Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll, John Davis Chandler, is the central figure in a heavily fictionalized look at a notorious gangster's life. Born in 1908 in County Donegal, Ireland, the film traces his rough childhood and the abusive father who beats and ridicules him, opening with a scene where he machine-guns his father's gravestone. The story follows his early slip into a street gang, and the path those early loyalties chart toward a world of organized crime.
As the film portrays, Coll is shown as a psychopath, fearless and without compassion, finding a certain satisfaction in the chaos of gunfire and in ongoing feuds. He clashes with Vincent Gardenia as Dutch Schultz over whisky hijacking—a rivalry that sets the tone for how the underworld operates in the period. Schultz's presence provides a weighty counterforce to Coll's reckless bravado, capturing the scale of mob power during those years.
The climactic arc is framed around Coll being shot down by police after Schultz allegedly puts a contract on him. The movie's fictional ending contrasts with history: Coll was arrested, tried, released, and, later, killed by associates of Lucky Luciano for being too troublesome to the syndicate. The film uses this tension to blur the line between legend and fact.
A notorious press nickname stems from an incident involving an alleged accidental shooting of a five-year-old boy; the text notes that this incident is misattributed to Coll's escape from an attempt on his life. In reality, the event occurred amid a kidnapping accusation, highlighting how stories can be distorted in public memory.
The film's world is populated by other vivid figures that help flesh out the milieu. Lt. Dawson, Telly Savalas, appears alongside a tough policeman role by Gene Hackman; each adds texture to the pursuit of Coll. Other notable appearances include Joe Clegg, portrayed by Jerry Orbach; Elizabeth, played by Brooke Hayward; Wickles the bar owner, brought to life by Leonardo Cimino; and Mother Coll, shown by Peggy Feury. The film also includes the young Vincent Coll in a parallel thread, brought to life by Marc Winters. The Official (uncredited) is depicted in small but telling moments by Gilbert Leigh, while The Official's Wife is played by Stephanie King. The cast reinforces the era's texture, from the docks to the speakeasies, with supporting appearances by Ralphie, portrayed by T.J. Castronovo; Big Larry, Ron Weyand; and others who populate Coll's world, including characters like Caroline, played by Joy Harmon and Clio, portrayed by Kay Doubleday, among several.
