The Gangster (1947): Cast & Plot
The Gangster is a 1947 crime drama directed by Gordon Wiles, starring Barry Sullivan as Shubunka, Belita and Akim Tamiroff. It runs 1 hour 24 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 24m (84 min)
- Director
- Gordon Wiles
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- King Brothers Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Gangster About?
The premise of The Gangster without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Based on the novel Low Company, this distinctive 1940s film‑noir stars Barry Sullivan as a petty gangster whose grand schemes begin to unravel, driving him into a mental breakdown. Belita appears as his low‑life girlfriend, whose presence only heightens his growing paranoia. Bleak backdrop and pacing underscore his descent into desperation.
The Gangster Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- extortion
- mob violence
- american gangster
- american criminal
- beaten to death with a skillet
- extortion racket
- exchanging threats
- manslaughter
- begging for money
- psychic
- thugs
- man shot
+38 more Show fewer
- takeover
- heavy rain
- gangster
- hoodlum
- graft
- narration
- thunderstorm
- soda fountain
- gambling
- letter
- restaurant
- pistol
- slapped in the face
- breakup
- rainstorm
- assault
- date
- beach
- auto repair
- following someone
- showgirl
- pistol whipped
- beaten up
- pawn ticket
- male slaps female
- boardwalk
- chanteuse
- numbers racket
- nightclub
- stage manager
- facial scar
- first person narration
- double cross
- embezzlement
- seagull
- pool hall
- corrupt politician
- betrayal
The Gangster Cast & Characters
Barry Sullivan leads the cast as Shubunka, with Belita as Nancy Starr and Akim Tamiroff as Nick Jammey. Directed by Gordon Wiles; 24 actors are credited in all.
- Director Gordon Wiles
-
Barry Sullivan as Shubunka - Belita as Nancy Starr
-
Akim Tamiroff as Nick Jammey - Sheldon Leonard as Cornell
Also Starring in The Gangster
· 20 more- John Ireland Karty
- Virginia Christine Mrs. Karty
- Joan Lorring Dorothy
- Shelley Winters Hazel
- Harry Morgan Shorty
- Elisha Cook Jr. Oval
- Jeff Corey Garage mechanic
- Charles McGraw Dugas
- Larry Steers Headwaiter
- Dewey Robinson Pool Player
- Murray Alper Eddie
- Edwin Maxwell Politician (as Eddie Maxwell)
- Leif Erickson Beaumont
- Marie Blake Hotel maid
- John Kellogg Sterling
- Griff Barnett Dorothy's father
Show all 24 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Sid Melton Nightclub stage manager
- Peter Whitney Garage mechanic
- Ted Hecht Swain (as Theodore Hecht)
- Fifi D'Orsay Mrs. Ostroleng
The Gangster Plot Summary
What happens in The Gangster from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Shubunka, Barry Sullivan, is a ruthless racketeer preying on small-time operators along the New Jersey boardwalk. He maintains power through protection and fear, while keeping a close, uneasy control over his world. His girlfriend, Nancy Starr, Belita, is a showgirl who walks a fine line between loyalty and self-preservation, caught in the orbit of Shubunka’s shady enterprises. Shubunka also extends his reach by backing Nick Jammey, Akim Tamiroff, who runs a New York beachfront cafe and relies on Shubunka’s clout to keep other predators at bay. In this tense landscape, a more formidable foe emerges: Cornell, Sheldon Leonard, a rival who aims to seize control of Shubunka’s operations and territory.
Full summary
The whole story of The Gangster, scene by scene
Seen The Gangster?
Movies Like The Gangster
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Gangster Story, Gangster and Gang War.
The Gangster FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Gangster, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Gangster?
The Gangster runs 1 hour 24 minutes (84 minutes).
When was The Gangster released?
The Gangster was released on November 25, 1947.
Who directed The Gangster?
The Gangster was directed by Gordon Wiles.
More films by Gordon Wiles Who is in the cast of The Gangster?
The Gangster stars Barry Sullivan as Shubunka, Belita as Nancy Starr and Akim Tamiroff as Nick Jammey, among 24 credited actors.
Does The Gangster have a post-credit scene?
No. The Gangster has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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