Tagarchief: Abe Vigoda

Sugar Hill (1993)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld


‘He wanted power. He wanted revenge. Now he just wants out.’

Directed by:
Leon Ichaso

Written by:
Barry Michael Cooper

Cast:
Wesley Snipes (Roemello Skuggs), Michael Wright (Raynathan Skuggs), Theresa Randle (Melissa), Abe Vigoda (Gus Molino), Ernie Hudson (Lolly Jonas), Leslie Uggams (Doris Holly), Larry Joshua (Harry Molino), Sam Bottoms (Oliver Thompson), Joe Dallesandro (Tony Adamo), Steve J. Harris (Ricky Goggles)

Sugar Hill feels like Wesley Snipes revisiting his New Jack City character, but through a more somber, tragic lens. The story follows two brothers, Roemello and Raynathan, whose childhoods were shattered by heroin addiction. Now adults, they control the Harlem heroin trade; a seeming success that’s revealed from the outset to be a slow-motion catastrophe.

The film’s message is unmistakable: drugs destroy everything they touch. The narrative begins and ends on a bleak note, anchored by the trauma that set the brothers’ trajectory. Raynathan (Michael Wright), who accidentally killed their mother with a ‘hot shot’, is emotionally broken, unstable, and haunted. Roemello (Snipes), meanwhile, built a drug empire in uneasy partnership with the Italian mob, led by Gus Molino (Abe Vigoda – yes, Tessio from The Godfather).

Although Roemello was once a hardened kingpin in the mold of Nicky Barnes or Frank Lucas, by the time the film begins he’s already looking for an exit. He’s grown weary of the life, and the movie focuses more on his yearning for redemption than on gangster swagger. This shift in emphasis makes Sugar Hill more of a tragedy than a straight crime thriller.

Roemello’s relationship with Melissa (Theresa Randle) gives him hope for a way out, but Raynathan’s instability threatens to pull him back in. On top of that, a new rival – backed by the Italians – escalates tensions and violence.

Visually, the film is impressive, and the cast is stacked with talent. However, Michael Wright’s perpetually tormented performance becomes overwhelming; his intensity, effective in Oz, feels exhausting here. On the other hand, Ernie Hudson (also from Oz) shines as Lolly, the ambitious newcomer.

In the end, Sugar Hill is a flawed but intriguing companion piece to New Jack City. Strong performances and striking cinematography work in its favor, but its relentlessly grim tone and absence of humor make the viewing experience heavy and, at times, draining.

Rating:

Quote:
ROEMELLO: “C’mon Lolly. Look at Harlem, seems like someone is always dying before their time.”

Trivia:
Also known as Harlem.

Witness to the Mob (1998)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Directed by:
Thaddeus O’Sullivan

Written by:
Stanley Weiser

Cast:
Nicholas Turturro (Sammy ‘The Bull’ Gravano), Tom Sizemore (John Gotti), Debi Mazar (Deborah Gravano), Michael Imperioli (Louie Milito), Abe Vigoda (Paul Castellano), Frankie Valli (Frank LoCascio), Katherine Narducci (Linda Milito), Arthur J. Nascarella (Bruce Mouw), Frank Vincent (Frankie DeCicco), Vincent Pastore (Mikey De Bat)

Sammy ‘The Bull’ Gravano is remembered as one of the most notorious informants in mob history. He betrayed the Dapper Don, John Gotti – whom he believed had first betrayed him. Before making that fateful decision, the story flashes back nineteen years to his childhood in Brooklyn. There, he and his best pal Louie (Michael Imperioli) begin their careers in organized crime as part of the powerful Gambino family.

Gravano rises quickly through the ranks. His willingness to follow orders to the letter – and to kill without hesitation – earns him the respect of higher-ups. Before long, he’s made an official member by boss Paul Castellano himself.

Around the same time, John Gotti (Tom Sizemore) is on the rise as well. When Castellano begins to break the mob’s code of honor, Gravano and Gotti conspire to take him out and seize control. Gotti becomes boss, while Gravano becomes his second-in-command. But Gotti’s flashy lifestyle draws unwanted attention from the press, the public, and the FBI – setting the stage for a conflict that will bring everything crashing down.

This made-for-TV film was released just two years after HBO’s Gotti. Both screenplays are based on the real Gravano–Gotti saga, and the similarities are striking – not only in story but also in style. Several familiar faces from The Sopranos and Goodfellas (Tony Sirico, Frank Vincent, Vincent Pastore) appear in both films. The key difference is perspective: Witness to the Mob is told through Gravano’s eyes, while Gotti presents Gotti’s side of the story.

Still, there’s something about Witness to the Mob that doesn’t quite ring true. Despite the strong ensemble, the interactions don’t always feel believable. Nicholas Turturro (brother of John) lacks the presence and charisma needed to carry Gravano’s role, and most of the actors have delivered stronger mob performances elsewhere. That said, fans of mob movie clichés – the talk, the mannerisms, the hits – may still enjoy Witness to the Mob. It has plenty of all that, even if it never quite rises above the familiar.

Rating:

Quote:
JOHN GOTTI: “So the boss of bosses is dead?”
SAMMY GRAVANO: “He lived a long life. His maid is gonna miss him.”
JOHN GOTTI: “His wife won’t.”

Trivia:
Arthur J. Nascarella plays FBI special agent Bruce Mouw, who is in charge of breaking up the Gambino family. In The Sopranos, his character Carlo Gervasi eventually betrays mob boss Tony Soprano.

The Don is Dead (1973)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld


‘Power built an empire. Passion destroyed it.’

Directed by:
Richard Fleischer

Written by:
Marvin H. Albert (novel & screenplay)
Christopher Trumbo (adaptation)
Michael Butler (adaptation)

Cast:
Anthony Quinn (Don Angelo), Robert Forster (Frank), Al Letteri (Vince Fargo), Frederic Forrest (Tony Fargo), Angel Tompkins (Ruby Dunne), Charles Cioffi (Orlando), Jo Anne Meredith (Marie), Barry Russo (Don Bernardo), Abe Vigoda (Don Talusso), Victor Argo (Augie the Horse)

A mob movie clearly made to capitalize on The Godfather’s success, The Don Is Dead is directed by Richard Fleischer (Conan the Destroyer) and features familiar faces from The Godfather, including Al Lettieri (Sollozzo) and Abe Vigoda (Tessio).

The screenplay is by Peter Maas, known for his mob stories like The Valachi Papers – adapted into a 1972 film starring Charles Bronson.

The plot follows Frank (a young Robert Forster), the reckless son of mob boss Don Paolo. When Paolo dies of a heart attack, his territory is divided between two rival leaders: the formidable Don Angelo (Anthony Quinn) and another Don who refuses to share. After Paolo’s funeral, a brutal mob war erupts, escalating when Frank savagely beats up Angelo’s new mistress.

While the film captures a dark, gritty atmosphere, it lacks characters the audience can root for. Without emotional investment, the endless cycle of murders and retaliations feels hollow – none of the deaths resonate. It’s not a bad movie, but beyond Anthony Quinn’s strong performance, there’s little to recommend.

Rating:

Quote:
AUGIE THE HORSE: “You must think of our groups of families as a corporation.”

Trivia:
This is the second gangster film in which Al Lettieri declares that a Don is “slippin”. The first time was about Marlon Brando’s Don Corleone in The Godfather, and now he’s talking about about Anthony Quinn’s Don Angelo.”

The Godfather (1972)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld


‘An offer you can’t refuse’

Directed by:
Francis Ford Coppola

Written by:
Mario Puzo (novel / screenplay)
Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay)

Cast:
Marlon Brando (Don Vito Corleone), Al Pacino (Michael Corleone), James Caan (Santino ‘Sonny’ Corleone), Richard Castellano (Peter Clemenza), Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen), Sterling Hayden (Capt. McCluskey), John Marley (Jack Woltz), Richard Conte (Don Emilio Barzini), Al Lettieri (Virgil ‘The Turk’ Sollozzo), Diane Keaton (Kay Adams)

When discussing gangster films, The Godfather is the one movie that is always part of the conversation. Often hailed as the greatest gangster film of all time, it frequently tops high-profile lists as the best movie ever made, transcending genres entirely.

A myriad of elements contribute to its enduring appeal: the impeccable casting, masterful performances, meticulous production design, breathtaking cinematography, inspired direction, and Nino Rota’s iconic score. However, one element elevates The Godfather above its peers: the family theme. Director Francis Ford Coppola, drawing from his own Italian-American heritage, imbues the narrative with a deeply relatable exploration of family dynamics. This personal touch makes the story resonate universally, beyond the crime genre.

At its heart, The Godfather tells the story of the Corleone crime family at its zenith and the challenges it faces. Aging patriarch Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) grapples with two critical dilemmas: selecting a successor to lead the family after his death and navigating the changing criminal landscape of post-war America. The rise of the narcotics trade brings new threats, and his resistance to adapt creates powerful enemies.

Ironically, neither Paramount Pictures nor Coppola himself anticipated the monumental success of the film. While Coppola had achieved some recognition for his work on Patton (winning an Academy Award for the screenplay), he was not yet an established auteur. Meanwhile, Mario Puzo’s source novel, though popular, was dismissed by some as pulp fiction. The production was fraught with difficulties, most notably in casting. Paramount was resistant to casting Marlon Brando, then considered a liability, and the studio balked at Coppola’s insistence on the relatively unknown Al Pacino for the pivotal role of Michael Corleone. These decisions nearly cost Coppola his job. Looking back, it’s impossible to imagine anyone else embodying these roles.

Despite the hurdles, Coppola and Paramount struck cinematic gold. The Godfather became not just a groundbreaking box-office sensation but an instant classic, revered by critics and audiences alike. Every aspect of the film is masterfully executed: the authentic recreation of the late 1940s and early 1950s, the technical precision, Rota’s hauntingly beautiful score, and, above all, the performances.

The acting remains a standout triumph. Brando’s monumental portrayal of Don Vito earned him a well-deserved Oscar, but the supporting cast is equally remarkable. James Caan is explosive as the hot-headed Sonny Corleone, and Al Pacino delivers a career-defining performance as Michael. Pacino’s subtle and chilling transformation from an idealistic college graduate to a ruthless mob boss anchors the film. When Don Vito’s demise shifts the narrative focus to Michael, the transition is seamless, a testament to Pacino’s magnetic presence.

Michael’s arc forms the emotional core of The Godfather. His descent into violence and moral compromise is both tragic and compelling. By the time he exacts his revenge in the film’s climactic sequence, the audience feels both the catharsis of his triumph and the weight of his irrevocable loss. The final moments, where the office doors close on Michael and shut out his wife Kay, encapsulate the story’s tragic brilliance. It’s a devastatingly poignant image of power, isolation, and corruption.

Every frame, every line, and every note of The Godfather exudes cinematic perfection. It’s a film that redefined not only the gangster genre but cinema itself. To speak of The Godfather is to speak of the very essence of filmmaking excellence. It remains, unequivocally, a masterpiece for the ages.

Rating:

Quote:
MICHAEL CORLEONE: “My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a president or senator.”

Trivia:
Ernest Borgnine, Edward G. Robinson, Orson Welles, Danny Thomas, Richard Conte, Anthony Quinn, and George C. Scott were considered by Paramount Pictures for the role of Don Vito Corleone.