Al Capone (film) Al Capone (film) Al Capone is a 1959 biographical crime drama film directed by Richard Wilson, written by Malvin Wald and Henry F. Greenberg, and released by Allied Artists. It starred Rod Steiger as Al Capone. Steiger reportedly refused the producers' first offer to star in this film because he thought the initial screenplay inappropriately romanticized Capone and criminality. In an interview Steiger said, "I turned the picture down three times." According to TCM, he agreed to play the role only after the producers agreed to rewrite. The finished film was noted for its deglamorized portrayal of the subject. Chicago,
Al Capone (film) films like "Baby Face Nelson" (1957). J. Edgar Hoover criticised the film and a proposed movie about Pretty Boy Floyd was dropped. However in 1957 Lindley Parons and John Burrows announced they would make a film about Al Capone for Allied Artists. Jack De Witt was assigned to write the script. The script was worked on by Mal Wald and Henry Greenberg who were known for doing true life stories, including an episode of "Climax!" about Albert Anastasia. Rod Steiger was cast in the lead. He had been reluctant to play the lead but was persuaded once he read the