The Black Hand (The Birth of the Mafia) (Italian: La mano nera) is a 1973 Italian crime film written and directed by Antonio Racioppi and starring Lionel Stander, Rosanna Fratello and Michele Placido.[2][3]
| The Black Hand (The Birth of the Mafia) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Antonio Racioppi |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by | Carlo Infascelli[1] |
| Produced by | Carlo Infascelli[1] |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Riccardo Pallottini[1] |
| Edited by | Cleote Conversi[1] |
| Music by | Carlo Rustichelli[1] |
Production company | In.Ci.S Film[1] |
| Distributed by | Roma Film |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes[1] |
| Country | Italy[1] |
| Language | Italian |
| Box office | ₤230.363 million |
Plot
editItalian-American cop Joe Petrosino infiltrates the Mafia in the early 1900s New York.
Cast
edit- Lionel Stander as Lt. Joe Petrosino
- Rosanna Fratello as Angela
- Michele Placido as Antonio Turris
- Corrado Gaipa as Avvocato
- Luigi Pistilli as Don Nunzio Pantaleo
- Philippe Leroy as The Professor
- Roger Browne as State Attorney
- Nino Vingelli as Don Gaetano
- Annie Carol Edel as Mary
- Mario Frera as Don Salvatore
- Gilberto Galimberti as Tano Massara
- Gianni Manera as Berto
- Giacomo Rizzo as Nicola Gerace
- Salvatore Billa as Hechman
Production
editLuigi Cozzi, one of the nine credited screenwriters on the film that producer Carlo Infascelli wanted to change the script depending on the actors demands.[1] For example, Cozzi claims that Infascelli had to change the film per Phillipe Leroy's request.[1] Cozzi noted that he was phoned by Infascelli and was told to change the scenes per Leroy's demands within 24 hours.[1] Cozzi noted he was often phoned and told to find reasons and ways things changed.[1]
Release
editThe Black Hand was released in Italy on March 16, 1973 where it was distributed theatrically by Roma Film.[1] The film grossed 230.363 million Italian lira on its theatrical run.[1]
Reception
editJohn Raisback of the Monthly Film Bulletin reviewed an 85-minute dubbed version of the film, finding it having a "rambling plot line" and that large portions of the dubbed dialogue were lifted straight from The Godfather.[4]
Remake
editIn 2017, Paramount announced that it has acquired the movie rights for an English language adaptation.[5] The new film, due for release in 2018, will star Leonardo DiCaprio as Joe, and will be partly based on Stephan Talty's upcoming novelization of Petrosino's assassination.[6]
References
editFootnotes
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Curti 2013, p. 74.
- ^ Roberto Curti (2006). Italia odia: il cinema poliziesco italiano. Lindau, 2006. ISBN 8871805860.
- ^ Paolo Mereghetti. Il Mereghetti - Dizionario dei film. B.C. Dalai Editore, 2010. ISBN 8860736269.
- ^ Raisback, John (1874). "Black Hand, The (La Mano Nera)". The Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 41, no. 480. p. 77.
- ^ Busch, Anita (31 January 2017). "Paramount Acquires 'The Black Hand' For Leonardo DiCaprio To Star For The Gotham Group And Appian Way". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Leonardo DiCaprio to star in film about the precursor to the American Mafia". Independent.co.uk. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
Sources
edit- Curti, Roberto (2013). Italian Crime Filmography, 1968-1980. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786469765.