- published: 17 Nov 2010
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Boardwalk Empire is an American television series from cable network HBO, set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era. It stars Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson. The show was adapted by Emmy Award-winning screenwriter and producer Terence Winter (of The Sopranos) from a book about historical criminal kingpin Enoch L. Johnson by Nelson Johnson, titled Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City.
The first episode, directed by Martin Scorsese, cost $18 million. On September 1, 2009, HBO picked up the series for an additional 11 episodes. It premiered on September 19, 2010, and has completed its second season. On October 12, 2011 it was announced that the series has been renewed for a third season.
Boardwalk Empire has received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its visual style and basis on historical figures, as well as for Buscemi's lead performance. The series was nominated for 18 Emmy Awards; winning eight, including Outstanding Directing for Martin Scorsese.
Steven Vincent "Steve" Buscemi (/bʉˈʃɛmi/ boo-SHEM-ee or boo-SEM-ee; born December 13, 1957) is an American actor, writer and film director. An associate member of the renowned experimental theater company The Wooster Group, Buscemi has starred and supported in successful Hollywood and indie films including New York Stories, Mystery Train, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Desperado, Con Air, Armageddon, The Grey Zone, Ghost World and Big Fish; and the HBO television series The Sopranos. He is also known for his appearances in many films by the Coen brothers: Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, The Big Lebowski and Paris, je t'aime.
Since 2010, he has starred in the critically acclaimed series Boardwalk Empire, which earned him two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe, and a nomination for an Emmy Award.
He made his directorial debut in 1996, with Trees Lounge, in which he also starred. Other works include Animal Factory (2000), Lonesome Jim (2005) and Interview (2007).
Michael Carmen Pitt (born April 10, 1981) is an American actor and musician. Pitt is known in film for his role in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Dreamers, and in television for his role as Jimmy Darmody in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.
Pitt made his off-Broadway debut in 1999 in the play The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek at the New York Theatre Workshop. A casting agent, whom Pitt mistook as a police officer attempting to arrest him, noticed him and recommended him for a guest role on the television series Dawson's Creek (he played Henry Parker in 15 episodes between 1999 and 2000). His breakout role as the lover of a transgender rock star in Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2001 led to supporting roles in Bully and in mainstream Hollywood fare such as Murder by Numbers and The Village, as well as the lead in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Dreamers.
He next appeared in Asia Argento's The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, and headlined Gus Van Sant's Last Days, playing a rock star based on Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. He performed all of the songs, which closely resembled Cobain's guitar and singing styles. On set, he met Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, who had been hired by Van Sant to serve as the film's music consultant. The pair formed a close bond, with Moore writing, "[Gus] wanted me to hang out with Michael and talk about his character, and let him be in character. We ended up spending a lot of time together. My daughter Coco still relates to Michael as Blake from Last Days."
Set in the Prohibition era of the 1920s Boardwalk Empire is the story of Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the treasurer of Atlantic County, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Due to his relationships with mobsters as well as political contacts, the Federal Government start to take an interest in him. His lavish lifestyle seems at odds with his position, and as well as his connections, there is prolific bootlegging in the area.
Keywords: 1920s, alcohol, atlantic-city-new-jersey, based-on-book, boardwalk, brother-brother-relationship, chicago-illinois, corruption, crime-boss, disfigured-face
Arnold Rothstein: [referring to D'Alessio brothers] Do you know what the nice thing is about the Bronx zoo, Charlie? There are bars between you and the monkeys.
Arnold Rothstein: [during a card game] What should I do here, Charlie?::Lucky Luciano: Depends on what the other guy got.::Arnold Rothstein: Depends on what the other gentleman has.::Lucky Luciano: Right.::Arnold Rothstein: Well? What does he have?::Lucky Luciano: How should I know? I'm no swami.::Arnold Rothstein: The very reason this game is so challenging. There's a lot of money in that pot. How much do you think is in there?::Buck: Plenty.::Arnold Rothstein: 22,500$. How much mining equipment do you have to sell to make 22 grand, Buck?::Buck: A lot. Now are you gonna call or fold?::Arnold Rothstein: I'll see your two... And raise you five.::Buck: Take it. I was bluffing.::Arnold Rothstein: I know. So was I.
Lucky Luciano: You wanted to see me?::Arnold Rothstein: Yeah, it turns out my sister-in-law's nephew, for a time at least, survived the shooting in the woods.::Lucky Luciano: Well, I'm sorry about your loss. Obviously, if there's anything I can do...::Arnold Rothstein: There is actually. You can kill someone for me to settle a debt. I have it on good authority that a James Darmody of Atlantic City was one of the two shooters.::Lucky Luciano: Who was the other one?::Arnold Rothstein: I don't know. But I'd bet you're persuasive enough to get Darmody to tell you.::Lucky Luciano: That's a good bet.::Arnold Rothstein: The only kind I make.
Arnold Rothstein: Meyer, Charlie, I believe you know Mr. Masseria.::Lucky Luciano: Everybody knows Joe the boss.::Arnold Rothstein: Then perhaps you also know, though it is of course news to me, that a card game you operate is located in territory that Mr. Masseria considers to be his.::Joe Masseria: Not considers! Is mine.::Arnold Rothstein: My thinking was, before any more blood is shed, that a compromise can be reached.::Meyer Lansky: More blood?::Joe Masseria: Tompkins Square Park, my two nephews? [imitates throat-cutting]::Lucky Luciano: I don't know what you're talking about.::Arnold Rothstein: Apparently two of Mr. Masseria's emissaries to your establishment were murdered shortly after their visit.::Meyer Lansky: We do operate a game in what might be termed a grey area territorially. But as to any violence in the neighborhood...::Joe Masseria: They stab themself, eh?::Lucky Luciano: A coincidence then. It happens.::Joe Masseria: On my streets, no coincidence. [indicates Charlie] This little prick, since he's 10 years old he causes problems.::Arnold Rothstein: It seems to me you boys ought to extend a token of goodwill towards Mr. Masseria. Shall we say a one-time fee of $2,000 for the families of those gentlemen and a tax of 10% on the game going forward?::Lucky Luciano: Hold on a fuckin' second...::Arnold Rothstein: Charlie.::Joe Masseria: 10% is okay. For now.::Arnold Rothstein: Then we have an agreement? [shake hands]::Joe Masseria: [in Italian] What are you doing with these Christ-killers? Come with me, I'll make you rich.::Lucky Luciano: [in Italina] With your other hand in my pockets.::Joe Masseria: [in Italian] I'm watching you, boy. Every fucking step. [Luciano stands up angrily]::Arnold Rothstein: Charlie.::Lucky Luciano: A.R., two grand is bad enough, but 10% of the fucking game?::Meyer Lansky: We already pay half the take on that game to you.::Arnold Rothstein: Yes. And now you boys know why.
Lucky Luciano: There's another 50 in the car. They're ingersolls.::Meyer Lansky: I wish you would stop with this. We schlep around with a box of watches, what do we look like?::Lucky Luciano: Fellas who know what time it is.::Meyer Lansky: Might as well set up a pushcart.::Benny Siegel: [comes in, surprised] Arnold Rothstein's here.::Meyer Lansky: We're talking, Benny.::Benny Siegel: Oh. So I should tell him go fuck a duck?::Lucky Luciano: Enough with the crazy shit already, huh?::Meyer Lansky: [glancing at Rothstein through the window] Bring him in before he breaks the house. [they scramble to look presentable] A.R., did you come to sit in?::Lucky Luciano: You know you're always welcome.::Arnold Rothstein: I'm afraid those sharpers out there'd fleece me. Owing to his present difficulties, I've made a deal with Nucky Thompson. He'll be offloading his liquor shipments in Philadelphia. Waxey Gordon will ensure safe arrival. The route to Atlantic city will be my responsibility.::Meyer Lansky: And you'd like us to recruit the muscle?::Arnold Rothstein: I would like you to be the muscle.::Lucky Luciano: A.R., we, uh, got some business going on just now.::Arnold Rothstein: I can see that. But Mr. Thompson is paying me a premium.::Lucky Luciano: Anybody could ride shotgun.::Arnold Rothstein: Until you encounter Indians.::Meyer Lansky: We're honored by your trust, A.R., and flattered that you would come below 14th street to discuss it personally. Aren't we, Charlie?::Lucky Luciano: Sure.::Arnold Rothstein: As it happens, I was down here having dinner with Joe Masseria, who left me with the distinct impression he'd still like both of you dead.::Lucky Luciano: You broke bread with that prick?::Arnold Rothstein: We were served a native dish of tripe, which I cannot abide. But I ate it anyway, to keep the peace. Some things, Charlie, you just have to swallow.
[coming in to speak with her husband, Arnold Rothstein]::Carolyn Rothstein: Arnold, a Nucky Thompson on the telephone.::Arnold Rothstein: I'll take it in here, darling.::Carolyn Rothstein: [about his diet, with a smile] How's that stomach?::Arnold Rothstein: It's still a little tentative.::Carolyn Rothstein: So much apple bread.::Arnold Rothstein: [laughs lightly] It has a binding effect.::Carolyn Rothstein: Is that the best thing right now?::Arnold Rothstein: A sound elimination is the basis of good health.::[Carolyn looks at him amusedly before exiting]
Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson: The puppies have grown fangs.
Margaret Schroeder: I would be honored to name my child after you.::Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson: Enoch? You couldn't possibly be so cruel.
James 'Jimmy' Darmody: You can't be half a gangster, Nucky. Not anymore.
Chalky White: These here are my daddy tools.::Klan leader: [nervously] What are you going to do with them?::Chalky White: Well, I ain't building no bookcase.