The Purple Gang (1959): cast, story & where to watch
1959 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1959, The Purple Gang is a drama and crime film directed by Frank McDonald, running about 85 minutes. “When machine gun mania rocked the nation!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The story of the infamous Purple Gang - a ring of bootleggers, hijackers and killers in 1920's Detroit.
Who’s in it. The Purple Gang stars Barry Sullivan as William P. Harley, Robert Blake as Willard, Elaine Edwards as Gladys Harley and Marc Cavell as Hank Smith, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, The Purple Gang has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Purple Gang page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Purple Gang tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Purple Gang (1959)?
- In US, The Purple Gang is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Purple Gang worth watching?
- The Purple Gang holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Purple Gang?
- The Purple Gang stars Barry Sullivan, Robert Blake, Elaine Edwards, Marc Cavell and Jody Lawrance.
- When was The Purple Gang released?
- The Purple Gang was released in 1959, with a runtime of about 85 minutes.