Wow! Such a good movie.

Lack of good storyline.

Fantastic!

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The infamous St. Valintine Day Massacre in 1929 was the beginning of the end of Chicago mobster Alfonse "Big Al" Capone, Jason Robards, in that it drew the attention of the US Justice Department as well as IRS on him that eventually ended up putting him behind bars, for of all things tax evasion, and out of commission for good. It was the Irish George "Bugs" Moran and "Bug's, Ralph Meeker, himself that Capone targeted who in fact escaped being killed just moments before the shooting began. Moran and his boys were out having a cup of coffee that snowy morning that kept them away from the garage on 2122 N. Clark St where the massacre happened.Big Al had it in for Moran since 1924 in him trying to cut in on his action in North Chicago that drove him psycho.It was his overreaction to all this that in the end put then heat-or law- on Big Al like no other mobster ever could. The St. Valintine Day Massacre was the last of the Capone gangland wipe-outs that resulted, on both sides, in some 600 gang land killings in Chicago during the Capone years and by far the bloodiest. Not only did seven members of the "Bugs" Moran gang get killed but those who murdered them over the next few years ended up also getting iced themselves. As for "Bugs" Moran he in fact died in his sleep in 1957 after serving a 10 year sentence on a robbery conviction.Using hoods dressed as Chicago police Capone, who at the time was vacationing in far off and sunny Florida, had Moran's boys feel they were just getting pinched by the police on a minor charge and be booked and let go before the day ended. As things turned out it was to be the last day of their lives. Director Roger Corman's first major movie that had him being taken seriously by the Hollywood big wigs who never thought that much of him and his talent as a serious filmmaker.P.S It was Capone's use of fake police to do his dirty work that was soon to be copied by fellow big time mobster "Lucky" Luciano two years later in the notorious September 10, 1931 massacre-Depicted in movies like "Stone Killer" & "The Valichi Papers"- of some 40 old line Mafia hoods in NYC and its surroundings that in the end made the mob or Mafia far more effective dangerous and successful, by letting non Sicilians to join it, then it even was during the Al Capone era.

Favorite movie quote - "They don't call that guy 'Bugs' for nothing!" (snicker-snicker) Yep. I was really surprised to find out that 1967's The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (or, TSVDM, for short) was, in fact, directed by Roger Corman, the undisputed "king" of super low-budget horror and teen exploitation films of the 1950s and 60s.(And, I must say that I was quite impressed) Up to this point in his film-making career Corman had been directing "quickies" with budgets in the $250,000 range (or less). But, then, with this picture he was handed a cool million to throw around. And, by what I saw, I don't think that he recklessly squandered that dough on this production.Set in the year 1929 (in the crime-drenched metropolis of Chicago), TSVDM's story is, indeed, based on actual events that led up to a very special sort of Valentine's Day surprise that made the most sensational headlines that you could possibly imagine.Featuring plenty of swell-looking cars, cheap-looking whores, and deadly, drive-by shootings, TSVDM is an exciting gangster picture of treachery and double-crosses that, convincingly enough, captures the nostalgic feel of a "Depression Era" America.Other than a few "damns", and a couple of "hells", thrown in for good measure, this rough, tough macho-man picture contained no profanity, whatsoever.My one big beef about this picture has to do with the gross miscasting of actor Jason Robards as the ruthlessly violent Al Capone character.I mean, let's face it, Capone was, without question, one of the meanest and lousiest bastards imaginable. And, nope, I'm sorry to say, Robards just didn't cut the mustard with his portrayal. No way, Jose.

I'd like to think that Roger Corman and the cast had a jolly good time making this outrageous movie. Certainly everyone in the cast seems to be enjoying himself. It's as if Corman's directorial advice had been boiled down to one sentence: Swing away.A nice cast, full of familiar faces. Most enjoyable: Jason Robards Jr. trying to imitate an Italian mobster using every operatic device in the book. See him learn of the death of an underling and break into sobs. Watch him explode in rage and spout Italian in an American accent. Shiver at the relish with which he proceeds with the castration of an "assassino". Laugh out loud as he gesticulates, he shrieks, he chokes with contumely, his exopthalmic eyeballs threatening to pop at any moment and launch themselves at his target.Most entertaining scene: George Segal, as one of the seven, who has a fight with his paramour over an expensive fur coat. He smashes a half-eaten sandwich in her face, she kicks him in the jewels after his violence turns him amorous, he throws her out into the hall in her scanties, then dashes after her and grabs the coat out of her hands, while half a dozen onlookers stand by and complain about the noise.I've seen this twice. Can't recall if the first viewing left me confused or not, but this one did. All I could make of it was that Capone and O'Banion were enemies, blaming each other for breaking the agreement. And the seven men blown to pieces in the garage were mostly unlucky schlubs. The story, addled by violent flashbacks to previous murders, is complicated enough to resemble the Borgia court.Most memorable element of the film: Paul Frees' fruity intonations as he narrates the plot. "On the last morning of his life, Peter Gusenberg ate a ham sandwich on rye with pickles and mustard...."

The snow was falling hard covering the streets and cars in Chicago. With such an opening, you might think this was another Christmas film. But, it was February, Valentine's Day, and Al Capone's (Jason Robards) boys were going to spread a little love to Bugs Moran (Ralph Meeker) and his gang.Chigago native, Jason Robards (All the President's Men, Julia) made a great Al Capone, even if he wasn't Sicilian. He was supported by a great cast that included Bruce Dern (Coming Home) and Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, As Good as It Gets).The documentary style employed by director Roger Corman (Frankenstein Unbound, The Wild Angels) really made the film as it was all based on true facts.