Mob Movies That Need to be Made

What era, scenario or figure in Mob History should be brought to the screen? Mostly thinking about about things that haven't been done already. But if you can "reimagine" bad mob movies that can be redone.
Ideas
1.) A definitive movie about the Commission (which I can't believe hasn't been done yet). The era of circa 1951 around the Mangano brothers hit until around 1966, the rise of Don Carlo... that is probably the most jam packed era, where you can get most of the most important figures. Luciano is still kinda in the mix, Costello, Genovese, Bonanno, Magaddino, Lucchese, Anastasia,Gambino, Profaci and all the others figures of that time.... On second thought, that might be a great t.v series similar to Boardwalk Empire.

2.)The Valachi Papers- I think the significance of the subject could be reexamined. The Original film wasn't very good but it was the time period, I think a remake of this coud be good because of the subject, alot of history in the story.

3.) Honor Thy Father- a remake of another, not so great movie with great subject matter. The Bananas War of the 1960s with the Bonanno family.

Any Ideas????

Dob...ur a young man I guess??..see u only been on the board a few mnths??..u seem well educated in our subject of desire....but I want 2 ask u ..have u read any significant material on our subjects??..we can guide u through some of this..the reason I commence this is you seem to start threads w/ questions rather than interesting substance...don't get me wrong , I'm not knocking u..ohh fuck it..ul learn..anyway , regarding ur question/topic..my answer is" BLOOD & HONOR" by George Anastasia...but told by Nick 'The crow" Caramandi...if u haven't read the book ..do it NOW or at least b4 u die...LOL..welcome 2 the board , by the way young man.

1.) The beginning of the Black Hand in America.

2.) Philadelphia. The downfall of Angelo Bruno all the way to the Scarfo trial and Leonetti testimony. So much manipulation, betrayal and bloodshed.

Directors (dead or alive): Sergio Leone for #1 and Michael Mann for #2

What do u think I just posted above?..(re:Angelo Bruno)

Story of Moe Dalitz.
His power is still under appreciated

Well then I agree with you, Hoodlum.

DeMeo Crew Movie. Start with Roy as a boy, loss it his brother Chubby, moving to moneymaking as a young adult. Then coming to Nino Gaggi's attention, forming his own crew and their descent into auto theft, drugs, and multiple murders.

They need to make a movie about canada

@Hoodlum
You are correct, and I have studied plenty in the subject, and crossed referenced alot. My knowledge is mainly of the Northeast Families, Particularly Bonanno (obviously haha), Gambino, Philly and Genovese, Although I have an overarching understanding of the while Cosa Nostra.
I did read "Blood and Honor", that subject would make a great movie, i didn't like George Anastasia writing style though. I thought Mafia Prince was a better book but i would be interested in seeing a film from Bruno/Testa/Caponigro point of view, more then Scarfo.

Also I start thread with questions just to peak interest

A Moe Dalitz film would be interesting, I only know a few things but i Know he was connected in the midwest and powerful in Vegas.... Plus he's not that known.

As for Canada I'd be interested in something about the Carmine Galante era in Montreal or the Transition of power from the Cotronis to the Rizzuttos

A movie on Chin Gigante would be good. The material is there for a good movie.

I agree with the Philly mob movie idea starting from Bruno's assassination to Joey Merlino becoming boss. It could be a mini series actually

The Corleonesi, don’t know if this is true, but I think they got their start when Leggio killed some guy over a piece of Pecorino cheese.

From there the storyline really expands.

The murder of Navarra
The Fugitives of Leggio, Binu, even Denaro now
The multiple wars
The Magata meals
Borsellino and Falcone
Clandestine wedding of Riina and Bagarella
Maxi Trial
Attempted extermination of various blood families
Etc.

It could be done in English or in Italian, I think I would make a great movie or series

I’m gonna catch some shit for this I’m sure but Skinny from punk kid to now be a great story. No one would have ever guessed he would be where he is at today and I mean if u would have asked people 40,30,20 years ago would he be on top or still be there not many would say yea. I guess we would have to wait for the ending to see how it plays out though but even if u did from kid to now that’s a hell of a story no matter how anyone feels about him.

I’d watch it lol not embarrassed to admit it.

I would love a mob movie about Joe Arcuri; He served the Gambino's for like 60 years. Never heard of a guy working under 5 bosses; Vincent Mangano; Albert Anastasio; Carlo Gambino; Paul Castellano; and John Gotti.

Would love to see how he operated during the 1950's all the way up till after Gotti. He was close to Albert Anastasia; Never did anytime in jail.



Would love to see a movie about Pete Casella; Especially that jail bid he did with the powerful ''Genovese'' heavyweight who took up for him; after he had Phil Testa whacked. Would love to see the design and plotting with Chickie Narducci and the others; who were involved. Last but not least; The meeting with the commission where he got put on the shelf; and had to relocate to Florida permanently.


Would love a Mob movie about the 1981 Capo murder in the Bonanno's; The plotting; etc...

Zavattoni
Joe Arcuri would be interesting. Its alot lesser known figures have interesting stories.

some lesser known guys that could be interesting imo-
Little davey Petillo
Trigger Mike Coppola
Mimi Scialo
Jimmy the weasel Fratianno
The Giacolone Brothers

Maybe a movie or show about the Bath Avenue crew

@Dob_Peppino; Welcome to the forums by the way.

A Joe Arcuri would be interesting; Guy lived through 5 bosses of the Mangano/Gambino crime family. I think he was a made guy with atleast 4 of them. Think he was made under Anastasia. Anyone have the exact date? I read a story he would give cases of liquor to Anastasia around some holiday; and they were close.

I would like to see a Mimi Scialo story too. I still wonder to this day; Was he whacked because he was a threat to Persico; or was it him slapping Carlo that sealed his fate?? Or a combination of both??

Il Capo dei Capi (2007), a miniseries, has been done though, I recommend that one. It inspired a whole generation of young wannabe gangsters in Holland.

Michael Mann's project about Accardo and Giancana HAS to be made !

Lol, even better! Thanks, I’ll have to check it out.

Here is the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8KwVUY6Ko8

@Zavattoni
Mimi Scialo was a loose cannon, Persico had to remove him to secure his power, along with getting rid of a few others. Also, you don't disrespect a boss but especially Don Carlo in public. I'm sure it add fuel to the fire.

@Hollander
a movie on Giancana would very interesting with Joe Batters, JFK, Sinatra, The Maguire sisters, Johnny Roselli.... Sounds better then a fantasy about Capone in a syphillic daze.

I would love to see a movie about the legendary Carlo Gambino. I know he has been referenced in many films,but a well researched,well cast,and well written feature could be great. I'm not talking about a stereotypical schlockfest like the Assante Gotti movie,or even the Donnie Brasco film,where a great book was turned into a B grade movie of the week. Gambino was a predominant force in the American Mafia,and his influence in placing many Mobsters in key power positions,including other Family Bosses can"t be understated.

1.) movie on Greg Scarpa Sr and Jr.
2.) movie on rise and fall of Tommy Eboli and his murder
3.) movie on Frank Calabrese Sr and Jr (Believe Frank has a movie in pre-production)
4.) movie on the Wild Bunch and the first ward with Pat Marcy in Chicago and how it got Harry Aleman off the hook for murder inially.

No offense but this would be a boring ass movie. First of all, there’s barely any history on this guy and there are barely any people alive who could consult on his life for a movie. He’s just like anyone else in the Mob that stuck around for awhile. An interesting twist that you could do for a story like this would to show what happened with his money when he died. Whether this happened or not I don’t know but the other gangsters could steal all Arcuris money and rackets and none going to his family showing how greedy the mob can be these days and how there isn’t any more honor and respect among the mob even though he was loyal through all 5 bosses.

But other than that his story is boring as fuck but im sure he lived a charmed life but that side will never be revealed unless a relative comes out and theres something brand new we dont know

Theres been movies on Giancana btw

A fiction movie (60s -70 style mob movie) about a war between 2 ny families who have
Some guys in vegas (a crew)
And fighting each other over the control of the casino gambling racket

When I think about it; You're right. Not going to dispute anything you've just stated.

What movie is about Giancana?

Thanks bro! I never knew about this, I’m going to check it out. I still hope they do one about Leggio/Corleonesi with the production value of Suburra or Gomorrah.

They could tie it into P2 and Burlesconi, I would watch it lol thanks again.

There was one called,(I believe) "Sugar Time" starring John Tuturro as Momo,but it focused a lot on his relationship with Phyllis McGuire. It did cover other stuff and Tuturro played a passable psycho-sadist. If you haven't seen it,it's worth a watch.

I personally believe Don Carlo (although I believe he was the Greatest Boss, discussion for another time) would be a boring film, as a stand alone focus. I just don't think of him as an exciting character.
Now Vito Genovese on the other hand would definitely be interesting. The time under Luciano, working for Mussolini in WW2, the power struggle with Costello, then being set-up for drugs by the other bosses. That's a flick.

Just throwing this out there I think Martin Scorsese blew the "last great mafia film" thing on The Irishman. It was 20yrs too late, too long and too untrue. Pesci as Russell Bufalino was the the only good thing about it but that cast could've been used in a say Commission movie.
Joe Pesci as Tommy Lucchese (similar to the Bufalino character)
Al Pacino as Don Carlo Gambino
Harvey Keitel as Vito Genovese
Robert De Niro as Joe Bonanno
Ray Romano (who was actually good in Irishman) as Joe Profaci?
Sounds good on paper maybe it would be better withe some younger actors......

Someone with credibility needs to make a documentary series about the rizzutos and the decade long war in MTL.
Bad blood is a disgrace of tv and fact it should never have been made. I think there was another French film released not to long ago that looked good can't remember name and again is loosely based on events in MTL. Figure the Rizzuto story would best be shown as docu series.

Just because you’re a powerful mobster doesn’t mean you have a powerful story. Tommy Pitera’s story would make an incredible movie.

Also a good story because it's about two close friends for decades and at the end one ordered the murder of the other. You could even throw in the Apalachin conference which Giancana attended. The meeting was reportedly originally set for Chicago.

A mob movie/series about Roy Demeo and his crew.

A new Donnie Brasco movie that includes all the main mobsters that introduced Joe Pistone around.

Omg yes , that stupid show on Netflix bad blood was a complete and utter disgrace , Vito Rizzuto did the unthinkable and came back after prison and losing half his crime family , killed off all or most of his rivals . The French movie mafia inc doesn't give them justice either , I watched a preview and didn't bother wasting my time . They need to do a godfather style movie of the Rizzuto crime family.

Oh haha we basically said the same thing lol my bad didn't see your post. But fully agree !

What pisses me off is how we got all these Gotti movies , worst is John Travolta one ! They downplayed the chins role so bad in that movie and made him seem like Gotti was his superior. A movie on the Chin would be amazing if they did it properly, if it wasn't for him the Genovese wouldn't be so low key and powerful as they are today.

I don't know if you've watched "The Godfather of Harlem" but Chin Gigante is one of the main characters of the show. It covers a different era than the one we usuallly talked about when mentioning Gigante but it's still interesting despite some liberties they took with the historical facts.

Oh I think I've seen online somewhere before, I'll have to check it out thanks !

I'm on the fence with "Godfather of Harlem", I think as a t.v show its entertaining and well acted. But it goes above and beyond with the "liberties" and inaccuracies. Forrest Whitaker is a great representation of Bumpy Johnson(the one true Black Gangster), I think Paul Sorvino is decent as Frank Costello. It is a lesser talked about time period for Gigante, which is intriguing but they take alot of liberties here. I was however disappointed in Chazz Palmintieri as Joe Bonanno, he played himself pretty much and didn't add any nuance or authenticity to the character. He could've at least added an accent

The Scarpa story would also be great way better than Whitey.

A movie about the Mafia-Camorra war in NYC (1914-1918).

A tv serie on philly mob from 1980 to 2000 on the rise and fall of Scarfo and the rise of Merlino;
A series on the mob in las vegas from the siegel murder to the blientzien murder in 1997;
A tv serie on the third colombo war.

There was a decently made movie inspired by the Rizzuto: “Mafia Inc.”

It came out in 2020, but it flew under the radar in the USA and internationally because it’s mostly in French. Well shot and directed. Unquestionably better than that awful series “Bad Blood”.
The move does lose some of its style and credibility by the end.
Italian actor Sergio Castellitto is quite believable as Vito Rizzuto.

There is a thread about it in the Movie/TV forum.

As for the early years of the mafia in America, “Vendetta” (1999), a TV movie produced by HBO, does feature some key figures of that time: Joseph Macheca, Raffaele Agnello, the Provenzano Bros. It’s mostly focused on the New Orleans’ lynchings after Hennessy’s murder.

I think the time period in New York from 1950 until 1970 is the most Pivotal and interesting era and probably would need a t.v series.

You could argue the Sopranos ventured into this type of territory but I think perhaps the most fascinating and unexamined era might be the early/mid '90s.

Think about what was going on:

Lucchese Family: Complete turmoil following the murderous Vic & Gas regime
Colombo Family: Aftermath of their third war
Gambino Family: Downfall of Gotti, dealing with the son trying to be boss, glory days long gone
Bonanno Family: Slowly reclaiming respectability on the street but excluded from commission (and in 10 years time the greatest turncoat betrayal of all time)
Genovese Family: Surrounded by these other idiots.

You could even add: DeMeo Family, dealing with a show being made about them!

Still a lot of guys leftover from the glory days, but also some new guys coming in from a new generation; some of them good, some not so good.

Lots of stories in there, I don't even know which ones you focus on. Maybe you have two brothers in two different families giving you a view of the Colombos trying to rebuild and the Bonannos rising towards the top, while dealing with the other families.

It is the best idea for a movie, as long as the Scarpa relatives like his daughter are kept out of having anything to do with it. She makes him a hero and claims he is not a rat on her Facebook group. I would not mind seeing it if it does seriously and as realistic as possible.

RE:Furio..."A TV series on the Philly Mob from early 80s 2 Scumbucket Merlino's days"......Yes Furio.. I am glad ur interested...But no..a movie should be made on the "whole' of the Philly Mob....1rst ..a movie based on "Blood & Honor"..would make $$$$ @the box office..2nd..a movie ( which may materalize because Nicky Sr. is gone & Phil is going 2 do it ...)...& somebody needs 2 do it...based on "Mafia Prince"... but..hold on..Phil has more 2 expose..More about the John McCullough murder & how Long John was involved..along w/ the Greek mob boss Stevie Boores hit @ The Meletis greek restaurant where major philly disc jockey "Jerry "the Geator" Blavat was present along w/ slain Janette Curro..were about 2eat a nice meal...more about said Blavat being a "ghost" tax & Fla. house writeoff 4 Scarfo Sr.ss house & boat in FLA.....I could go on & on ....but ......I was only a kid..& my old man only told me so much tilI was old enough 2 figure it out own my own..by that time, It was 2 late...by the time I was 23..Tory Scafidi fucked my shit up in 1983..2bcontinued..goodnite.

Havana Nocture would make a great movie

Michael Mann has a screenplay about Accardo/Giancana that has yet to be made.

I'd like to see an intelligent movie about Abner (Longy) Zwillman, possibly the most under-publicized East Coast Mob boss during Prohibition and afterward. Very wealth, very powerful, very influential with fellow Mob bosses and with politicians. Died under mysterious circumstances.