Tagarchief: Anthony Quinn

Gotti (1996)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Directed by:
Robert Harmon

Written by:
Jerry Capeci (book ‘The Last Gangster: Winning the War Against John Gotti and the Mob’)
Gene Mustain (book ‘The Last Gangster: Winning the War Against John Gotti and the Mob’)
Steve Shagan (teleplay)

Cast:
Armand Assante (John Gotti), William Forsythe (Sammy Gravano), Richard C. Sarafian (Paul Castellano), Frank Vincent (Robert DiBernardo), Anthony Quinn (Neil Dellacrose), Dominic Chianese (Joe Armone), Robert Miranda (Frank DeCicco), Scott Cohen (Gene Gotti), Vincent Pastore (Angelo Ruggiero), Tony Sirico (Joe Dimiglia)

John Gotti seemed destined for the Mafia. He was smart, tough, loyal to the code of omertà, never skimmed from the top, and respected the boss’s policy on narcotics. These qualities helped him rise to become boss of the infamous Gambino family in the 1980s. But Gotti also had his flaws: he craved media attention and was too careless about discussing sensitive business in unsecured settings.

Gotti is the biography of one of history’s best-known mobsters. The story begins in 1973, when Gotti first comes to the attention of his crime family, the Gambinos – then the most powerful of New York’s Five Families. Boss of bosses Carlo Gambino asks Gotti for a personal favor, which nearly goes wrong due to the interference from underboss Paul Castellano. The conflict almost dooms Gotti, but his mentor, second underboss Neil Dellacroce (Anthony Quinn), steps in to resolve it.

In the years that follow, Gotti steadily rises through the ranks alongside his close associate and fellow captain Sammy Gravano. When Gambino dies of old age in 1976, he names Castellano as his successor, to the disapproval of Gotti and other top figures. While Gotti was seen as a true man of Cosa Nostra, Castellano was regarded more as a businessman. Tensions eventually culminate in one of the most infamous gangland hits in history: the 1985 assassination of Castellano and his partner outside Sparks Steak House in Manhattan.

Now John Gotti is the boss. But, as noted earlier, his weaknesses ensured that his reign would be relatively short-lived (until 1992 to be precise). As a biographical made-for-tv HBO production, Gotti stands out for offering a complete look at the life and times of a legendary mobster. Armand Assante is memorable in the lead. The supporting cast – featuring many future Sopranos actors – is also strong, with Anthony Quinn and William Forsythe delivering standout performances. If you watch only one television production about the mob, make it Gotti .

Rating:

Quote:
JOHN GOTTI: “A Mexican, a Puerto-Rican and a black guy are sitting in a car. Who’s driving? The police.”

Trivia:
According to IMDb, this film was the highest rated original telefilm in HBO history at that time. The success of the film convinced HBO to cast film co-stars, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Pastore and Tony Sirico in a series in development at the time called The Sopranos (1999).

Mobsters (1991)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld


‘They didn’t take orders…they took over’

Directed by:
Michael Karbelnikoff

Written by:
Michael Mahern
Nicholas Kazan

Cast:
Christian Slater (Charlie ‘Lucky’ Luciano), Patrick Dempsey (Meyer Lansky), Richard Grieco (Bugsy Siegel), Costas Mandylor (Frank Costello), Lara Flynn Boyle (Mara Motes), F. Murray Abraham (Arnold Rothstein), Anthony Quinn (Don Giuseppe ‘Joe the Boss’ Masseria), Michael Gambon (Don Salvatore Faranzano), Christopher Penn (Tommy Reina), Nicholas Sadler (Mad Dog Coll), Joe Viterelli (Joe Profaci), Seymour Cassel (Father Bonotto)

This 1991 gangster movie – also known as The Evil Empire – tells the true story of Charlie ‘Lucky’ Luciano. He grows up on Mott Street, New York in the twenties together with his friend Frank Costello. The two Italian kids start a partnership with the Jewish Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel. As an organised gang, they start bootlegging and soon they team up with gambling genius Arnold Rothstein, the man who fixed the world series. Charlie becomes the leader of the gang.

The young men’s rise doesn’t go unnoticed by the two big bosses of New York; Don Masseria and Don Faranzano. They both want Charlie to work for them in order to become the biggest New York family. When Faranzano wants to hit them, Charlie and his friends have no choice but to temporarily join Masseria.

When the probation comes to an end, the time has come to knock off the traditional dons and start a nation-wide crime syndicate headed by a commission. But Masseria and Faranzano are no easy targets and start moving things themselves. It’s now a matter of who strikes first…

This movie, based on historic facts, doesn’t deliver on all fronts. The four leads are miscast as the ruthless, sociopathic criminals their characters are supposed to be. They’re just too mild-tempered and friendly looking to come across as anything near dangerous. Also the historic accuracy of the story is taken with a grain of salt to benefit the violent action the film contains.

What the movie does deliver on is beautiful production design. There are great montages of tommy guns, dancing girls, liqueur transports, crap games and spinning roulette wheels. The supporting cast is delicious with veteran actors such as Anthony Quinn, Michael Gambon and F. Murray Abraham. It’s a shame this film doesn’t fully live up to its promises, but it’s still worth a look, because of the impressive supporting cast and simply because the movie is so entertaining.

Rating:

Quote:
ARNOLD ROTHSTEIN: “What’s the secret of America? MONEY! Everything is money Charlie. But you’ll never make any money because you dress like a schmuck.”

Trivia:
This is the first American film that stars Michael Gambon.