The hosts frame The Untouchables as a highly entertaining, very rewatchable studio crime movie built from elite casting, De Palma style, Mamet dialogue, and a clever use of Costner, Connery, De Niro, and Garcia. They praise its craftsmanship and set pieces while noting issues like Connery’s accent, Patricia Clarkson’s thin role, and some corny or overlong stretches.
Based only on this episode’s transcriptTimes approximateSpeakers were clearly identifiedExplore the connections
Enjoys Prohibition as a dramatic setting and as “great content” for movies.
About 40 min
4 ThemesThe larger ideas in the discussion
Professional craftsmanship
The hosts admire the movie as a model of studio moviemaking, where casting, design, cinematography, and music all work together cleanly.
Opening minutes
The rise of the modern movie star
They use the film to discuss Costner, De Niro, and Connery at key career inflection points.
About 8 min
Morality versus practicality
The film presents Ness as a moral square who still has to bend rules to beat Capone, though the hosts think the movie doesn’t fully grapple with that tension.
About 24 min
Prohibition as a movie setting
They treat Prohibition Chicago as rich, vivid material that still plays well on screen.
About 40 min
23 Facts and referencesProduction notes and other movies mentioned
Production note
De Palma originally planned a much larger train-station shootout, but budget limits forced the famous staircase version.
About 32 min
Production note
De Niro reportedly wanted an extra scene and more weight gain concerns for Capone.
About 56 min · medium confidence
Production note
Costner met former FBI agent Al Wallace Wolf while preparing for Ness.
About 56 min
Production note
The movie was budgeted around $20 million and made about $106 million.
Opening minutes
Production note
The screenplay was originally to be written by Wendy Wasserstein before Mamet took over.
About 16 min
Production note
Bob Hoskins was reportedly sent $200,000 after losing the Capone role to De Niro.
About 48 min
Production note
The film was nominated for four Oscars and Connery won supporting actor.
About 32 min
Production note
The baby in the carriage sequence is described as the stuntman’s son.
About 40 min · medium confidence
The Sting
Used as the comparison for Prohibition-era cinema and a bigger Prohibition movie benchmark.
About 24 min
Once Upon a Time in America
Cited by Ebert as the superior gangster-era film and discussed by the hosts as a long, more divisive movie.
About 32 min
Jaws
De Niro’s Capone is compared to the shark: a lurking threat that is barely seen but always felt.
About 8 min
Blackboard Jungle
Mentioned as the origin of the famous “play the music” energy in another context of the podcast feed, not central here.
Opening minutes · low confidence
Battleship Potemkin
De Palma’s stairway sequence is explicitly linked to the Odessa Steps montage.
About 32 min
Mission Impossible
Used as a benchmark for De Palma’s commercial success and older Connery comparisons are also discussed through later films.
About 8 min
The Rock
Referenced as a later Connery high point and possible Apex Mountain contender.
About 1:04
No Way Out
Used as a double feature partner and as evidence of Costner’s huge 1987 run.
About 56 min
Field of Dreams
Referenced as part of Costner’s rise and later run of star vehicles.
About 24 min
Scarface
Used as a De Palma comparison and as a possible double feature with this film.
About 16 min
Body Double
Named as one of De Palma’s essential rewatchables and a more explicitly pervy visual film.
About 16 min
Midnight Run
Mentioned in the casting and Chicago-movie discussion, and also in a character-name joke.
About 48 min
Broadcast News
Used as the comparison point for Albert Brooks’s Oscar-worthiness.
About 32 min
Naked Gun 3
Referenced as a parody that later borrowed the train-station sequence.
About 48 min · medium confidence
Boardwalk Empire
Used as a modern TV comparison for prohibition/crime storytelling and a possible sequel/prestige TV version.
About 1:04
10 Running jokes and short linesRecurring bits captured from the conversation
Chicago way repetition
They keep returning to Connery’s “Chicago way” speech and its quotable phrasing.
About 32 min
Connery accent jokes
Repeated riffs about Connery sounding Scottish rather than Irish.
About 8 min
Great-Apex era of 1987 stars
A broader bit about 1987 being the moment for Costner, De Niro, Connery, and the next wave of stars.
About 8 min
Prohibition as content
A recurring joke that Prohibition is great “content” for movies and storytelling.
About 40 min
Wayne Jenkins / prestige TV re-casting riff
The hosts joke about modern prestige-TV casting and who would play roles like Stone or Ness.
About 1:04 · medium confidence
Chris Ryan
“You send one of his to the morgue.”
About 32 min
Bill Simmons
“Great times for content.”
About 40 min
Bill Simmons
“Have a drink.”
About 1:12
Chris Ryan
“Get me a baby carriage, a clock and some steps.”
About 32 min
Bill Simmons
“That's the next chief of police right there.”
About 1:12
MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
Where to watch
UNITED STATES
Checking where The Untouchables is available…
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Movies to watch before and after.
Three movies to watch before The Untouchables, and three to watch next.
Finding six movies…Three to watch first and three to watch next.
ON THE MIC
2 voices on this episode
Bill SimmonsThe Rewatchables
Chris RyanThe Rewatchables
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