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Post by snsurone on Oct 19, 2017 19:16:24 GMT
This is a 1950 film noir starring Gene Kelly in a rare non-musical role.
The title refers to a crime gang, apparently patterned after the Mafia, that terrorized NYC's Little Italy at the turn of the last century.
Critic Bosley Crowther commented on the "simplicity" of the story line which I think I can understand: one man almost single-handedly destroying some of the most notorious criminals in history.
And I can imagine some "bleeding hearts" criticizing the scene where Kelly throws his knife into a bad guy's back.
But it is still a very good movie, with an excellent, albeit not Oscar-worthy performance by Kelly.
One thing I did observe:
Like Leslie Howard, Gene Kelly looks younger and more handsome in B&W than in color.
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Post by politicidal on Oct 19, 2017 23:47:25 GMT
It's the funny thing about Technicolor.
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Post by bravomailer on Oct 20, 2017 13:00:50 GMT
Looks like there's a film being made now about the Black Hand. |
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Post by snsurone on Oct 20, 2017 14:57:07 GMT
Looks like there's a film being made now about the Black Hand. Wanna bet it's a CGI-laden piece-of-poop with "stars" who have no acting ability at all? |
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Post by teleadm on Oct 20, 2017 16:09:22 GMT
The movie had originally been attatched to Robert Taylor. Kelly asked the studio (MGM) for a straight acting role and he took the lead role in this early mafia movie. Even in 1950, Hollywood had to tread carefully dealing with big-time crime, it being safer to go after a "dead" criminal organization than a "live" one.
Gene Kelly had done dramatic roles earlier in his career, when MGM didn't know what to use him in. on two "loanouts" to other studios, Cover Girl at Columbia and Christmas Holiday at Universal, MGM finally did see his potential.
After Paris and Rain, he also did non-musical roles in The Devil Makes Three 1952 and Seagulls over Sorrento aka Crest of the Wave 1954 at MGM during his MGM years, during a European deal of using frozen European MGM assets, but the whole point of this European deal was to have made Brigadoon 1954 on locations in Scotland, but MGM suddenly got cold feet and made the whole production in the MGM studios in Hollywood instead.
I can't make any comments about Black Hand, since I haven't seen it.
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Post by snsurone on Oct 21, 2017 20:46:11 GMT
Part of this film takes place in Naples.
I hate to think of that beautiful Mediterranean city as a hotbed of organized crime.
I always thought the Mafia hailed from Sicily.
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Post by bravomailer on Oct 21, 2017 21:15:23 GMT
Part of this film takes place in Naples. I hate to think of that beautiful Mediterranean city as a hotbed of organized crime.  |
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Post by teleadm on Oct 21, 2017 21:37:52 GMT
Yes Naples is beautiful  |
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Post by snsurone on Oct 22, 2017 17:22:25 GMT
Mmmmm!
I'd love to visit Naples.
And Tuscany, with its vineyards and wineries.
I love wine.
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Post by snsurone on Oct 22, 2017 22:22:29 GMT
Part of this film takes place in Naples. I hate to think of that beautiful Mediterranean city as a hotbed of organized crime. Q'est-ce que c'est, bravomailer??? |
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Post by bravomailer on Oct 22, 2017 22:33:17 GMT
It's an Italian film called Gomorrah which is about (semi)organized crime in Naples. Looks at sweat shops, toxic waste dumping, initiations, and assassinations. Based on a non-fiction book. An 8/10 from me. |
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Post by snsurone on Oct 22, 2017 22:56:13 GMT
Thank you, bravo.
When was it made?
I realize that all major cities have problems with crime, pollution, etc.
But I like to think of Naples for its beauty and positive aspects.
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Post by politicidal on Oct 23, 2017 1:21:12 GMT
Looks like there's a film being made now about the Black Hand. Wanna bet it's a CGI-laden piece-of-poop with "stars" who have no acting ability at all? Depends if you like period crime films with Leonardo DiCaprio or not. |
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Post by snsurone on Oct 23, 2017 15:59:38 GMT
Wanna bet it's a CGI-laden piece-of-poop with "stars" who have no acting ability at all? Depends if you like period crime films with Leonardo DiCaprio or not. Quite frankly, I don't. To tell the truth, while I adore old movies (even B-films, as I said on another post), I find today's output to be garbage, designed for the juvenile audience. And today's "actors" can't hold a candle to those of the Golden Age. I quit watching the Oscar ceremonies decades ago because it has become meaningless in term of actual acting and filmmaking ability. |
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Post by bravomailer on Oct 23, 2017 17:25:17 GMT
Thank you, bravo. When was it made? I realize that all major cities have problems with crime, pollution, etc. But I like to think of Naples for its beauty and positive aspects. It came out in 2008. Here's the trailer: |
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