Boardwalk Empire (2010– )

Chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson, the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City, who was equal parts politician and gangster.

Creator:

Terence Winter

Stars:

Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 36 wins & 64 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Steve Buscemi	...	Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Kelly Macdonald	...	Margaret Schroeder (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Michael Shannon	...	Agent Nelson Van Alden (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Shea Whigham	...	Elias 'Eli' Thompson (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Michael Stuhlbarg	...	Arnold Rothstein (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Stephen Graham	...	Al Capone (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Vincent Piazza	...	Lucky Luciano (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Michael Kenneth Williams	...	Chalky White (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Anthony Laciura	...	Eddie Kessler (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Paul Sparks	...	Mickey Doyle (36 episodes, 2010-2012)
Gretchen Mol	...	Gillian Darmody (33 episodes, 2010-2012)
Jack Huston	...	Richard Harrow (29 episodes, 2010-2012)
Lucy Gallina	...	Emily Schroeder (27 episodes, 2010-2012)
Josie Gallina	...	Emily Schroeder (27 episodes, 2010-2012)
Declan McTigue	...	Teddy Schroeder (26 episodes, 2010-2012)
Rory McTigue	...	Teddy Schroeder (26 episodes, 2010-2012)
Brady Noon	...	Tommy Darmody (25 episodes, 2010-2012)
Connor Noon	...	Tommy Darmody (25 episodes, 2010-2012)
Michael Pitt	...	James 'Jimmy' Darmody (24 episodes, 2010-2011)
Aleksa Palladino	...	Angela Darmody (24 episodes, 2010-2011)
Paz de la Huerta	...	Lucy Danziger (24 episodes, 2010-2011)
Dabney Coleman	...	Commodore Louis Kaestner (24 episodes, 2010-2011)
Charlie Cox	...	Owen Slater (23 episodes, 2011-2012)
Anatol Yusef	...	Meyer Lansky (22 episodes, 2010-2012)
Victor Verhaeghe	...	Ward Boss Fleming (20 episodes, 2010-2012)
Robert Clohessy	...	Ward Boss Neary (17 episodes, 2010-2011)
Kevin O'Rourke	...	Edward Bader (17 episodes, 2010-2012)

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

Politician | Atlantic City New Jersey | Gangster | Boardwalk | 1920s | 

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Taglines:

Atlantic City, 1920. When alcohol was outlawed, outlaws became kings.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

HBO [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Boardwalk Empire - Gengszterkorzó

Filming Locations:

Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Leverage Management, Closest to the Hole Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

1920s Atlantic City was recreated for this series in a set in Brooklyn, New York. Executive producer and pilot director Martin Scorsese was so exacting in accuracy that (for example) he insisted the planks on the boardwalk be of the same exact size as they were in Atlantic City at that time.

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Goofs

Al Capone's son, Sonny, is portrayed as being entirely deaf at the age of 2 years. In real life Sonny contracted an infection that only left him partially deaf and only did so at the age of 7. However, this series is intended to be fictional, but based on real life events. Factual inaccuracies are therefore not considered goofs.

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Quotes

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?
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Steve Buscemi/The Black Keys (2011)
Referenced by Steve Buscemi in the opening monologue

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Soundtracks

"Straight Up and Down"
Written by Anton Newcombe
Performed by The Brian Jonestown Massacre

User Reviews

Fantastic Series!

This is a fantastic series; its the kind of outstanding, must-see programming that drives new subscribers to HBO. The series has superb production values and masterful direction by Scorsese. The acting is first-rate all around, especially the portrayal of Rothstein.

Nucky's girlfriend (played by Paz de la Heurta) spices the show up with wonderful flashes of her beautiful nude body. The dressing room scene in episode #3 where she strips naked is magnificent to behold! The lady is a work of art...

There is also a subtle complexity to the character of Nucky. He is not just a "bad" villain; a simple,one-dimensional caricature. Instead, he shows loving emotions, such as his desire to have children and his attraction to the good-hearted, honest immigrant girl. (who on the surface appears to be his antithesis) He doesn't just commit crimes or violence for enjoyment of evil, but its often part of a Machiavellian purpose.He doesn't just take from the community, but he gives back as well. Perhaps he is the benevolent dictator or Philosopher King that Plato imagined. In many cases he redistributes wealth to those who need it most. Even if he is primarily doing it to serve his own interests, he is providing a critical function and service to the community and time in which he lives.

The series also makes stinging criticisms of how the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and how powerful political and economic interests often manipulate naive, well-intentioned fools. Even today, soft drugs like marijuana are illegal, while far more addictive and socially harmful products (such as tobacco and alcohol) are legal. Marijuanna has been kept illegal because the powerful alcohol and tobacco lobby groups don't want competition to cut into their profits. But dumb people still believe the politicians who outlaw soft drugs like this are doing it to "protect" society.

In any case, this series is highly entertaining and will help people to understand the futility of prohibition policies and start to think about the real political and economic interests that are operating behind the scenes. The show is fun and addictive. (hopefully the government won't outlaw it) Watch it; you'll be glad you did.