Dungeon Classics #47: IT

Posted on 22 augustus 2026 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

FilmDungeon’s Chief Editor JK sorts through the Dungeon’s DVD-collection to look for old cult favorites….

IT (1990, USA)

Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
Cast: Richard Thomas, Tim Reid, Annette O’Toole, Tim Curry
Running Time: 192 mins.

Before the cinematic It movies from 2017 and 2019, there was this beloved TV mini-series adapted from Stephen King’s horror masterpiece ‘It’. IT revolves around an evil entity living in the sewers of Derry, Maine, which feeds on the fears of people – children especially – and usually appears as the terrifying clown Pennywise. The structure of this TV production is very well done. The story is told as the adult members of the Losers Club are called back to Derry by their old friend Mike Hanlon when Pennywise returns after 30 years (“It’s back!”) and begins killing children again. They have all forgotten their horrific childhood encounters with Pennywise and must relive them before returning to Derry to finish him off for good. It’s a very intelligent metaphor for traumatic childhood experiences and how the past – and its many fears – remains very much alive in adults. The youth cast is very impressive, drawing you in and making their experiences believable. Tim Curry is absolutely great as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Bill Skarsgård definitely had huge clown shoes to fill when he took on the role in the reboot. The effects are dated nowadays, but IT still retains that eerie atmosphere that makes it so effective as a horror experience. The only flaw is that ending with the fake spider doesn’t cut it anymore (it never really did). Still, there are some genuine scares, and it still has some of that Losers Club magic going for it.

The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)

Posted on 18 augustus 2026 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

‘It’s a grubby, violent, dangerous world. But it’s the only world they know. And they’re the only friends Eddie has.’

Directed by:
Peter Yates

Written by:
George V. Higgins (novel), Paul Monash (screenplay)

Cast:
Robert Mitchum (Eddie Coyle), Peter Boyle (Dillon), Richard Jordan (Dave Foley), Steven Keats (Jackie Brown), Alex Rocco (Scalise), Joe Santos (Artie Van), Mitchell Ryan (Waters), Peter MacLean (Partridge, Manager of First Bank), Kevin O’Morrison (Manager, Second Bank), Marvin Lichterman (Vernon, Clerk, Second Bank)

In 1972, The Godfather was released – the most legendary gangster film of all time. A year later, director Peter Yates (Bullitt) delivered a different breed of crime film. While Don Corleone is a mob leader of almost insurmountable power and influence, the criminals in The Friends of Eddie Coyle barely qualify to cater Connie Corleone’s wedding.

The story revolves around small-time crooks in Boston’s underworld. These gangsters are based on the real Winter Hill Gang, later famously led by James ‘Whitey’ Bulger and later portrayed in films like Black Mass and The Departed.

Eddie Coyle (Robert Mitchum) supplies guns to a group of bank robbers connected to the Irish mob in Boston. He is also a stool pigeon for policeman Dave Foley (Richard Jordan). He thinks he’s friends with bar owner Dillon (Peter Boyle), who is also snitching to Foley without his knowledge. Dillon isn’t really his friend. Eddie has no friends: the title is ironic. Coyle gets tangled in a complex web of double-crosses and botched crimes, eventually becoming a target for the local mob boss.

The film’s strength lies in its authentic dialogue and characters. This is truly the bottom of the barrel in terms of criminal hierarchy. Eddie Coyle – perfectly portrayed by Robert Mitchum – is the ultimate low-life crook. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but the acting and writing are top-notch. And the ending must be the most unglamorous ending ever for a gangster film.

Rating:

Quote
FOLEY: “You remember Eddie Fingers? Eddie Coyle?” (“The bank robber, the one from Natick?”) “Nah, that’s his sidekick, Artie Van. Eddie doesn’t rob banks.”

Trivia
The film is based on the debut novel by George V. Higgins which is often praised for its authenticity. Legendary crime writer Elmore Leonard famously called it: “The best crime novel ever written.”

“Some people are better at being number twos”

Posted on 15 augustus 2026 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

In business, the entrepreneur or CEO at the top needs a unique set of skills to do their job perfectly. In my experience, what makes a leader great comes down to three things: having an inspiring vision for the future that others can relate to; knowing how to find the right people for the roles needed to achieve this vision and coaching them in that direction; and maintaining a relentless focus on what clients want and need, while executing the business to deliver it.

At Alex van Groningen, I learned from two very effective leaders – Alex and Melle – how this is done. During my own brief period as a manager, I discovered I’m a different type of leader. Not the centerpiece, but more of a behind-the-scenes guy: strategy, advice, and flawless execution of my own role.

In the leader’s seat, you must be very good at conflict resolution. I am not good at that. Silvio Dante, Tony Soprano’s number two (who spoke the quote above), noticed how difficult this is when he briefly took the top spot while Tony was incapacitated.

I can relate. I’m not good at dealing with unhappy people, nor does it energize me to constantly engage with others about their work and inspire them to do better. I much prefer to focus on my own job and deliver the best possible performance I can. In other words, I’m better at being number two. And I relate more to the consiglieri characters in movies.

Their bosses were often the big egos – think Michael Corleone, John Gotti, or Tony Soprano. They accomplished a lot, that’s for sure. But more than once, their number twos did things they couldn’t. A good number two understands the strategy like no other and often has an even better sense of the risks that might disrupt the strategic agenda. Like Tom Reagan in Miller’s Crossing realized that Leo shouldn’t protect Bernie Bernbaum because it would hurt their business.

Also, the consiglieri aren’t afraid to take decisive action when needed. Like when Silvio Dante whacked Burt Gervasi on his own initiative after discovering Burt was talking to their enemies in New York. In short, I relate more to number twos than to the boss in the top seat.

What about you – are you a top leader or more like a number two like me?

To give you a better sense of what makes a good second-in-command, here’s my Top 5 Consiglieri in Movies:

5. Genco Abbandando, The Godfather Part II

Genco Abbandando is a significant character in ‘The Godfather’ novel, though he hardly appears in the movies. In The Godfather Part II, he appears only in Vito’s 1920s flashback storyline, portrayed by Frank Sivero as a young man. Genco is shown as Vito’s childhood friend and ally in New York’s Little Italy, working at his father’s grocery store. Their early friendship is depicted, but he doesn’t actively advise Vito on-screen. Still, since he’s described as a legendary consigliere in the novel, I include him here.

4. Joe Armone, Gotti

In the movie Gotti, a realistic portrayal of John Gotti’s rise within the Gambino Family, Dominic Chianese (Uncle Junior in The Sopranos and Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II) plays Joe Armone – consigliere first to Carlo Gambino and then to Paul Castellano, who was allowed to retire and start a coffee shop. There, he still gave advice free of charge. Gotti comes to see him, and Joe tells him the difficult truth: John broke the rules by whacking a boss without the commission’s approval. And now he’s breaking the oldest rule of Cosa Nostra: he’s appearing in the media. A mob boss doesn’t belong on the cover of Time Magazine, capeesh? But John Gotti, you know: you can’t tell him anything. He won’t listen to Joe’s sound advice and ends up in jail for life.

3. Tom Hagen, The Godfather

Tom Hagen served no fewer than three Corleones as consigliere: first Vito, then Sonny, and finally Michael. What makes him so effective is his supreme knowledge of law and business, which enables him to advise the Don on a wide range of affairs. The reason I rank him below numbers 1 and 2 is that Tom isn’t a very good wartime consigliere. He didn’t see through Barzini’s manipulations and the trap that eventually got Sonny killed. Still, he’s a very good guy to have in your corner.

2. Tom Reagan, Miller’s Crossing

While writing this blog, this is the first time I noticed his name rhymes with Tom Hagen. Funny, because Miller’s Crossing also starts with a Godfather-esque scene in the big boss’s office with his counselor Tom close behind him – very similar to the opening of the first Godfather film. So why is Tom Reagan a good consigliere despite acting against his boss’s will? Because of his wits, his sharp strategic mind, and his ability to see three steps ahead on the chessboard. It’s Tom who ultimately wins the gang war for his boss Leo. What more proof do you need of his skills?

1. Silvio Dante, The Sopranos

Yes, Silvio Dante is the ultimate consigliere. Extremely loyal and devoted to the Family. In The Sopranos, he constantly works on the guys, squashing dissent among the ranks and ensuring that Tony’s decisions are followed through to a T. He’s also not afraid to get his hands dirty when needed – like personally taking care of a number of rats for the crew (Jimmie Altieri and Adriana). In the final episode, when he’s in a coma, even the cold Tony seems to realize how good a friend and loyal associate Silvio has been.