Hoodlum

In the 1930’s, mobs vied for control of their cities. Harlem is one of the best examples of two powerful groups who started a war for the control of illegal gaming. One was a group of black gangsters, and the other was the Italian/ Jewish mafia alliance. Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson (Laurence Fishburne) is released from prison and starts working as a lieutenant for powerhouse numbers runner Stephanie “The Queen” St. Clair (XXX). Bumpy’s friend Illinois Gordon (Chi McBride) expresses his concern over the path that he has chosen, and his thoughts are echoed by Francine Hughes (Vanessa Williams), a social worked who thinks Bumpy should do something more positive. The profits from the numbers game attract the interest of mafia boss “Lucky” Luciano (Andy Garcia), who decides to muscle in on the action. He assigns “Dutch” Schultz (Tim Roth) to negotiate a deal with St. Clair, but the dealings go sour and the two gangs start an all-out war.