The Untouchables

One of the true greats from the golden age of American dramatic television, The Untouchables remains an arresting, relentlessly powerful series that harked back gloriously to the Warner Bros gangster films of the 1930s. With its unflinching portrayal of a brutal, lawless era, it chronicled the bloody battle to wrest back a nation’s dignity from the iron grip of mob rule.

The series had its origins in a two-part TV movie, The Scarface Mob, broadcast on CBS’s Desilu Playhouse in April 1959. Based on real events, it followed the dogged efforts of U.S. Treasury agent Eliot Ness as he set out to dismantle Al Capone’s infamous Chicago syndicate. Ness and his elite team of federal agents—nicknamed “The Untouchables” due to their supposed incorruptibility—became synonymous with stoic resistance to organised crime.

Spanning four seasons from October 1959 to September 1963, The Untouchables quickly became a top ten ratings hit in the United States. Yet, its success was not without controversy. Italian-American groups voiced strong objections to what they saw as an unfair portrayal of their community, accusing the show of “dragging their names through the mud.” In response, producers began appending a disclaimer to each episode, acknowledging that much of the storyline was fictionalised—indeed, many of the criminals Ness confronted in the series were never actually encountered by him in real life.

Originally, the lead role of Ness was offered to MGM’s Van Johnson, but it was Robert Stack who ultimately took up the mantle. His intense, granite-jawed performance gave the character a gravitas and moral authority that resonated powerfully with viewers. Stack’s Ness became more than just a historical figure; he emerged as an icon of television justice, a spiritual forerunner to characters like Jack Lord’s Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-0.

Another masterstroke lay in the series’ narration, delivered by none other than Walter Winchell—the legendary "Voice of the Newsreels" from the 1930s and '40s. Winchell’s gravelly authority lent each episode a compelling verisimilitude, subtly glossing over any liberties taken with the facts. His voice alone could persuade the viewer that what they were witnessing was nothing short of historical truth.

The show also boasted a veritable roll call of formidable guest stars, with standouts including Neville Brand’s searing portrayal of Al Capone, Bruce Gordon’s menacing Frank Nitti, and Clu Gulagher’s wild-eyed “Mad Dog” Coll.

Despite its early triumphs, The Untouchables could not withstand the cumulative pressure of external controversies and eventually succumbed by its fourth season. A drop in ratings followed, and the series was quietly retired. Yet it left behind a formidable legacy. As a piece of expertly crafted, top-tier crime drama, it unquestionably lived up to—and in many ways, transcended—its name.

Decades later, the 1987 film adaptation starring Kevin Costner and Sean Connery would reintroduce Ness’s story to a new generation, but for purists, it is the black-and-white grit and intensity of the original television series that remains definitive.