the first year the awards were given), Underworld solidified von Sternberg’s place as one of Hollywood’s most exciting new talents.
Original Release
10/29/1927
US Release
10/29/1927
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Cast
Name | Character |
---|
George Bancroft | 'Bull' Weed |
Evelyn Brent | 'Feathers' McCoy |
Clive Brook | Rolls Royce Wensel |
Fred Kohler | 'Buck' Mulligan |
Helen Lynch | Meg, Mulligan's Girl |
Larry Semon | 'Slippy' Lewis |
Jerry Mandy | Paloma |
Alfred Allen | Judge |
Shep Houghton | Street Kid |
Andy MacLennan | One of Laughing Faces at the Ball |
Directors
Arthur Rosson, Josef von Sternberg
Writers
Josef von Sternberg, Charles Furthman, Howard Hawks, Ben Hecht, Robert N. Lee, George Marion Jr.
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
George Bancroft | 'Bull' Weed |
Evelyn Brent | 'Feathers' McCoy |
Clive Brook | Rolls Royce Wensel |
Fred Kohler | 'Buck' Mulligan |
Helen Lynch | Meg, Mulligan's Girl |
Larry Semon | 'Slippy' Lewis |
Jerry Mandy | Paloma |
Alfred Allen | Judge |
Shep Houghton | Street Kid |
Andy MacLennan | One of Laughing Faces at the Ball |
Ida May | Laughing Woman at the Ball |
Karl Morse | 'High Collar' Sam |
Bob Reeves | Detective at Railroad Station |
Julian Rivero | One of Buck's Henchmen |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
B.P. Schulberg | Producer |
Hector Turnbull | Producer |
Editors
Year | Type | Category | Won |
---|
1929 | Oscar | Best Writing, Original Story | Won |