A new mafia movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio called “The Black Hand” is in the works according to the latest reports.
The movie an adaptation of Stephan Talty’s book will tell the story of an NYPD cop named Joe Petrosino who back in the 1900’s squared off against the deadliest secret society in American history. This point in history was when the Italian mafia began making their headway into the United States migrating from Southern Italy. Petrosino who was nicknamed “the Italian Sherlock Holmes,” worked to expose the dealing of the mafia including their kidnapping and extortion rackets. DiCaprio will not only star in the movie but he is also going to produce it for Paramount Pictures through his company Appian Way Productions.
“Leonardo DiCaprio (Left) and Joseph Petrosino (Right)”
They sent their victims mostly wealthy Italians extortion letters threatening kidnapping, bodily harm, and even murder if a certain amount of money was not paid. These letters which often included threatening symbols were signed with an etching of a black hand. Petrosino formed a team of all Italian policemen to fight against the ominous group until he was shot to death by the mob in 1909 in Palermo. At the time the New York Times referred to him as “The only New York City police officer ever killed in the line of duty on foreign soil.” This has the potential to be one of the better mafia movies in the last couple years. Here is a synopsis of the new Leonardo DiCaprio mafia movie:
Beginning in the summer of 1903, an insidious crime wave filled New York City, and then the entire country, with fear.
The children of Italian immigrants were kidnapped, and dozens of innocent victims were gunned down.
Bombs tore apart tenement buildings. Judges, senators, Rockefellers, and society matrons were threatened with gruesome deaths.
The perpetrators seemed both omnipresent and invisible. Their only calling card: the symbol of a black hand.
The crimes whipped up the slavering tabloid press and heated ethnic tensions to the boiling point.
Standing between the American public and the Black Hand’s lawlessness was Joseph Petrosino.
Dubbed the “Italian Sherlock Holmes,” he was a famously dogged and ingenious detective, and a master of disguise.
As the crimes grew ever more bizarre and the Black Hand’s activities spread far beyond New York’s borders, Petrosino and the all-Italian police squad he assembled raced to capture members of the secret criminal society before the country’s anti-immigrant tremors exploded into catastrophe.
Petrosino’s quest to root out the source of the Black Hand’s power would take him all the way to Sicily—but at a terrible cost.
Although I kind of prefer the mafia movies based on more modern day events I think this could be a pretty good movie. Usually like most of DiCaprio’s stuff well at least some esp the crime stuff. Look forward to checking this one out and hopefully it won’t take it too long to make its way to theaters.
I agree. Gangs of New York was awesome, but all I want from that time period. I prefer 60-modern stories.
Leo is always good though, so I’ll watch it. The Gotti movie should be in DVD soon I think. Doubt it’s in theaters
Yes I enjoyed Gangs of New York and your right Leo is solid so this could be a pretty good one too. I don’t have extremely high hopes for the Gotti movie but at same time I kind of look forward to seeing it.
I’ve never been a fan of old mafia stuff, especially Prohibition gangsters.
Given that, I’m still waiting for another Mafia movie in the first person of the gangster, a lot lately have been in the police or detective or just other perspective it seems. I’m still waiting on another Goodfellas or Donnie Brasco, we haven’t had one of that caliber in a while.
In regards to Goodfellas and Donnie Brasco, the director and casts of those movies were excellent. Not just anybody can make epic Mafia movies. Those people can’t be replaced. Once they are gone or are just too old to make movies, I doubt they’ll be easily replaced, if replaced at all. Funnily, it’s a lot like the American Mafia itself lol. One of the main reasons that the Mob isn’t what it used to be is because they simply don’t make them like they used to. Guys coming up now are a joke. As far as Prohibition is concerned, many believe that it was those years that allowed the Mob to enter the following decades with greater reach and power, so it is relevant.
That is a good point lol I think this one could be pretty decent although we have had the same hopes for some of the more recent efforts which didn’t really pan out.
It has def been a while since we have had one of those top shelf type of efforts movie wise.
I have really been enjoying the ‘crime town show’s podcast. All about 70s + 80s Providence mob and Buddy Cianci(corrupt and colorful mayor). Well worth a listen if you like audio stories.
I understand most people like more modern era gangster films.I would be in favor of a new Gotti movie if it was more accurate about the crap he did to make him the worst gangster chief in a 100 years.I am more of a fan of Frank Costello,Murray Humphries from Chicago the corruption side of organized crime and the government.But that would be awfully boring. Giancana would be the most interesting guy to make a movie of.