RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Billy Bathgate
Billy Bathgate

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Billy Bathgate (1991)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
53 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:17

Fresh:9

Rotten:8

Average Rating:5.2/10

Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: E.L. Doctorow's acclaimed novel forms the basis of BILLY BATHGATE, which stars Loren Dean as the title character. In the New York of 1935, the naive Bronx-born teenager wangles his way into the... E.L. Doctorow's acclaimed novel forms the basis of BILLY BATHGATE, which stars Loren Dean as the title character. In the New York of 1935, the naive Bronx-born teenager wangles his way into the gang of his hero, crime boss Dutch Schultz (Dustin Hoffman), as a gofer. Although the boy doesn't know it, Schultz is approaching the end of his storied career and the Feds are closing in, hoping to put him behind bars for income-tax evasion. The youth quickly learns about the endless violence, treachery, and double-crossing that characterize mob life, such as Schultz's cold-blooded execution of his former enforcer, Bo Weinberg (Bruce Willis). After Billy tips Dutch off about some traitorous activity in his organization, he moves up a couple of rungs and is soon entrusted with guarding the gangster's girlfriend, Drew Preston (Nicole Kidman). This proves to be something of a problem, since the beauty has a mind of her own and doesn't take anything from anybody, including Dutch. Worse still, Billy finds himself falling in love with her. Dean's pivotal performance strikes just the right balance between street-smart toughness and wide-eyed wonder, and the protean Hoffman adds his explosive portrait of the ruthless, beleaguered Schultz to his long list of unforgettable roles. Steven Hill also shines as Schultz's kindly, razor-sharp business adviser. The film features handsome, period-specific sets by Patrizia von Brandenstein and characteristically brilliant photography by legendary cinematographer Nestor Almendros (DAYS OF HEAVEN), in his last film. [More]

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Bruce Willis, Danny Zorn

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Bruce Willis, Danny Zorn, Loren Dean, Steven Hill, Rachel York

Director: Robert Benton

Director: Robert Benton

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Oct 8, 2002

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Billy Bathgate
  • Two-time Academy Award(R)-winner Dustin Hoffman (Best Actor -- KRAMER VS. KRAMER, 1979; RAIN MAN, 1988) stars in the action-packed gangster epic detailing the rise and fall of notorious mobster Dutch Schultz as seen through the eyes of his young protege, Billy Bathgate. Billy, an ambitious streetwise kid seduced by the power, money, and glamour of crime, soon begins to seriously question if his passport to the good life is going to come from the fiery Dutch and his gang! Critically acclaimed and co-starring Bruce Willis (ARMEGEDDON) and Nicole Kidman (MOULIN ROUGE), BILLY BATHGATE delivers motion picture excitement you won't want to miss!
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Billy Bathgate

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
    Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    03/12/09
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    03/01/08
    David Kaplan
    David Kaplan
    Kaplan vs. Kaplan
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Time Out
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/26/05
    Emanuel Levy
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    01/15/04
    Randy Shulman
    Randy Shulman
    Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    11/04/03
    Frank Swietek
    Frank Swietek
    One Guy's Opinion

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    10/04/03
    Rich Cline
    Rich Cline
    Shadows on the Wall

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/22/03
    Carol Cling
    Carol Cling
    Las Vegas Review-Journal

    Uninspired but intriguing gangster flick with fine work from Hoffman and Kidman.

    comment Comment
    07/27/03
    Dan Lybarger
    Dan Lybarger
    Nitrate Online

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/18/03
    Leonard Klady
    Leonard Klady
    Movie City News

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    06/26/03
    Edward Havens
    Edward Havens
    FilmJerk.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
    05/20/03
    Vincent Canby
    Vincent Canby
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    02/04/03
    Shannon J. Harvey
    Shannon J. Harvey
    Sunday Times (Australia)

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    10/11/02
    Jeffrey Westhoff
    Jeffrey Westhoff
    Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    10/03/02
    Philip Martin
    Philip Martin
    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
    09/17/02
    Oz
    Oz
    eFilmCritic.com

    Kidman steals the whole show.

    comment Comment
    07/25/02
    Scott Weinberg
    Scott Weinberg
    eFilmCritic.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
    05/12/01
    Peter Travers
    Peter Travers
    Rolling Stone
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Deseret News, Salt Lake City
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Desson Thomson
    Desson Thomson
    Washington Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
    all

    Latest News for Billy Bathgate

    January 03, 2007: Kevin Smith Fulfills His Bruce Willis Dream, Appears in "Die Hard 4"
    If you're MySpace friends with "Clerks" man Kevin Smith, you already know that the uber fanboy is a ginormous Bruce Willis fan (OMG he's online now!)...and now, the... More...

    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…
    19% 19% Transformers: Revenge …
    55% 55% Orphan
    43% 43% The Proposal
    26% 26% Land of the Lost

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    98% 98% Up
    88% 88% Ballast
    67% 67% The Merry Gentleman

    More New Releases…

    See All

    RT On Current TV

    The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

    DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

    Learn how you can be part of the show

    More...

    What’s Hot On RT

    60+ New Moon pics

    60+ New Moon pics

    You want Twilight images? We got 'em!

    Transylmania

    Transylmania

    Cheeky trailer for the vampire comedy!

    John Cusack

    John Cusack

    We list his 10 top rated movies!

    Salt trailer

    Salt trailer

    Angelina Jolie! Espionage! Check it out!

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Rachel McAdams Rumored for Spider-Man 4 Source: Mania.com
    122
    • Danny Elfman Leaves The Wolfman Source: Cinemusic.net
    21
    • Oldboy Remake Rumored Dead Source: Latino Review
    12
    • Francis Lawrence Directing a Futuristic Sgt. Rock Source: Hollywood Reporter
    2
    • Can Avatar Make Money? Source: New York Times
    94
    • Robert Pattinson Says Breaking Dawn Could Roll in Fall 2010 Source: Collider.com
    30
    • Joe Johnston Talks The Wolfman Source: Ain't It Cool News
    8
    • Jason Schwartzman Talks Scott Pilgrim Source: Collider.com
    0
    • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear
    99
    • J.J. Abrams Producing Micronauts Movie? Source: Wall Street Journal
    11
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Critics Consensus: A Christmas Carol Dazzles But Disappoints
    43
    • Ho-ho-horror! 10 Scary Christmas Movies
    36
    • RT on DVD: Up, the Ultimate Watchmen Cut, and More
    36
    • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear
    33
    • Total Recall: John Cusack's Best Movies
    33
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Christmas Carol Tops, Precious Rocks
    32
    • Friday Harvest: Prince of Persia, The Road, and more!
    26
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    14
    • Five Favorite Films with Roland Emmerich
    6
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    14
    • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
    15
    • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
    8
    • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
    28
    • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
    28
    • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
    14
    • Emma Stone talks Zombieland - RT Interview
    40
    • Michael Moore: The RT Interview
    139
    • Andrea Arnold talks Fish Tank - RT Interview
    4
    • Neill Blomkamp talks District 9 - RT Interview
    51
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • Billy Bathgate at Rotten Tomatoes

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    Worst Movie Biopics
    Worst Movie Biopics External Link

    Moviefone brings us 9 failed attempts at biographical films.

    Top Cameron Crowe Moments
    Top Cameron Crowe Moments External Link

    TIME reminisces on the 10 most iconic moments from the films of Cameron Crowe.

    November Films
    November Films External Link

    BuzzSugar wants to know which movies coming out this month you're most looking forward to.

    The New Cult Canon
    The New Cult Canon External Link

    The AV Club takes a look back at Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo

    IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


    By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
    IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.