The Untouchables (TV Series) The Masterpiece (1961) User Reviews

Paranoia would be his undoing...

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 29 February 2016]

Most of the episodes of "The Untouchables" are available to watch on YouTube. Oddly, however, this one is available but nearly unwatchable because the picture is badly scrambled. So, you'll either have to catch this one on television, get it from Netflix or buy the season two set yourself.

This show is about a very thorough and paranoid mob boss, Mayer Wartel (Robert Middleton). He's also a bit predictable. This is because he has a one of a kind handmade masterpiece of a gun and it's his signature...and Ness needs to find it in order to pin murders on him. However, the man who can link Wartel to his crimes is also a man Wartel is planning on having killed by a top assassin (Rip Torn). Can Ness prevent this killing and, if not, how can they possibly catch Wartel?

This is a decent episode about how a man's paranoia can be his undoing. Like so many episodes in the series, Ness really doesn't need to do much...just let the thugs kill each other! Worth seeing...if you can find a good copy.

The Hitman Pittsburgh Phill and the craftsman gunsmith in flawed episode!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 5 August 2023]

Even The Untouchable has been regarded by the critics it has many mismatches in countless episodes, likewise Masterpiece, after Al Capone is overthrown by his prison at Alcatraz the hypochondriac newest Boss Mayer Wartel (Middleton) took place the delivery of boozes in Chicago, on this profitable business draw attention of the press and Mayer Kills the editor of the local newspaper due he publish in strong headlines concerning the mobster Mayer as the real enemy to be tackled by the local authorities, such killing call attention of fed Eliot Ness.

Elliott traces the bullet that killed the editor, however it wasn't a regular gun, it was made in unusual aluminum alloy in order to keep it more light to handle, Ness tracks down in Chicago who is able to do that weapon reaching in craftsman Herman Kihn (Voskovec) nonetheless didn't get a word, meanwhile the bleak Mayer aware that Ness is in the neck of his gunsmith demands at once the foolproof and expensive Pittsburgh Phill (Rip Torn) to erase the matter, firstly Pittsburg will ascertains the ground which he'll walk making a courtesy visit to victim.

When Herman upon learning who is the visitor he stays thrilled due his background, Herman is keen to display his latest creation to Pittsburgh an ultimate designed lightweight small gun which is entirely in aluminum alloy attached with a developed silencer, Pittsburgh envisages a crime self-called Masterpiece due he'll kill Herman Kihn upon Eliot's nose at night club.

Well the question is quite simple why the clever Mayer will gain with his higher gunsmith's death anyway, who'll supply him aftermaths with similar quality? Also Eliot Ness didn't got anything from the smart Herman, at least we have a change to see the young Rip Torn on early steps on his extensive and successful career mostly when he getting older with robust status.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2023 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.

Lots To Like In This One

[ccthemovieman-1 · 6 September 2011]

The villains in this episode are just outstanding; fun to watch. Guys like Robert Middleton and George Voskovec may not be names most of us know but they were very familiar faces to those who watched TV around the '60s. They - especially Middleton - were great character actors.

Middleton plays "Mayer Wartel," a guy ready to take over after Al Capone is put in jail. He's a worry wart and a hypochondriac which adds to the fascination of his character as a ruthless thug who eliminates anyone in competition with him. Voskevec plays "Herman Kihn" who also is a multi-dimensional characters; a superb gunsmith who pulls off a fantastic "twist" later in this story.

Meanwhile, Rip Torn is terrific as notorious hit-man "Pittsburgh Phil." With the acting, photography and interesting storyline, this is one of the better episodes of "The Untouchables."

Power Vacuum

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 5 April 2014]

This episode of The Untouchables has Robert Middleton the owner of several speakeasies moving into the power vacuum created by Al Capone's recent imprisonment. For a while it looks like he's going to be effective.

For the life of the me though I could not understand why this man had his own gunsmith turning out light weight machine guns using aluminum alloys in the manufacture. When Robert Stack and the ballistic experts figure this out it doesn't take them long enough to lead them to George Voskevec, Middleton's own gun manufacturer. A craftsman like Voskevec will want people to know it's a Voskevec they're shooting with. The idea is to use stuff that is not easily traced. I couldn't believe that Middleton would be that vain.

But making up for that is Rip Torn as outside contract killer Pittsburgh Phil. Voskevec has to be eliminated and when Voskevec figures he's a target he sets Torn up beautifully. Torn's own hubris sets him up and Voskevec does the rest.

Silly story, but Torn's fall makes this worth watching.