MovieChat Forums > The Enforcer (1951) Discussion > Earlier Version of Murder Inc.

Earlier Version of Murder Inc.

posted 15 years ago by mdudnikov
4 replies | jump to latest

In 1960 Peter Falk made his film debut as Abe Reles in the movie Murder Inc., which was based on the book of the same name by Burton Turkus the man who put away many of the members of that group. However the book came out in 1951, and this movie is actually an earlier fictionalized version of the book. Here Bogart plays Turkus (Henry Morgan took that role in the 1960 movie) and Everett Sloane is Lepke. Both movies are quite good and it is interesting to watch them and compare which actually tells more truth. One movie channel recognizing that even put the movies on back to back one day. One interesting thing is that in the movie there is a character referred to as Philadelphia, and in real life one of the main hit men for Murder Inc. was Harry, Pittsburgh Phil, Strauss.

[–] davidasimov 14 years ago

I thought the Bogie character was based on Tom Dewey, who smashed Murder, Inc.

[–] Druxy 14 years ago

THE ENFORCER is not adapted from the same source material (i.e. book) as MURDER, INC.

The story of Louis Lepke and Murder, Inc. is a matter of historical record, so any writer can drawn from that material.

Though fictionalized, THE ENFORCER stays pretty close to the basic facts of the case. I think it's one of Bogart's best "non-classic" movies.

[–] det_marlowe 12 years ago

Very interesting. I was thinking The Enforcer was based on this too, and agree with the comment on it being one of Bogie's best "non-classic" movies. Easily one of his more underrated ones.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

Thanks