During prohibition,
Chicago had Capone, NYC had Luciano and Detroit had the Purple Gang. The
Purple Gang may have been the most violent of them all. They were behind
an estimated 500 murders. They came to control everything; liquor, gambling,
prostitution, numbers, killings for hire and extortion. Very few were sentenced
to prison because witnesses were too terrified and cops were bought off.
This film goes into their rise and fall in a style very much like the TV
show, The Untouchables (which in fact had an episode about the Purple Gang).
Much of it is made up but a few dramatic shootouts are based on fact. They
were not part of the Mafia, but an independent group primarily Jewish. At
times, they had fights with the Mafia. Being right across from Canada, Detroit
was a major destination for smuggled booze that then was shipped across America.
Barry Sullivan as a cop narrates the film.
The Gang started small; teenagers stealing from stores and offering protection.
He wants to lock them up, but the bleeding heart social service lady keeps
getting them out. They just need love and understanding. Sure lady. They
are all psychopaths with their leader being the biggest. He is played by
baby-faced Robert Blake in total insane mode with his eyes black holes of
inhumanity. Getting him prepared for In Cold Blood and perhaps for murdering
his girlfriend in real life. Some nasty murders in this, but the ending was
made up.
