In this Prohibition-era silent film, James McQuigg (Thomas Meighan) is an honest police captain in a city ruled by gangsters and corrupt politicians. McQuigg tries repeatedly to arrest Nick Scarsi (Louis Wolheim), a bootlegging kingpin, but can’t get charges to stick. After rejecting Scarsi’s bribes, the incorruptible McQuigg is transferred out of town, but refuses to be intimidated. When Scarsi’s younger brother is caught in a hit-and-run, McQuigg attempts to take down the criminal underworld.
Initial release: June 30, 1928
Director: Lewis Milestone
Music composed by: Robert Israel
Producer: Howard Hughes
Screenplay: Bartlett Cormack, Harry Behn
It’s about time I saw Louis Wolheim on this sub. He’s the one who’s looking through the hats. He used to play the heavy or gangster in a lot of films because his face. “Gentleman’s Fate” was a very good movie that he starred in, but he’s probably best known for “All Quiet on the Western Front”.
Bill Nye was a ’20s gangster.
