The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960) in Color — Starring Ray Danton & Karen Steele

The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond, the 1960 gangster biopic directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Ray Danton, now available as a professionally colorized version. Jack Diamond and his sickly brother arrive in prohibition New York as jewelry thieves. After a spell in jail, the coldly ambitious Diamond hits on the idea of stealing from thieves himself and sets about getting close to gangster boss Arnold Rothstein to move in on his booze, girls, gambling, and drugs operations. This gangster biopic combines ruthless ambition with prohibition-era crime as a small-time crook claws his way to the top of the New York underworld. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Jack Diamond and his sickly brother arrive in prohibition New York as jewelry thieves. Jack Diamond is a small-time criminal with big dreams and no conscience. Along with his sickly but devoted brother Eddie, Jack arrives in Prohibition-era New York City, a place where the Volstead Act has created enormous fortunes for anyone willing to break the law. They begin as jewelry thieves, pulling small scores and learning the criminal landscape of the city. Jack is impatient and ambitious, already looking beyond petty theft toward the real money in bootlegging, gambling, and drugs.

After a spell in jail, the coldly ambitious Diamond hits on the idea of stealing from thieves himself and sets about getting close to gangster boss Arnold Rothstein to move in on his booze, girls, gambling, and drugs operations. Prison does not reform Jack; it educates him. He realizes that the most profitable targets are other criminals who cannot report theft to the police. After his release, Jack begins robbing bootleggers, gamblers, and mob operations, using the proceeds to build his own reputation.

To truly rise in the underworld, Jack needs the approval or defeat of the established bosses. He cultivates a relationship with Arnold Rothstein, the legendary Jewish mobster who controlled much of New York’s illegal economy. Jack’s ambition is to take over Rothstein’s empire, piece by piece, using charm, violence, and betrayal. He becomes involved with Rothstein’s former mistress, Alice, who becomes both his lover and an unwitting pawn in his schemes.

As Jack climbs the criminal ladder, his methods become increasingly brutal. He eliminates rivals, betrays allies, and treats his brother Eddie as a disposable tool rather than family. His hubris grows with every successful score, and he begins to believe that he is untouchable. The film builds to a violent climax as the organized crime world turns on the man who tried to rise too fast and too ruthlessly. Legs Diamond’s fall is as inevitable as his rise, proving that in the underworld, the top is the most dangerous place to be.

Cast & Crew

Director: Budd Boetticher

Stars: Ray Danton, Karen Steele, Elaine Stewart, Jesse White, Warren Oates

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond was originally filmed in black and white, with cinematography that captured the smoky speakeasies, crowded tenements, and violent alleyways of Prohibition-era New York. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the glittering decadence of Rothstein’s criminal empire to the grim streets where Jack Diamond began his career. The colorized version reveals new visual richness in the film’s settings, where the period-accurate 1920s gangster clothing, lavish nightclubs, and urban interiors gain authenticity that transports viewers to the world of the Prohibition underworld. Ray Danton’s magnetic screen presence gains additional dimension in color, his performance conveying both the ruthless charm of a self-made gangster and the cold calculation of a man who destroys everyone around him. Now also available in colour.

Buy The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1960, The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond represents the late-cycle American gangster film and the work of director Budd Boetticher, better known for his lean, morally complex Westerns. The film tells the story of the real Jack ‘Legs’ Diamond, an Irish-American gangster who became one of the most notorious criminals of the Prohibition era before his assassination in 1931. The film fits within a long tradition of movies examining the American gangster as a self-made man corrupted by ambition and violence.

The film’s portrayal of Prohibition New York reflects the era’s historical fascination with the 1920s as both a glamorous age and a period of moral collapse. Organized crime flourished because of alcohol prohibition, and figures like Arnold Rothstein and Legs Diamond became legendary for their ruthlessness and style. The movie uses the real backdrop of Rothstein’s criminal empire to dramatize how small-time opportunists could exploit a corrupt system.

Ray Danton’s performance as Legs Diamond established him as a reliable leading man in tough-guy roles. The film’s cynicism and violence were notable for 1960, a period when the Production Code was beginning to loosen but still restrained graphic content. Boetticher’s efficient direction and the film’s focus on character over spectacle make it a memorable late entry in the classic gangster cycle. Through modern colorization, this gangster biopic reaches new audiences who can appreciate Ray Danton’s performance, its historical criminal milieu, and its place in the history of American cinema. Now also available en couleur.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: English original mono
• Runtime: 101 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Who stars in The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond?
A: Ray Danton stars as Jack Diamond, with Karen Steele, Elaine Stewart, Jesse White, and Warren Oates in supporting roles.

Q: Is The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond based on a true story?
A: Yes, the film is a biopic of the real Prohibition-era gangster Jack ‘Legs’ Diamond.

Q: What is the plot of The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond?
A: A small-time thief rises through the Prohibition-era New York underworld by robbing other criminals and targeting the empire of gangster Arnold Rothstein.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as MP4 and MKV files that play on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)
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• Double Confession (1950)
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• A Fever in the Blood (1961)