'The Untouchables' turns 25

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Brian De Palma’s film The Untouchables.

The film, based on the ABC series which ran from 1959-1963, centers on Eliot Ness (played by Kevin Costner), who is set to Prohibition-era Chicago to bring its unofficial ruler Al Capone (Robert De Niro) to justice.

Ness’ initial attempts end in failure, but his luck changes when he encounters Chicago policeman James Malone (Sean Connery), who agrees to help Ness. To that end, they recruit a rookie policeman (Andy Garcia) and a Washington accountant (Charles Martin Smith).

As their success against Capone increases, so does Capone’s determination to destroy them.

Like The Addams Family (1991) and The Fugitive (1993), this is an example of a film being better than the TV series which inspired it.

The movie also proved that De Palma could direct more than simply Hitchcockian thrillers, and it made stars out of Costner and Garcia.

Connery won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the film was also nominated for Costume Design, Art Direction and Original Score.