Boardwalk Empire on HBO a Prohibition Era Series on HBO

Boardwalk Empire is a Prohibition era series that premiered on HBO on Sunday, September 19, 2010 and was renewed on September 21, according to a press release from HBO. The series stars Steve Buscemi (The Sopranos) as Nucky Thompson, a fictional character based on the flamboyant real life Atlantic City treasurer Nucky Johnson.

Boardwalk Empire comes from Emmy Award winning writer Terence Winter ("The Sopranos"), Academy Award®-winning director Martin Scorsese, Martin Scorsese, Mark Wahlbert, Tim Van Patten and Stephen Levinson.

The series takes place in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition in 1920. The sale of alcohol became illegal. Prohibition created a boom industry for the gangsters of the era, such as Lucky Luciano and Al Capone.

The action takes place on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey. The area has changed substantially since the days of Prohibition, so an entire set was built, recreating the Boardwalk as it looked back in the day. The set recreates the streets and the buildings of the era.

As the series starts, politically savvy Nucky `Thompson (Steve Buscemi) plays both sides of the political coin, by speaking passionately at the Women's Temperance League meeting during the day and boozing it up with his cronies at night.

It is at the temperance meeting that Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald) sees Nucky and thinks he can help her with her boozing husband. She appears at Nucky's house in the morning, and he becomes fascinated with the pregnant mother of two.

The first episode of Boardwalk Empire is occupied with introducing the characters, some of whom are based on historic gangsters. It is before Al Capone (Stephen Graham) became the mob boss of Chicago and the FBI's Public Enemy Number One. The first episode ends with the slaying of Chicago mobster "Big Jim" Colosimo (Frank Crudele).

Boardwalk Empire is beautifully filmed, recreating an important era of America's history. The series is a fictionalized version of historic characters and events. The story covers the corruption, greed, crime and gangsters of the early 1920s.

Boardwalk Empire Cast

The impressive cast of Boardwalk Empire includes: Steve Buscemi portrays Nucky Thompson; Kelly Macdonald portrays Margaret Schroeder; Michael Pitt portrays Jimmy Darmondy; Dabney Coleman portrays Commodore Louis Kaestner; Michael Shannon portrays Agent Nelson Van Alden Shea Whigham portrays Sheriff Elias Thompson; Anthony Laciura portrays Eddie Kessler: Anthony Laciura as Eddie Kessler; Stephen Graham portrays Al Capone; Vincent Piazza portrays "Lucky" Luciano; Alekso Palladino portrays Angela Darmody; Michael Stuhlbarg portrays Arnold Rothstein; Paz de la Huerta portrays Lucy Danziger; Paul Sparks portrays Mickey Doyle; Michael Kenneth Williams portrays Chalky White; and Gretchen Mol portrays Gillian.

Boardwalk Empire debuts new episodes on HBO on Sunday night. Check listings for additional playdates.

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