Billy Bathgate (1991)

5.9R102 minDirector: Robert Benton

1991 film by Robert Benton

Billy Bathgate is a 1991 American gangster film directed by Robert Benton, starring Loren Dean as the title character and Dustin Hoffman as real-life gangster Dutch Schultz. The film co-stars Nicole Kidman, Steven Hill, Steve Buscemi and Bruce Willis. Although Billy is a fictional character, at least four of the other characters in the film are real people. The screenplay was adapted by British writer Tom Stoppard from E.L. Doctorow's 1989 novel of the same name. Doctorow distanced himself from the film for the extensive deviations from the book. It received negative reviews and was a box-office bomb, only grossing $15.5 million against its $48 million budget.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Billy Bathgate about?
Billy Bathgate (1991) — In the year 1935, a teen named Billy Bathgate finds first love while becoming the protégé of fledgling gangster Dutch Schultz.
Is Billy Bathgate based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Billy Bathgate scary?
Content rating: R. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.