Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond

Released Feb 3, 1960 1h 41m Crime Drama List
71% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
The New York killer (Ray Danton) goes from mob bodyguard to mob boss to mob target.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond

Critics Reviews

View All (7) Critics Reviews
Richard Brody New Yorker A strange, cold, sordid movie about a strange, cold, sordid gangster. Jul 13, 2015 Full Review John Beifuss Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) Director Budd Boetticher and screenwriter Joseph Landon are as fast on their feet as their hoofer-turned-gangster protagonist; the efficiency and momentum of their storytelling should be models of inspiration for today's filmmakers. Rated: 3/4 Sep 16, 2011 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Strange and often grim gangster film, notable for some off-trail approaches. Aug 10, 2011 Full Review David Kaplan Kaplan vs. Kaplan Rated: 3/5 Mar 1, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jun 11, 2005 Full Review Andy Klein Los Angeles CityBeat Rated: 4/5 Apr 7, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (11) audience reviews
Audience Member Sometimes overlooked, The Rise And Fall of Legs Diamond is one of the better crime bios of the 1950s (released in 1960). Ray Danton is magnetic in the title role of a psychopath Legs Diamond who holds no remorse for the multiple killings, betrayals and broken hearts he was responsible for. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the cast fails to match Danton's magnetism. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member The best gangster movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member You don't have to tell me you love me, I know you don't. Jack 'Legs' Diamond and his sick brother hold up in New York and begin a life of petty crime and thievery. When Jack gets arrested, he decides to step their game up a notch and become a crime boss. He quickly climbs the ranks but gets a little too confident. "Are you married?" "Yes. Yes, but not to her." Budd Boetticher, director of Seven Men from Now, The Tall T, Ride Lonesome, Comanche Station, A Time for Dying, The Cimarron Kid, and Bronco Buster, delivers The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond. The storyline for this picture is very well done and contains some fantastic shootouts. The script is solid and very well delivered. The cast includes Ray Danton, Karen Steele, Elaine Stewart, Simon Oakland, and Dyan Cannon. "Everybody wants favors." "I'm not asking for a favor." I saw this picture on the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) schedule some time ago and DVR'd it. I finally got around to watching it and thought it was very clever and well done. This isn't perfect, but is a worthwhile addition to the classic gangster genre and in-line with Bogart classic gangster pictures from this era. "I already have a partner tonight." "I'll get rid of him." Grade: B Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review s r Interesting, but not something I need to see again. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Tough little Budd Boetticher crime picture, telling the story of prohibition gangster Legs Diamond. Filmed in the style of a 1920s Warner Bros gangster film, with terrific photography by Lucien Ballard, the film does an excellent job balancing action and genuinely interesting character drama. A must see for Boetticher fans and classic gangster film fans. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member BEST GANGSTER MOVIE EVER!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Johnny Cool 50% 44% Johnny Cool The Lineup 88% 83% The Lineup Breathless 95% 90% Breathless Party Girl 83% 57% Party Girl The FBI Story 60% 47% The FBI Story Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis The New York killer (Ray Danton) goes from mob bodyguard to mob boss to mob target.
Director
Budd Boetticher
Producer
Milton Sperling
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
United States Pictures
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 3, 1960, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 41m
Most Popular at Home Now