The Empty Chair
- Episode aired Oct 15, 1959
- 52m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
188
YOUR RATING
With Capone in prison, Frank Nitti tries to grab the open top spot in the empire. But Capone's bookkeeper is giving him a run for his money.With Capone in prison, Frank Nitti tries to grab the open top spot in the empire. But Capone's bookkeeper is giving him a run for his money.With Capone in prison, Frank Nitti tries to grab the open top spot in the empire. But Capone's bookkeeper is giving him a run for his money.
Walter Winchell
- Narrator
- (voice)
Don Anderson
- Policeman
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
John Barton
- Passerby on Street
- (uncredited)
Audrey Betz
- Passerby on Street
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis is the second of eight appearances Harry Wilson makes in the series, always playing a bit part and always a different character. He is perhaps best know for his role as one of Spats Colombo's thugs in the classic movie Some Like It Hot (1959).
- GoofsOne of the brewery raids shows the truck with battering ram but the negative has been flipped, as you can see the truck driver and the accompanying sedan have the drivers on the right side of the vehicles. Another raid shows Keenan Wynn in the truck driver's seat, but he was killed in the pilot "The Scarface Mob."
- Quotes
Agent Enrico Rossi: Mr. Ness... I want to do more than testify.
Featured review
The first regular season episode of The Untouchables...
... which explores some background information on Untouchable agent Enrico Rossi and the enforcer, Frank Nitti.
It is shown how and why Rossi first became an Untouchable - I don't think OPM would approve this hire today- and Frank Nitti's desire to sit in Al Capone's "Empty Chair" after Capone is convicted of income tax evasion.
Nitti has an unlikely opponent in Capone organization bookkeeper Jake Guzik. Guzik points out to Nitti that shooting things out with opponents in a war and striking back at the Untouchables is exactly what Elliott Ness wants, but having legitimate businesses as fronts and paying their taxes on them while still going about their illicit activities will leave Ness no course of action. This starts an uneasy truce between the two with Ness wondering why Nitti isn't behaving like the violent thug he is.
On the sideline is ex burlesque queen and widow of hoodlum George Ritchie, Brandy LaFrance, who wants to get even with whoever killed her husband and has been made to believe that Elliott Ness is responsible.
Guzik really was right - the pen, or the accountant's pencil, really is mightier than the sword. Nitti and his explosive temper should not have lasted another episode into the series, but then Bruce Gordon as Nitti was very flamboyant in the role. It will take a while after this episode for The Untouchables to find its footing with really great performances and scripts.
It is shown how and why Rossi first became an Untouchable - I don't think OPM would approve this hire today- and Frank Nitti's desire to sit in Al Capone's "Empty Chair" after Capone is convicted of income tax evasion.
Nitti has an unlikely opponent in Capone organization bookkeeper Jake Guzik. Guzik points out to Nitti that shooting things out with opponents in a war and striking back at the Untouchables is exactly what Elliott Ness wants, but having legitimate businesses as fronts and paying their taxes on them while still going about their illicit activities will leave Ness no course of action. This starts an uneasy truce between the two with Ness wondering why Nitti isn't behaving like the violent thug he is.
On the sideline is ex burlesque queen and widow of hoodlum George Ritchie, Brandy LaFrance, who wants to get even with whoever killed her husband and has been made to believe that Elliott Ness is responsible.
Guzik really was right - the pen, or the accountant's pencil, really is mightier than the sword. Nitti and his explosive temper should not have lasted another episode into the series, but then Bruce Gordon as Nitti was very flamboyant in the role. It will take a while after this episode for The Untouchables to find its footing with really great performances and scripts.
helpful•20
- AlsExGal
- Jan 25, 2022
Details
- Runtime52 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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Top Gap
What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of The Empty Chair (1959) in Australia?
Answer