The Valachi Papers *** (1972, Charles Bronson, Lino Ventura, Jill Ireland, Walter Chiari, Joseph Wiseman) – Classic Movie Review 7776

Charles Bronson plays gangster and informer Joseph Valachi, who spills the beans on his real-life Mafia tale, in director Terence Young’s 1972 thriller The Valachi Papers [Joe Valachi, I Segreti di Cosa Nostra], a very violent but capably made mob movie, with an expert cast.

Valachi is forced to co-operate with the DA in exchange for protection after he is imprisoned in the same jail as mob boss Don Vito Genovese, who has put a price on his head.

The Valachi Papers is a credit to star character players like Lino Ventura (as mob boss Don Vito Genovese), Walter Chiari (as Gap) and Joseph Wiseman (as Salvatore Maranzano), as well as to capable action director Young. But it is a mainly star vehicle for Bronson, who delivers on the level of a powerful presence as his character moves up to old age during the film.

This Italian production from the Dino De Laurentiis Company was a profitable international hit. Costing $5,000,000, it took more than $20,000,000 at the US box office. It is one of Bronson’s last movies from his European film wanderings that finally established him as a bona fide superstar. Bronson’s real-life wife Jill Ireland plays his character’s wife, Maria.

The screenplay by Stephen Geller is based on Peter Mass’s book.

Also in the cast are Gerald S O’Loughlin, Amedeo Nazzari, Fausto Tozzi, Guido Leontini, Alessandro Sperli and Maria Baxa.

The Valachi Papers [Cosa Nostra] [Joe Valachi, I Segreti di Cosa Nostra] is directed by Terence Young, runs 126 minutes, is made by Dino De Laurentiis Company and Euro-France Films, is released by Columbia, is written by Stephen Geller, based on Peter Mass’s book, is shot in Technicolor by Aldo Tonti, is produced by Dino De Laurentiis, is scored by Riz Ortolani and is designed by Mario Garbuglia.

The UK cinema release had heavy cuts to scenes of violence, including a castration scene, bloody shootings and a meat hook killing. Subsequent video and DVD releases restore the cuts.

Young and Bronson previously made Red Sun (1971) together.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7776

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