Cinematographer - Andrew Davis
Composer (Music Score) - Ken Wannberg
Costume Designer - Jodie Lynne Tillen
Musical Arrangement - Bruce Miller
Production Designer - Vince Cresciman
Production Designer - Jackson de Govia
Screen Story - Wesley Lau
Special Effects - Cliff Wenger
Stunts - George Wilbur
Menahem Golan's take on the life of the titular Jewish gangster is a curious but interesting fusion of Hollywood epic and b-movie thrills. The script toys with some facts to achieve a melodramatic effect but mostly offers an interesting, well-documented take on the history of organized crime in the U.S. from a Jewish perspective. It also keeps an eye on the box office by delivering plenty of shoot-'em-up action scenes, multiple assassinations and even a dollop of sex. Golan's direction lacks the subtlety that "Francis Ford Coppola" brought to the first two "Godfather" movies (obvious models for "Lepke") but Golan makes up for that with plenty of energy and style. He excels when dealing with the action -- a highlight is a shootout that involves a carousel - and he gets an all-around strong level of performances from a well-chosen cast. Tony Curtis clearly relishes getting the opportunity to play against type as a gangster and gives it plenty of charismatic vigor. There is also solid, slyly humorous work from Warren Berlinger as Lepke's right-hand man and an unexpected dramatic turn from Milton Berle as his father-in-law, a bit of stunt-casting that pays off in a surprisingly strong and understated performance by the erstwhile comedian. The film drags a bit near the end when it gets caught up in the fugitive days that led to its antihero's end but the majority of the film is well-paced and entertaining. Ultimately, "Lepke" never manages to be the Jewish answer to "The Godfather" that it clearly wants to be but it delivers plenty of gangster-movie intrigue for fans of the genre and acquits itself nicely as a solid programmer with a unique take on gangster mythology. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi
