The Don Is Dead [Blu-ray]

Director: Richard Fleischer Richard Fleischer

Overview

In this organized crime drama (one of many that came in the wake of The Godfather), Frank (Robert Forster) is the son of a mafia kingpin. He puts together a heroin deal with the assist of brothers Vince (Al Lettieri) and Tony (Frederic Forrest), but realizes that a snitch is present when gunmen burst in and interrupt the drug deal. Shortly thereafter, Frank's father dies. The old man's rackets get divided between two mob families, one headed up by Don Angelo (Anthony Quinn) - but Vince and Tony refuse to follow Angelo's leadership. In the mean time, mob accountant Orlando (Charles Cioffi), whose boss, Don Bernardo (J. Duke Russo), is behind bars, devises and begins to execute a wild plan to bring himself to a position of power in the mob; he engineers a situation that will put Frank's sexy fiancee Ruby (Angel Tompkins) into the arms of Don Angelo, thereby sending Frank into a murderous rage. Cult figure Sid Haig has a supporting role as The Arab.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/09/2021
UPC:	0738329251895
Original Release:	1973
Rating:	R
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Language:	English
Time:	1:55:00
Sales rank:	40,043

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Anthony Quinn	Don Angelo
Frederic Forrest	Tony Fargo
Robert Forster	Frank
Al Lettieri	Vince Fargo
Angel Tompkins	Ruby Dunne
Charles Cioffi	Luigi Orlando
Jo Anne Meredith	Marie
J. Duke Russo	Don Aggimio Bernardo
Louis Zorich	Mitch
Anthony Charnota	Johnny Tresca
Ina Balin	Nella
Joe Santos	Joe Lucci
Frank de Kova	Giunta
Abe Vigoda	Don Tolusso
Victor Argo	Augie the Horse
Val Bisoglio	Pete Lazatti
Robert Carricart	Mike Spada
Frank Christi	Harold Early
Sid Haig	The Arab
Maurice Sherbanee	Corsican
George Skaff	Vito
Vic Tayback	Ralph Negri
Carlos Romero	Mariano Longobardo

Technical Credits

Michael Butler

Christopher Trumbo

Richard Fleischer	Director
George Sawaya	Stunts
Hal B. Wallis	Producer
Michael Butler	Screenwriter
Christopher Trumbo	Screenwriter
Ronald Pierce	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

This obvious cash-in on the success of The Godfather is a competent but uninspired affair. Marvin Albert's screenplay is pro-forma at best, trotting out the usual collection of shootouts and back room mobster meetings but forgetting to include the colorful details and twists that would redeem its mundane plotting. Richard Fleischer's direction is polished but distant, content to let the proceedings role by in a slick but styleless fashion. This overall lack of inspiration ensures that The Don Is Dead feels like little more than a slightly raunched-up t.v. movie. The film's one real attribute is its cast: Anthony Quinn uses his movie star charm to flesh out an underwritten role and Al Lettieri and Frederic Forrest give sympathetic, nicely underplayed performances as a pair of brothers caught in the middle of the mob war. Cult movie fans will also be delighted with the supporting cast, which is studded with plenty of familiar faces like Abe Vigoda, Vic Tayback and Sid Haig. However, a likable cast can't make up for lackluster storytelling and The Don Is Dead is best left to mob movie completists.

All Movie Guide