The Black Hand (1973 film)

1973 Italian film
  • Vincio Marinucci
  • Aldo Marcovecchio
  • Ugo Moretti
  • Luigi Cozzi
  • Antonio Raciopi[1]
Story byCarlo Infascelli[1]Produced byCarlo Infascelli[1]Starring
  • Lionel Stander
  • Rosanna Fratello
  • Michele Placido
  • Corrado Gaipa
CinematographyRiccardo Pallottini[1]Edited byCleote Conversi[1]Music byCarlo Rustichelli[1]
Production
company
In.Ci.S Film[1]
Distributed byRoma Film
Release date
  • March 16, 1973 (1973-03-16) (Italy)
Running time
90 minutes[1]CountryItaly[1]LanguageItalianBox office₤230.363 million

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]

Plot

Italian-American cop Joe Petrosino infiltrates the Mafia in turn of the 20th century[year needed] New York.

Cast

  • 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

Luigi 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

The 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

John 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

In 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

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Curti 2013, p. 74.
  2. ^ Roberto Curti (2006). Italia odia: il cinema poliziesco italiano. Lindau, 2006. ISBN 8871805860.
  3. ^ Paolo Mereghetti. Il Mereghetti - Dizionario dei film. B.C. Dalai Editore, 2010. ISBN 8860736269.
  4. ^ Raisback, John (1874). "Black Hand, The (La Mano Nera)". The Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 41, no. 480. p. 77.
  5. ^ Busch, Anita (31 January 2017). "Paramount Acquires 'The Black Hand' For Leonardo DiCaprio To Star For The Gotham Group And Appian Way". Deadline.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Leonardo DiCaprio to star in film about the precursor to the American Mafia". Independent.co.uk. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

Sources

  • Curti, Roberto (2013). Italian Crime Filmography, 1968-1980. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786469765.
  • The Black Hand at IMDb