1930. Prohibition has transformed Chicago into a City at War. Rival gangs compete for...

[first lines] Title Card: 1930. Prohibition has transformed Chicago into a City at War. Rival gangs compete for control of the city's billion dollar empire of illegal alcohol, enforcing their will with the hand grenade and tommy gun. It is the time of the Ganglords. It is the time of Al Capone. Reporter: [to Al Capone] An article, which I believe appeared in a newspaper, asked why, since you are, or it would seem that you are, in effect, the mayor of Chicago, you've not simply been appointed to that position. [other reporters laugh] Capone: Well, I'll tell ya, you know, it's touching. Like a lot of things in life, we laugh because it's funny and we laugh because it's true. Now, some people will say - reformers, they'll say, 'Put that man in jail! What does he think he is doing?' Well, what I hope I'm doing, and here's where your English paper's got a point, is - I'm responding to the will of the people.

An article, which I believe appeared in a newspaper, asked why, since it would seem that you are in effect the Mayor of Chicago, you're not simply being appointed to that position. Well, I tell ya, it's touching. Like a lot of things in life, we laugh because it's funny, and we laugh because it's true. Some people say, reformers here say: "Put that man in jail, what does he think he is doing?" What I hope I'm doing, and here's where your paper's got a point, is I'm responding to the will of the people. People are gonna drink. We all know that. All I do is act on that. And all this talk of bootlegging. What is bootlegging? On the boat it's bootlegging, on Lake Shore Drive it's hospitality. I'm a businessman. Your reputation is that you control your business through violence. That those that don't purchase your product are dealt with violently. It's all right. I grew up in a tough neighbourhood. We used to say, "Y ou can get further with a kind word and a gun" "than you can with just a kind word." And in that neighbourhood it might've been true. And sometimes your reputation follows you. There is violence in Chicago, but not by me and not by anybody I employ. Because it's not good business. Leave us alone down here, we've got everything we need. The green beer you're peddlin' ain't any good. It's not supposed to be good. It's supposed to be bought.