The Lawless Years

Seasons

1959

7.1

Barney Ruditsky is a New York City police officer in the Roaring '20s who fights organized crime. The show was loosely based on the real-life Rudisky, who was a New York police officer during the period.

Episode List

S1 • E1

The Nick Joseph Story

Story of an ex con who makes a deal with police for a reduced sentence for a crime he committed.

S1 • E2

The Immigrant

Ruditzky helps an immigrant working with the mob to get rid of an illegal gun.

S1 • E3

The Jane Cooper Story

Jane Cooper may be on parole, but she intends to improve her status by ditching her nobody boyfriend for a wealthier gangster. As she moves up the food chain, she plays one man off another. Strangely, each of her ex-beaus meets a tragic end. This doesn't go unnoticed by Ruditsky or the mob. She picks up the nickname "Jane the Jinx."

S1 • E4

The Cutie Jaffe Story

A bootlegger gets in trouble when he begins to hijack shipments.

S1 • E5

The Dutch Schultz Story

When New York Special Prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey declares war on Dutch Schultz, describing the gangster as an "evil force that has to be destroyed," the Dutchman plots a hit on Dewey.

S1 • E6

The Lion and the Mouse

After surviving a beating by crime boss Johnny Lucky, small time hood Eddie Safranik starts his own shakedown racket using Lucky's name and calling card--a lead pipe.

S1 • E7

No Fare

Underworld bribes police detective to hide info.

S1 • E8

The Payoff

Girlfriend is murdered when she dumps bootlegger.

S1 • E9

The Marie Walters Story

Detective Ruditsky solves the murder of a young woman by uncovering crucial evidence linking a businessman and a crime boss's enforcer to the crime.

S1 • E10

The Maxey Gorman Story

Two men join forces to get into the bootlegging business. As the money rolls in, one of the men decides he doesn't want to split the profits anymore.

S1 • E11

The Muddy Kasoff Story

Barney Ruditsky investigates the murder of Muddy Kasoff, a car rental agency owner, using minimal clues like cigar bands to track down the gangsters responsible, ultimately leading to a tense confrontation with hired killers.

S1 • E12

Framed

When Ruditsky won't take a bribe, gang tries to frame him.

S1 • E13

Four the Hard Way

Gambler wanred to leave town, but he gets into rigged card game.

S1 • E14

The Tony Morelli Story

The mob leans on a hardworking family man. He tries to rebuff them, but then they use his wife and son as leverage. When he succumbs to the pressure, it's up to Ruditsky to set things right and keep the family together--and safe.

S1 • E15

The Ray Baker Story

Racketeer accused of killing young girl during wild party.

S1 • E16

Lucky Silva

Small-time hood Rico Silva, dubbed 'Lucky' by Barney Ruditsky after he survived having his handsome face slashed to ribbons by Legs Diamond's mob, attracts attention by promoting an ambitious plan to unite all the mobs.