The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (Warner Bros.) (1960)

Times And Crimes Of Young Mob Lord Told In Warner Bros. Explosive Drama ‘The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond” “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” starring Ray Danton, Karen Steele, and Elaine Stewart is an explosive and highly dramatic picturization of the gangster influence in American life during the 1920’s and early 1930's. It is also a deeply moving story of the blind love of a good woman for a worthless man. This United States Productions picture for Warner Bros. open........ atthe. 2 os Theatre. Producer Milton Sperling and director Budd Boetticher vividly depict the rise and degeneration of notorious gangster, Legs Diamond, while at the same time faithfully reflecting a picturesque era. Legs was born John Thomas Diamond in Philadelphia in 1899. His talent for dancing won him the nickname. As a youth he never held a job long and began a life of crime at an early age. Diamond hit the so-called bigtime as a bodyguard for an underworld leader. From there his rise to the upper ranks of gangdom was rapid. He was known as a ruthless man who would kill his closest friends to hold his power over gambling, bootlegging and other illicit operations. A myth grew up about his indestructability. During numerous gun battles he stopped 20 bullets and several times was critically wounded. Each time he recovered. Producer Milton Sperling spent many months of pre-production research into police files and court records before beginning the filming of “Legs.” Sperling, a gentleman well-versed in all phases of film making, has won a reputation as one of Hollywood’s finest producers. A successful writer before becoming a producer, Sperling still authors many of his motion picture scripts. Among his production are “Marjorie Morningstar,’ “The Bramble Bush,” “The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell,” “Distant Drums” and “The Enforcer.” The direction of “Legs” was entrusted to the expert hands of Budd Boetticher who has proven during the past few years that he is not only a talented, but also a versatile young director. Boetticher’s own background, which includes a year as a torero, is as colorful as the films he directs. These include “Sen Men From Now,” “Bullfighter and the Lady,” “East of Sumatra,” “Wings of the Hawk” and “Decision at Sundown.” Ray Danton becomes a _ fullfledged star with his dynamic and brutally honest portrayal of Legs Diamond, a criminal who learned he could attain his goals by inspiring fear in others through his violence. Karen Steele Plays Wife Of Mobster In Dramatic Film MAT-1B Karen Steele co-stars with Ray Danton and Elaine Stewart in “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” a United States Productions picture for Warner Bros., Opening: --7.63 a at-thes.-=2= Theatre. Gentlemen. Don’t trifle with the affections of Karen Steele. She’s a crack pistol shot, an expert at judo and had training fighting bulls. The beautiful actress is currently starring with Ray Danton in “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” a United States Productions picture for Film-goers will discover that Karen Steele has two of Hollywood’s shapeliest legs when they see her in night club dance numbers in “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” a United States Picture for Warner Bros., in which she stars with Ray Danton. The film opens.................... BENS. 3 ee Theatre. Cover Girl Actress Beautiful Elaine Stewart is a former famed Conover model who has made good in Hollywood. She appeared on many magazine covers before she was signed to a film contract. She is currently starring with Ray Danton and Karen Steele in “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” a United States Productions picture for Warner Bros., opening Though Miss Steele’s gams have been kept under wraps in films, their extreme pulchritude has been admired by sports lovers for some time. Her legs were highly efficient as well as decorative when they propelled her to swimming and tennis championships in her native Honolulu and later in tennis tourneys on the mainland. In her Hawaiian paradise the athletic as well as beautiful Miss Steele also spent considerable time surf boarding, spear fishing, outrigger canoeing and ti-leaf sliding. The last mentioned activity consists of sliding down hill on large ti-leaves. When she went to Rollins Coljored in physical education, but one lege in Florida, Miss Steele first maappearance in a college play was enough to convince her and her professors that she should be a drama major. Upon coming to Hollywood Miss Steele’s first professional appearance was on the “Let George Do It” radio show. Her sensitive performance as the girl with in-law trouble in “Marty” launched her on a motion picture career. Her motion pictures have included “Toward the Unknown,” in which she played James Garner’s wife; “The Sharkfighters” opposite Victor Mature; and “Westbound” with Randolph Scott. She has also starred in numerous television shows. Miss Steele’s symmetrical limbs might easily confuse people not familiar with the story of “Legs Diamond.” She’s not playing the title role. The role of John Thomas Diamond, a ruthless gangster of the 1920’s, better known as Legs Diamond, is expertly portrayed by Ray Danton. Underworld Battle Some of the most spectacular gun battles ever seen in a motion picture were staged by director Budd Boetticher for “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” in which Diamond shoots his way to underworld supremacy during the prohibition era. Ray Danton and Karen Steele star in this United States Productions picture for Warner Bros., op Under contract to Warner Bros. the ex-New Yorker has been featured in “Onionhead,” “Yellowstone Kelly” and “Ice Palace” and has had leading roles in many of the studios TV films. He has proven himself an accomplished young actor who can handle a wide variety or roles. Co-star Karen Steele is a beautiful young actress who has only been waiting for the right role to fully reveal her abilities. The dramatic role of the ever loyal Alice, later Mrs. Legs Diamond, gives Miss Steele this opportunity. It is interesting to note that 28 years ago another beatiful blonde, Jean Harlow, zoomed to stardom on the Warner Bros.’ lot as the result of her portrayal of a gangsters moll with James Cagney in “Public Enemy.” Miss Steele first attracted attention by her sensitive performance as the girl with in-law trouble in “Marty.” She has since had leading roles in “Toward the Unknown,” “The Sharkfighters” and “Westbound.” Elaine Stewart, one of Hollywood’s most glamorous actresses, heads the top featured players as Monica Drake, girl friend of an underworld czar. Film Biography Of Notorious Mobster Ray Danton portrays John Thomas Diamond, the cold-blooded killer and notorious gangster of the prohibition era in “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” a United States Productions picture for Warner Bros. Born in Philadelphia in 1899, Diamond was first convicted of burglary at the age of 15. He never remained long in any real job and enjoyed spending his nights in dance halls where his talent for dancing won him the nickname of Legs. Diamond started to become a big shot in the underworld when he was hired as a bodyguard for a bigtime gangster leader. He was accused of a variety of crimes—robbery, murder, narcotics smuggling and bootlegging—but managed to stay out of jail. In reaching the top rung of gangland Diamond built a reputation as a man who would kill his closest friends to hold his power. Danton stars with Karen Steele in MAT-iC Ray Danton plays the title role in “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” United States Pro ductions Picture, for Warner Bros., which starts ............-..-..--.al the <3 a. pa eee Theatre. Karen Steele and Elaine Stewart also star in the film story of the notorious gangster of the Twenties. MAT-2B Ray Danton appears in the title role of “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” a United States Productions picture for Warner Bros., WRICMEORENS <2 e-e -eee eee Ab-Ihe. 250 ee re Theatre. The film biography of the mobster who rubbed out the top ganglords of the ’20’s and built New York’s most brutal vice empire also stars Karen Steele and Elaine Stewart. Picture was produced by Milton Sperling and directed by Budd Boetticher. Actress Invests In Booming Real Estate Land, not diamonds, is a girl’s best friend. An active supporter of this theory is beautiful and shapely Elaine Stewart who has been salting away her film salary in choice lots ever since arriving in Hollywood from Montclair, New Jersey, six years ago. “When I saw how Southern California was booming I saved as much of my weekly pay as possible and bought land in Palm Springs, Malibu and Ventura County. Real estate has not only been a sound investment, but also a business in which I have become tremendously interested. I am fascinated in analyzing what will be growth property and what will be a bad investment,” she declared. “At present I am contemplating the purchase of land in New Mexico and as soon as I am able to get away I’m going to Hawaii with the idea of acquiring acreage in our 50th state.” The actress, currently starring ‘with Ray Danton and Karen Steele in “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” a United States Productions picture for Warner Bros., opening ee at MNO gs. to ease Theatre, has also developed a remunerative business from her hobby of interior decorating. During the past three years she has bought 20 homes, redecorated them herself, then sold each one at a profit. In person or in films the sultry Miss Stewart hardly resembles the popular conception of the astute business woman. Yet in addition to being a real estate operator she is a keen judge of the stock market movements and has also invested in some gushing Texas oil wells. “I hope that I'll continue to act for many years. However, unlike some other actresses, I don’t worry about the day my career might end. I know that I have another profession which will keep me busy and happy.” Ray Danton measures 6'1”, the exact height of Legs Diamond, the ruthless gangster of the 1920’s he portrays in “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” a United States Pro ductions picture for Warner Bros., coming to the................-.-T VCATEE Ss csc Becg shoes sence TR oe Oe A ey ee Director's Life As Colorful As Films The background of Budd Boetticher is as colorful as the motion pictures he directs. He is a former football, baseball and basketball star, was a Golden Gloves middleweight champion in Chicago and light-heavyweight boxing champ of Ohio State University. After seeing a bull fight in Mexico City he planned to become a torero, trained under the expert tutelage of Lorenzo Garza and had 28 contests. Boetticher’s knowledge of bull fighting gave him his initial film break when he was signed as technical advisor on “Blood and Sand.” Boetticher’s latest motion pictture, “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond,” a United States Productions picture for Warner Bros., starring Ray Danton and Karen Steele, During pre-production _ research on “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond” producer Milton Sperling discovered that the last hideout of the notorious gangster was across the street from the Governor’s Mansion in Albany, New York. Ray Danton and Karen Steele star in the United States Productions picture for Warner Bros., opening The sizzling and dramatic performance given by gorgeous newcomer Karen Steele as the wife of ruthless gangster, Legs Diamond, in “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond” brings to mind the fact that 28 years ago another beautiful blonde, Jean Harlow, zoomed to stardom as the result of her portrayal of a gangster’s moll with James Cagney in “Public Enemy.” Miss Steele stars with Ray Danton and Elaine Stewart in the United States Productions picture, for Warner Bros., which opens