The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond

Streaming video - 1960

n this effective fictionalized Depression-era biography of Jack "Legs" Diamond--a ferocious, amoral, and manipulative monster who is willing to do anything for what he wants--the gangster who claimed he can't be killed finds out that he is no match for a deceitful woman. "Legs" (Ray Danton) gets his name because of his skill as a dancer, but he gets his reputation because he double-crosses everyone while working his way to the top of his network of rackets. Along the way, he meets and marries Alice (Karen Steele) and survives three attempts on his life. Dyan Cannon makes her film debut in a small role. The film won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design.