Kid Twist (Harold Gould)

Character Analysis

Kid Twist is a good professional conman and a great second-in-command. Twist takes an administrative role in Gondorff's gang, looking after all the staff and all the properties. This is apparent in the ease and efficiency with which he handles pretty much everything. When it become clear that he needs the twenty best conmen in Chicago, he knows exactly what to say…and who to say it to:

KID TWIST: Listen Duke, we're setting up a wire store. I need a twenty man boost right away.

He's also the guy who finds out which hitmen are probably trying to kill Johnny ("These are Combs' favorite torpedoes, Riley and Cole") and knows exactly how to deal with the landlord of the place chosen to set the con ("This is the last time I expect to see you down here").

Not only that, but Twist is Henry's go-to man when he needs to change up the big con on short notice—he sets up a fake Western Union office with only one day's notice. He disguises himself and his buddy as painters and sends an actual Western Union employee away to take over his office for just a few minutes. The scheme works and proves to Doyle Lonnegan that Twist is a legit Western Union employee.

Apart from Henry Gondorff, Kid Twist is our best example of how professional, skillful, and unshakeable a good conman can be.