The Black Hand (The Birth of the Mafia)
Directed byAntonio Racioppi
Screenplay by
  • Vincio Marinucci
  • Aldo Marcovecchio
  • Ugo Moretti
  • Luigi Cozzi
  • Antonio Raciopi[1]
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 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 New York.

Cast

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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 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.
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