Dead Silence on AllMovie

A screenwriter aspires to fulfill his life-long dream of making a classic '40s-style film noir. Unfortunately, he doesn't have enough money to fund his project and no one in Hollywood seems interested. In desperation, he goes to a notorious crime lord who agrees to put up the backing, but only on one condition--the filmmaker must cast the gangster's son as the lead. Unfortunately, the kid can't act his way out of a paper bag.