Other paupers in the Tesla venture include or have included Daimler, Fidelity Investments, Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Hyatt heir Nick Pritzker, and former eBay president Jeff Skoll.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: The Other Government Motors

Some first-rate screen heavies further enhance the drama, notably the Maltese actor Joseph Calleia as the gambling boss Nick Varna and the mooselike William Bendix as his sadistic muscle, Jeff.

WSJ: Dark Crimes: Film Noir Thrillers