Below is a list of my favorite television productions (so far) that are set in the 1920s:FAVORITE TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS SET IN THE 1920s
1. "Boardwalk Empire" (2010-2014) - Terence Winter created this award winning crime drama about Atlantic City, New Jersey during the Prohibition era. Inspired by Nelson Johnson's 2002 book, "Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City", the series starred Steve Buscemi.
2. "Agatha Christie's Poirot: Five Little Pigs" (2003) - In this beautifully poignant tale, Hercule Poirot investigates a fourteen year-old murder of a philandering artist, for which his client's mother was erroneously convicted and hanged. David Suchet starred as Hercule Poirot.
3. "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" (2012-2015) - Essie Davis starred in this television adaptation of Kerry Greenwood's historical mystery novels about a glamorous socialite who solves mysteries in 1920s Melbourne. The series was created by Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger.
4. "Rebecca" (1997) - Emilia Clarke, Charles Dance and Diana Rigg starred in this television adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel about a young bride haunted by the presence of her new husband's first wife. Jim O'Brien directed.
5. "Peaky Blinders" (2013-2019) - Steven Knight created this television drama about a Birmingham crime family in post World War I England. Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory and Paul Anderson starred.
6. "The Day the Bubble Burst" (1982) - Joseph Hardy directed this fictionalized account of the events and forces that led to the Wall Street Crash of 1929. The television movie's cast included Richard Crenna, Robert Vaughn, Robert Hays and Donna Pescow.
7. "The Great Gatsby" (2000) - Robert Markowitz directed this television adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel about the Jazz Age. Toby Stephens, Paul Rudd and Mira Sorvino starred.
8. "The Forsyte Saga: To Let" (2003) - Damian Lewis, Gina McKee and Rupert Graves starred in this adaptation of John Galsworthy's 1921 novel, "To Let", an entry in his The Forsyte Chronicles.
9. "The House of Eliott" (1991-1994) - Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins created this television series about two sisters who create this dressmaking business in 1920s London. Stella Gonet and Louise Lombard starred.
Below are my top ten favorite episodes from HBO's "BOARDWALK EMPIRE" (2010-2014). Created by Terence Winter, the series starred Steve Buscemi:
TOP TEN FAVORITE EPISODES OF "BOARDWALK EMPIRE" (2010-2014)
1. (2.11) "Under God's Power She Flourishes" - Following his wife Angela's death, Jimmy Darmody recalls his school days at Princeton and a fateful visit from his mother, Gillian. Atlantic City political boss Enoch "Nucky" Thompson stumbles across a discovery that ends Agent Nelson Van Alden's career as a Federal lawman. And a confrontation between Jimmy and Gillian over Angela ends with the death of Atlantic City's power broker, Commodore Louis Kaestner.
2. (4.12) "Farewell Daddy Blues" - In this explosive Season Four finale, Eli Thompson's reluctant attempt to betray Nucky to the FBI conclude unexpectedly; and the final confrontation between Atlantic City's black political boss Albert "Chalky" White and usurper Dr. Valentin Narcisse result in a double tragedy.
3. (3.11) "Two Imposters" - In this nail biting episode, Nucky goes on the run, when nemesis "Gyp" Rossetti and his crew take over the city; forcing Nucky to seek Chalky's help. Following Rossetti's takeover of the city, Gillian Darmody forces henchman Richard Harrow to leave her whorehouse.
4. (2.12) "To the Lost" - In this Season Two finale, the Federal charges against Nucky are dropped after he weds his mistress, Margaret Schroeder. Van Alden flees Atlantic City for Cicero, Illinois. And Jimmy seeks to regain Nucky's forgiveness, after his betrayal against the political boss falls apart.
5. (4.10) "White Horse Pike" - Nucky's new lady love, Sally Wheat, discovers that heroin id being slipped into their bootleg shipments by future mob bosses Charlie Luciano and Meyer Lansky at Masseria's behest. Chalky fails to kill Narcisse and finds himself on the run with his singer/mistress Daughter Maitland.
6. (1.11) "Paris Green" - This episode featured many shake-ups in the relationships of Nucky and Margaret; Van Alden and his assistant, Agent Sebso; Jimmy and his relationships with his real father, the Commodore, Nucky, and Angela.
7. (2.10) "Georgia Peaches" - While Jimmy deals with the workers' strike and Nucky's new supply of Irish whiskey, Philadelphia mobster Manny Horvitz seeks revenge for Jimmy's failed attempt on his life.
8. (3.12) "Margate Sands" - In this bloody Season Three finale, Richard Harrow takes matters into his own hands, as he attempts to get young Tommy Darmody out of Gillian's whorehouse, now occupied by Rossetti's men. Chalky White, Al Capone help Nucky engage in a bloody battle to regain control of Atlantic City on the latter's behalf.
9. (1.01) "Boardwalk Empire" - The ninety (90) minute series' premiere episode introduced Atlantic City treasurer, Enoch "Nucky" Johnson at the dawn of Prohibition in January 1920; and his plans to make himself and his associates very rich from the bootlegging business.
10. (4.01) "New York Sour" - Chalky's lieutenant Durnsley White encounters trouble with a booking-agent and his wife; heroin addict Gillian Darmody tries to regain custody of her grandson Tommy; and Nucky makes peace with Arnold Rothstein and Joe Masseria.
Due to Season Five of "BOARDWALK EMPIRE" being limited to only eight episodes, I decided to rank those episodes from favorite to least favorite. Created by Terence Winter, the series starred Steve Buscemi:
"BOARDWALK EMPIRE" SEASON FIVE (2014) Episode Ranking
1. (5.03) "What Jesus Said" - Escaped convict Albert "Chalky" White and his unstable companion Milton hold a mother and daughter hostage, while seeking refuge from the law in this tense episode. Margaret Thompson is forced to deal with Arnold Rothstein's widow over funds from a past deal.
2. (5.01) "Golden Days for Boys and Girls" - This colorful season premiere finds Enoch "Nucky" Thompson in 1931 Havana, Cuba with occasional girlfriend Sally Wheat, making a deal with the Bacardi Rum Company and dodging a gangland hit. Meanwhile, Charlie "Lucky" Luciano begins his attempts to take control of the New York mob.
3. (5.05) "King of Norway" - Eli Thompson and Nelson Van Alden, now working as collectors for Al Capone in Chicago, hit a snag in their business relationship when Eli's affair with Van Alden's wife is exposed during June Thompson's trip to the city. Chalky arrives in Atlantic City to seek help from Nucky regarding the location of mobster Dr. Valentin Narcisse.
4. (5.04) "Cuanto" - Sally Wheat has a troubling encounter with a Cuban federal patrol. Nucky helps Margaret deal with Mrs. Rothstein's threats of blackmail and Van Alden is exposed as a former Federal agent, when Lucky Luciano visits Chicago.
5. (5.06) "The Devil You Know" - Chalky and Narcisse have their final showdown over Daughter Maitland and her child in Harlem. Van Alden finally faces Capone over the exposure of his past as a Treasury agent.
6. (5.07) "Friendless Child" - Flashbacks reveal what led the younger Nucky to introduce the adolescent Gillian Darmody to Commodore Louis Kaestner in the 1890s. And the much older Nucky has a disastrous showdown with Luciano and Meyer Lansky.
7. (5.02) "The Good Listener" - This episode reveals the strained state of Van Alden's marriage to Ingrid. Gillian hopes to find a way to escape from the women's sanitarium, to while she has been confined. And Nucky discusses the attempt on his life in Cuba, with Johnny Torrio.
8. (5.08) "Eldorado" - Luciano seals his position as boss of the Mob Commission. Capone faces trial for tax evasion, thanks to the Treasury. And a surprise for Nucky and a tragedy is revealed in the episode's last minutes in this somewhat unsatisfying series finale.
