Although some of the older generations know him as an “actor,” Robert Stack will always be that guy from Airplane! and Unsolved Mysteries for the rest of us. Seeing him act seriously onscreen might come as a bit of a stunner to a lot of younger people — especially when he’s playing a real life figure like Eliot Ness. Yes, long before Kevin Costner became the official TV/Movie interpretation, Robert Stack helmed the role for four years on television in a 
decidedly darker, more noir-like fictionalization of one of America’s best known names in crime fighting.
Always bear in mind that “fictionalization” is a keyword here. Throughout the entire course of The Untouchables: Season 3, Volume 1, you will not see a single incident based on fact — and if you think you do, it has been stretched out and dramatized beyond recognition. But that isn’t to say The Untouchables isn’t a good show. It is! It’s damn good fun, too — with some highly impressive noir photography and scenarios right out of the classic gangster movies from the 1930s. The narration from infamous gossip columnist Walter Winchell makes for all the more fun.
Produced by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’ Desilu Studios, The Untouchables was a weekly crime drama series that followed the adventures of Ness (Stack) and his gang of untouchables as they pitted forces against some the toughest gangsters this side of a Coppola film. Among the guest stars in this set are 
Martin Landau, Jack Klugman, Cloris Leachman, Peter Falk, Telly Savalas, Charles Bronson, Martin Balsam, Albert Salmi, Vincent Gardenia, Victor Buono, Frank Cady, Ed Asner, Marc Lawrence (what sort of gangster series or film would be complete without him?), Roger Corman regular Antony Carbone, and even a really young Dyan Cannon. Frequent guest star Bruce Gordon returns as Frank Nitti.
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