• Source: Man Against the Mob

      • Man Against the Mob (also known as Trouble in the City of Angels) is a 1988 NBC television movie directed by Steven Hilliard Stern, starring George Peppard, Kathryn Harrold and Max Gail. Man Against the Mob is a precursor of the 2013 theatrical feature Gangster Squad, in that it deals with the post-war formation of a special LAPD unit set up to suppress Organized Crime in Los Angeles. It may have been inspired by the success of the 1987 theatrical feature The Untouchables, a period drama which also depicted an elite law enforcement unit pitted against mobsters. This was designed around the actor George Peppard as a tough LA cop in the late 1940s. A December 10, 1989 NBC-TV movie follow-up, Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders, is a sequel that also stars Peppard, reuniting him with his co-star from The Blue Max, Ursula Andress. The first movie was a pilot of a proposed NBC series entitled City of Angels but ended up panning out as only the two TV movies before George Peppard died in 1994.


      Background and plot


      Investigating a brutal homicide, Peppard discovers that the killing is more than a common sex crime. A trail of evidence leads Peppard to a group of visiting Chicago mobsters, and ultimately to several of Los Angeles' better known citizens. Set in Los Angeles in the 1940s just after the War, the script has some pointed humour and there are witty lines and dialogue exchanges. Kathryn Harrold plays a War widow who is the love interest. He has lost his wife, Kathryn has lost her husband, and they both slowly get attracted to one another. Steven Stern does a satisfactory job of directing. Peppard's character is heroic, straight and honest, and fights the Mob's attempts to come in from New Jersey and infiltrate L.A., and they are being aided by an entire division of corrupt L.A. cops known as 'Metro Division'. Peppard escapes several assassination attempts, won't give up, and becomes pretty much a lone wolf as his few supporters are killed around him. Stella Stevens plays an owner of a nightclub. Part of the shooting of the movie was done at the Drake Hotel in Chicago as well as older historic hotels in Los Angeles in the MacArthur Park area.


      Featured cast




      Reception


      It was the 17th highest rated show of the week.


      Production information, crew, credits, misc.


      Production Companies: NBC, Von Zerneck Sertner Films, Worldwide Media
      Executive Producers: Frank Von Zerneck, Robert M. Sertner
      Producers: Phillips Wylly Sr., Steven Hilliard Stern
      Co-Producer: John Rester Zodrow
      Associate Producer: Susan Weber-Gold
      Director: Steven Hilliard Stern
      Editor: Barrett Taylor
      Negative cutter: Susanne Gervay
      Assistant Editor: Bob Leader
      Casting: Dick Dinman
      Music: Artie Kane
      Music editor: John Mick
      Music Supervisor: Terri Fricon
      Extras Casting: Bill Dance
      Actors/musicians (in club scenes): Luis Bonilla, Jack Cooper, Phil Feather, Alan Parr, Charlie Richard
      Production Manager: Phillips Wylly Sr.
      Assistant Directors: Ray Marsh, James J. Fitzpatrick
      Location Managers: Flip Wylly, Barry S. Jones
      Script Supervisor: Lee Nowak
      Production Coordinator: Anne Hart
      Production Designer: Shay Austin
      Set Decorator: Debra Combs
      Sound, Sound mixer: Richard Lightstone
      Sound re-recording: Wayne Artman, Tom Beckert, Tom Dahl
      Sound Effects: Rich Harrison
      Director of Photography: Denis Lewiston
      Camera Operator: Monty Rowan
      Costumes: Donna Roberts-Orme
      Hair Stylist: DeAnn Power
      Makeup: Davida W. Simon


      Critiques, reviews, ratings


      There is an interesting entry by James Robert Parish in his book Prostitution in Hollywood films: plots, critiques, casts, and credits for 389 theatrical and made-for-television releases (1992) talking about the plot and the use of prostitution as part of the two Man Against the Mob TV movies.

      review
      "...thanks to George Peppard's performance the film scored excellent ratings when first telecast in 1988. A 1989 TV-movie followup, Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders failed to match the ratings of the first effort." Hal Erickson - Allrovi


      Awards




      = 1989 Edgar Allan Poe Awards

      =
      Best Television Feature or Miniseries writing: David J. Kinghorn


      References




      External links


      Man Against The Mob at IMDb
      Man Against The Mob at TCM Movie Database
      Man Against The Mob at AllMovie
      Man Against The Mob, Movies at The New York Times
      Man Against the Mob at MSN Entertainment

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