The Untouchables (TV Series) The Nick Acropolis Story (1961) User Reviews

Double-crosses abound in this one!!! You almost feel sorry for Nick Acropolis!!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 2 March 2016]

Nick Acropolis (Lee Marvin) is a very successful bookie. However, he's having some problems which only seem to get worse and worse! First, his rat-like brother-in-law embezzles a fortune from him. Second, his wife won't let him kill the dirty rat. Third, his right-hand man is a lying, murdering jerk who plans to use what he knows to try to take over the business. And, fourth, Frank Nitti and the huge Chicago mob want a big piece of Acropolis' business. While bookmaking is illegal and Acropolis is no saint, again and again, so many things happen to him that you will swear that there's no way he'll survive. Oh, and did I mention that Ness has just gotten a hold of Acropolis' books?!

This is an excellent episode for two big reasons. Marvin (as almost always) is a great actor and does a nice job...even though the guy is supposed to be Greek! Second, the plot has so many betrayals and double-dealing that it makes for an exciting show.

Even gangsters have loser in-laws

[AlsExGal · 9/10 · 19 March 2022]

Nick Acropolis (Lee Marvin) is head of a bookmaking enterprise that has successfully merged the bookmaking operations of Illinois and six other states into one streamlined operation. His problem is that his brother-in-law Louis, a cowardly weasel like creature, has been embezzling from him - a total of 200K. Nick gives him a month to pay back the 200K and 48 hours to pay back the 50K interest on the money he stole.

Louis goes to his sister for half of the 25K he needs now and he goes to a gambler acquaintance for the other half. The gambler just laughs in his face and nervous norvus Louis impulsively shoots the gambler dead, stealing the money he needs off of the dead gambler's desk. The problem is that one of the Untouchable agents is listening in on the bugged office just next door - Acropolis' gambling operation is being investigated - and he runs to the scene when he hears gunshots. Louis also runs, but leaves his cane behind, which happens to be a one of a kind specially made at the order of Nick's wife.

Nick is an interesting character. He is highly volatile and was even a friend of Frank Nitti's when they were both kids, but he also really loves his wife who also really loves him. No joy girls on the side for Nick. But he's getting double crossed by virtually everybody else in his life except his wife. And meanwhile the Untouchables are closing in on his gambling enterprise. This is one of three very memorable appearances Lee Marvin made on The Untouchables.

At Loss

[Morrisonhig · 10/10 · 5 July 2020]

I am among the greatest fans of this wonderful series of which this is an outstanding example. I am a bit of a fanatic about people being credited, and have managed to rectify some blanks for instance in relation to former Baseball Ref Art Passerrella, who appears in many episodes formerly uncredited, better known as Succoulovich in Streets of San Francisco, and Tony Dante, who has now most of the credits he appears in rectified. I am at a loss to identify a character who in this episode is one of the machine gunners in the barber shop who shoots Nick's messengers. He's a big guy with a large forehead and Ginger? hair. He even appears in The Nick Moses Story on Nitti's council called Mike by Nitti, but even for this he is not even credited!! can anyone help in identifying such as 'Big Mike' and other uncredited persons? Many Thanks Andy Morison.

Spectators

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 19 November 2013]

Robert Stack and The Untouchables turn out to be just spectators in this one although they do kind of get their man in the end. Nicholas Georgiade is listening on a wire tap as a victim starts to call out and he hears a murder being committed.

The murder is committed by Leonard Stone, the weak and idiot brother of Constance Ford who is both wife and business partner of top bookmaker Lee Marvin. Stone was desperately trying to get a down payment on $200.000.00 that he skimmed off Marvin's take and if it weren't for the fact he was his wife's brother he'd be done in then and there.

With The Untouchables breathing down Marvin's neck hoping to get evidence for an income tax trial like the one that nailed Al Capone, Marvin is also negotiating with Frank Nitti who wants a piece of Marvin's business. And Johnny Seven who is Marvin's enforcer is looking to make moves on his own and does.

It all ends badly for the bad guys. It's a good episode, a bloody episode where the bad guys were eliminating themselves and The Untouchables picked up the pieces.