December 17, 1959
5118-12
March 1935. One of the toughest mobsters in New York City is Dutch Schultz. He and his mob were responsible for over 100 murders. Dutch is into every racket: liquor, narcotics, labor shakedowns, the numbers, selling protection. But "Lucky" Luciano is muscling in on his territory; to try to keep his clients from paying to Luciano, Dutch Schultz has his boys work his clients over with fists. When Joe Floris won't pay 30% protection money to Schultz, saying he is already paying 15% to Luciano, Joe Floris gets some acid in the face, blinding him. But Dutch has a gentler side, too-- his wife just had a baby.
Eliot Ness and his Untouchables are on special assignment in New York City. Agent Flaherty works undercover, and Ness and his men get Schultz's books. It looks like Eliot Ness is about to nail Dutch Schultz on income tax evasion, just like he did Al Capone. One night, Dutch Schultz offers Eliot Ness and Flaherty a $75,000 bribe; the Untouchables facetiously pretend they are interested. Flaherty: "That's a lot of money. I could buy a whole chain of delicatessens." Ness: "You know, I've always thought I'd like to own a chateau in France." Flaherty: "Well, if you throw any parties, I'll cater them from my delicatessen." Ness: "Special rates?" Flaherty: "You'll be rich, you can afford to pay the going price." Ness: "Now wait a minute, with a special chateau I ought to get special rates..." Dutch Schultz is angry at being mocked, and leaves in a huff.
Later, Schultz is indicted. But Schultz's crafty attorney says his client can't get a fair trial in New York City, and asks the judge for a change of venue. Arriving in the small town of Clearview, in upstate New York, Schultz ingratiates himself to all the townsfolk by spreading money around; not by bribery, but legally. For example, he talks to the grade school teacher, Marsha Harper, and offers to buy uniforms for the school's baseball team; that sort of thing.
By the time the trial starts on September 7, the town thinks Dutch Schultz isn't such a bad guy; he had made many generous contributions to charities and hospitals. He even has his wife and baby in the courtroom, proof that he's a good family man; it looks like Schultz is going to get off scot free. It's up to Ness and his men to expose Schultz for the gangster he is. When Ness gets a witness to testify in court as to Schultz's brutality, and show the jury her acid scars she got from one of Schultz's boys, the case takes a sharp turn. Schultz is going to be convicted.
But the night before the case goes to the jury, Schultz has his wife Vera invite school teacher Marsha Harper to dinner at a roadhouse; unbeknownst to Marsha, the place is a speak. They slip Marsha a mickey; while she's unconscious, they take photos of her with a strange man (one of Schultz's boys). On top of that, Schultz tips the cops, so they raid the place. Marsha is blackmailed; her uncle, Joseph Harper, is foreman of the jury. At 11 o'clock the next morning, the jury retires to deliberate; 18 hours later, they bring in their verdict.*
Dutch Schultz is found not guilty, to the shock of the judge, and Eliot Ness. Schultz goes back to New York City; he wants to pick up where he left off, but he has a rude awakening. In the weeks he has been gone, Lucky Luciano has muscled in on his territory. On top of that, Ness and his men start a series of raids on Schultz's places. Schultz had spent 10 years building up his empire; now, he is bankrupt.
Wednesday, October 23, 1935. Out of desperation, Schultz sets up a late-night meet with Luciano; Schultz is willing to give him half of his action, he wants a partnership. But the meet doesn't go as planned. Shortly after midnight, Luciano tells Dutch's boy, Lulu Rosenkrantz, to shoot Schultz. It's a double-cross. Then Luciano's boy shoots Lulu Rosenkrantz. It's a triple-cross! Ness and his men show up. In the shootout, Ness shoots Luciano's boy. Schultz is rushed to the hospital.
For almost 18 hours, Dutch Schultz rambles incoherently. Ness and his men stand watch over him in shifts. Police stenographers take down everything Schultz says, even though it is all meaningless. Ness says to Schultz, "You can't beat this one, Dutch, you're all shot to pieces. It was Luciano, was it? Come on, say it." But Schultz is delirious; he stares blindly into space and rambles, "A boy has never wept nor dashed a thousand kim." Around 6 p.m., he goes unconscious. Dutch Schultz died on Thursday, October 24, 1935, at 8:35 p.m. He was 33 years old. That day the number 835 got the most play in the numbers racket. Like the Dutchman, it was a loser.(synopsis by: kdh)
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*[Goof: 18 hours later would be 5:00 a.m. the next morning. And yet the court is packed. I guess everybody got up at 4:00 a.m. so they could appear in court.]
Don't Mess With the Dutchman hide show
Lawrence Dobkin dominates this episode with his in your face performance as Arthur Phlegenheimer aka Dutch Schultz. I rank Dobkin's Schultz as the second best performance by an actor as a real life gangster on the show right after Bruce Gordon's Frank Nitti. Supporting Untouchables Jerry Paris also gave one of his best performances of the series. The scene in the hotel room where Schultz discovers that Martin Flaherty is actually an undercover operative is a series classic.
We also get to see a young Marion Ross as Vera Schultz. Vera refers to her husband by his real first name Arthur instead of his nickname Dutch. This will be a hoot for any Happy Days fan who watches Dutch Schultz Story as Ross's character on that show was the only one to refer to Fonzie by his real name which was also Arthur. Also look for future Bewitched co-star David White in a nice bit as Schultz's attorney.
Mad_Buck
Editor
kdhaisch
Retired
boechsner
char2renee
Gislef
