The Valachi Papers [Blu-ray]

Director: Terence Young Terence Young

Overview

This crime action movie is based on Peter Maas' best-selling book The Valachi Papers. That book, in turn, is based on prison conversations and the actual U.S. Senate testimony of Joseph Valachi, a high-ranking figure in the Mafia. The book, which tells precisely who did what to whom, when and why, electrified the nation. This film had to be made in Italy, because attempts to shoot in the U.S. were stymied by mob-arranged "accidents" and protests. The story is told in flashback as Valachi (Charles Bronson) tells a Federal agent about his activities from 1929 to 1961, when he worked for the Capo of Capos, Vito Genovese (Lino Ventura). Though his tale necessarily takes place in a number of episodes, it never fails to have lots of drama and action.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/15/2022
UPC:	0738329261061
Original Release:	1972
Rating:	PG
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Language:	English
Time:	2:05:00
Sales rank:	21,649

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Charles Bronson	Joe Valachi
Jill Ireland	Maria Reina Valachi
Lino Ventura	Vito Genovese
Walter Chiari	Gap
Joseph Wiseman	Salvatore Maranzano
Gerald S. O'Loughlin	FBI Agent Ryan
Amedeo Nazzari	Gaetano Reina
Guido Leontini	Tony Bender
Alessandro Sperli	Giuseppe Masseria
Maria Baxa	Donna Petrillo
Pupella Maggio	Rosanna Reina
Fausto Tozzi	Albert Anastasia
Mario Pilar	Salerto
Franco Borelli	Buster
Angelo Infanti	Charles 'Lucky' Luciano
Fred Valleca	Johnny Beck
John Alarimo	Steven Ferrigno
Arny Freeman	Penitentiary Warden
Giancomino De Michelis	Little Augie
Syl Lamont	Commander of Fort Monmouth
Sabine Sun	Jane
Isabelle Marchal	Mary Lou
Imelde Marani	Donna's Lover
Jason McCallum	Donald Valachi
Saro Urzi	Masseria
Frank Gio	Frank
Steve Belouise	Vinnie
Antonio Margheriti	Federal Investigator
Don Koll	State Trooper
Riz Ortolani	Composer

Technical Credits

Stephen Geller

Arduino Maiuri

Eros Bacciucchi	Special Effects
Dino De Laurentiis	Producer
Terence Young	Director
Stephen Geller	Screenwriter
Arduino Maiuri	Screenwriter
Nino Krisman	Producer
Roy Mangano	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

The Valachi Papers is a flawed but interesting relic from the pre-Death Wish era of Charles Bronson's stardom. Stephen Geller's script tries to cram several decades' worth of events into a two-hour film and this is both a blessing and a curse: the non-stop flow of shootings and double-crosses is never dull but the speed with which it is delivered ensures that it lacks depth and characterization. Director Terence Young handles the material with solid, economical style but his directorial touch is impersonal, reducing the film to a shoot-'em-up and thus further undercutting the story's dramatic edge. He also allows a few subpar performances to slip by: the worst comes from Joseph Wiseman, who brings an embarrassingly overdone Italian accent to his Mafia don role. Despite these problems, The Valachi Papers works on a B-movie level thanks to its preponderance of action. It also sports an inspired, surprisingly emotional performance from Bronson, who digs into the role of Valachi with a fervor that would rarely be seen in his post-Death Wish work. Ultimately, The Valachi Papers falls short of being a mob-movie classic, but its combination of plentiful action and Bronson's strong performance make it worth a look for hardcore genre fans.

All Movie Guide