Boardwalk Empire
A period crime drama set in Prohibition-era Atlantic City.
Boardwalk Empire is a period crime drama from HBO, created by Terence Winter and set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the 1920s Prohibition era. The show stars Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson, a corrupt political figure who rises to power over the city. Winter, an Emmy-winning writer and producer, based the series on Nelson Johnson's 2002 nonfiction book about the real-life criminal boss Enoch L. Johnson. Martin Scorsese directed the pilot, which cost $18 million. HBO ordered 11 more episodes after the pilot in September 2009. The series premiered on September 19, 2010, and ran for five seasons totaling 56 episodes, ending on October 26, 2014. Critics widely praised the show for its visual style, historical grounding, and Buscemi's performance. It earned 57 Primetime Emmy nominations, including two for Outstanding Drama Series, and won 20 Emmys. It also won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama in 2011 and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2011 and 2012. The story follows Nucky as he navigates mobsters, politicians, and federal agents while running bootlegging operations. The final season jumps ahead to 1931 as Prohibition nears its end.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Crime drama
- Period drama
- Serial drama
- Creator
- Terence Winter
- Based on
- Boardwalk Empire:; The Birth
- High Times
- and Corruption of Atlantic City
- Nelson Johnson
- Opening theme
- "Straight Up and Down"
- Theme music
- The Brian Jonestown Massacre
- Seasons
- 5
- Episodes
- 56
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Cast and characters
Steve Buscemi portrays Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the corrupt treasurer of Atlantic County and a powerful political figure involved with bootlegging and organized crime, loosely based on Enoch L. Johnson. Michael Pitt plays James "Jimmy" Darmody, Nucky's former protégé who leaves Princeton after World War I to pursue his own criminal path. Kelly Macdonald appears as Margaret Thompson, a young widow who becomes Nucky's mistress and later his wife. Michael Shannon portrays Nelson Van Alden, a former Prohibition agent who becomes a bootlegger under the alias George Mueller. Shea Whigham plays Elias "Eli" Thompson, Nucky's younger brother and sheriff of Atlantic County, based on Alf Johnson. Aleksa Palladino appears as Angela Darmody, Jimmy's wife. Michael Stuhlbarg plays Arnold Rothstein, a powerful New York gangster. Stephen Graham portrays Al Capone, a violent Chicago gangster working for Johnny Torrio. Vincent Piazza plays Charles "Lucky" Luciano, a hot-headed New York gangster. Paz de la Huerta appears as Lucy Danziger, Nucky's former mistress. Michael Kenneth Williams plays Albert "Chalky" White, a powerful African-American gangster in Atlantic City. Anthony Laciura portrays Edward Anselm "Eddie" Kessler, Nucky's butler. Paul Sparks plays Mieczyslaw "Mickey Doyle" Kuzik, a bootlegger. Dabney Coleman appears as Commodore Louis Kaestner, Nucky's mentor and Jimmy's father, loosely based on Louis Kuehnle.
Production
Terence Winter, an Emmy-winning writer and producer from The Sopranos, was hired in June 2008 to adapt Nelson Johnson's non-fiction book about Atlantic City corruption. Winter focused on the Prohibition section of the book, having long wanted to create a series set in the 1920s. Martin Scorsese, an Academy Award-winning director, was announced to direct the pilot in September 2009, marking his first television directing since 1986. The production built a 300-foot boardwalk in Brooklyn at a cost of $5 million, and the pilot's final budget was $18 million despite a reported budget of up to $50 million. Scorsese cited HBO's long-form storytelling and character development as reasons for returning to television, praising the network's approach as a new opportunity for storytelling.
Advertising
For the second season launch on September 25, 2011, HBO spent $150,000 with the MTA to run a four-car vintage subway train on weekends that September. The cars, built in 1917 and 1924, ran express from 96th Street to Times Square–42nd Street on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line. It was the first time such a nostalgia train was used for advertising. HBO also funded an Atlantic City cleanup and covered eastbound AC Expressway tolls on September 24, 2011.
Reception
Boardwalk Empire received critical acclaim, with the American Film Institute naming it one of the 10 best television programs of the year for its first and second seasons. On Metacritic, the first season scored 88 out of 100, the second season 82, the third season 76, the fourth season 77, and the fifth season 83. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season received 94%, the second 91%, the third 89%, the fourth 98%, and the fifth 88%. Critics praised the series' period trappings and ensemble cast. David Hinkley of the New York Daily News gave the series five stars, calling it a rare treat. Paige Wiser of the Chicago Sun-Times called it an event not to be missed and praised Buscemi's performance. TV Guide's Matt Roush commended the partnership of Scorsese and Winter, calling the storytelling enjoyable. Variety's Brian Lowry said the show represented television at its finest and marked HBO's return to top form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of Boardwalk Empire are there?
Boardwalk Empire has 56 episodes across 5 seasons.
When did Boardwalk Empire first air?
Boardwalk Empire first aired on 19 September 2010.
When did Boardwalk Empire end?
Boardwalk Empire last aired on 26 October 2014.
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