HARD KNOX, Randy's Project : Movies : Amazon Studios

HARD KNOX

Jailed mobster Al Capone curries favor by sending one of his brutes to help solve the Lindbergh kidnapping and recover the child. The brute bullies and beats his way to the truth--finding redemption along the way.

Synopsis: Brutish mob enforcer KNOX unexpectedly falls in love with school teacher EVELYN, who convinces him his "work" is wrong and he needs to give it up or lose her forever. Unfortunately, Knox's resignation from the mob is refused and his friend FRANK NITTI has him thrown in prison. Simultaneously, the Chicago mob wars are costing money and lives, ultimately leading to Nitti's boss AL CAPONE'S arrest for tax evasion. When famed, wealthy aviator CHARLES LINDBERGH'S infant son JR. is kidnapped, Capone (this is true) sees an opportunity to engineer his release by having his second-in-command Nitt spring Knox in order to help Lindbergh get the baby back. Now married to Evelyn and with an infant son of his own, Knox refuses to go back to that kind of work. Capone rival MORAN wants to make sure Capone doesn't get out, so he assigns cold-blooded hit man O'TOOLE to see to it Knox doesn't get involved or succeed. When O'Toole attacks, it is Evelyn and Knox's son who are killed. Grief-stricken, and in an effort to alleviate his guilt, Knox decides to help Lindbergh after all.
Knox admires Lindbergh, whose wife ANNE is pregnant with their second. Knox can't promise anything but knows he might be more effective than the army of detectives and state police who're conducting a botched investigation and nation-wide search themselves. Lindberg's maid VIOLET serves as their go-between. Knox starts by confronting a pair of low-lifes who claim knowledge of the case but who turn out to be among many who're merely trying to cash in. Knox kills them both and comes away with a suspicion Moran might be involved. Upon manhandling Moran, Knox gets a line on O'Toole, not realizing he's the same guy who killed Evelyn and his son. Meantime, retired blowhard professor CONDON is asked to serve as an intermediary between Lindbergh and the kidnappers. Knox and Condon make contact with "CEMETERY JOHN," who eventually sends the little boy's pajamas as proof he's for real. Meantime, Knox is growing suspicious that Violet might be in on the kidnapping, discovering she's been having an affair with the family's CHAUFFEUR. Eventually, Condon and Knox deliver the ransom to Cemetery John, who hands off the money before he's killed trying to flee Knox. Knox accompanies Lindbergh in a flight to try and spot the boat where Cemetery John claims the baby is being held. It's a dead end and all looks hopeless.
Knox has a hunch and tells Lindbergh there is still hope. Knox is attacked by O'Toole and thinks he's killed him. But O'Toole comes back to run Knox off the road and goes ahead to kill Violet. Knox gets there in time to finish off O'Toole. Unfortunately, Violet has taken a fatal dose of poison because she was indeed an unwitting accomplice along with her brother--the dead Cemetery John. Fortunately, however, Violet has left a clue that leads Knox and Lindbergh to the location where the baby has been held. They manage to rescue the baby but miss out identifying or capturing the mastermind behind the kidnapping.
Lindbergh is convinced that as a result of the notariety, his son can't possibly lead a normal life. In an act of self-sacrifice, Knox confronts Nitti and his men in order to retrieve his own son's corpse. Wounded in the exchange--and in an act of redemption--Knox places his dead son in Jr.'s pajamas and leaves him out in the woods to be found and identified as the Lindbergh Baby. In time, BRUNO RICHARD HAUPTMAN is arrested, tried and executed for the crime. The Lindberghs retreat to a private life and Knox finds his own kind of peace.

Latest Work

Creative Notes:

The script was written in conjunction with a graphic novel, both of which embrace a unique look and feel to the era of gangsterism and true crime--containing plenty of action, atmosphere, twists and suspense. The majority of the story--including many details--are drawn from actual court records and evidence.