The Black Hand (1973 film)

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 byAntonio Racioppi [it]
Screenplay by
Story byCarlo Infascelli[1]
Produced byCarlo Infascelli[1]
Starring
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]
LanguageItalian
Box office230.363 million

Plot

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

Cast

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Production

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Footnotes

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  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

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  • Curti, Roberto (2013). Italian Crime Filmography, 1968-1980. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786469765.
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