THE VALACHI PAPERS

[crego]

A 51 years old Bronson, plays an italian mobster in his twenties.


A french-italian production, made just in the wake of "THE GODFATHER", "THE VALACHI PAPERS" can't compete with Coppola's masterpiece. It's interesting if you want to learn Cosa Nostra's way of life (and death), but it's badly done, and the casting is weak.
Even with tons of wigs and make-up, Bronson will never look italian, and his Valachi is just not believable. It was obviously a part for a Danny Aiello or a Joe Viterelli. Bronson is in fact pretty good in the fim, just miscast. Jill Ireland is even worse, as a sicilian young virgin. Lino Ventura and the always impressive Joseph Wiseman are perfect mafiosi.

[harmonica]

Bronson plays a guy in his twenties?That would be funny to watch.

[crego]

It is funny ! The film is a long flash-back on Valachi's life in the mafia. So he begins at twenty in Sing-Sing, then thirty as a boss's driver, and goes on till he reaches sixty, for his TV confession. The worst thing, is that there's not ONE scene, where Bronson doesn't wear a wig. And they are all terrible !

[harmonica]

I saw "The Valachi Papers" yesterday. I liked Bronson's performance although he had some weak moments.It was a very poor-looking production and and the production design was sloppy.This movie can't compete with "The Godfather" in style and fines, Coppola and Dean Tavoularis, the art director, did perfect job, it hasn't the cinematography and the master touch "Casino" and "Goodfellas" have and any comparison, in technical aspects, with "Once Upon a Time In America", the perfect example of Sergio Leone's perfectionism would be impossible."The Valachi Papers" lacks in many aspects(art direction, production design, costumes,make-up,...).Even though I enjoyed this movie for it's griping plot, the powerful and solid storytelling and the fact that goes very deep in Cosa Nostra's organization structure and way of live.The total result is an entertaining and interesting movie despite its weak elements.

[skankpuddle]

Amazing movie, and one of the finest Mafia-based movies I've ever seen. It may not have the ultra-polished aesthetics of THE GODFATHER, but that's one of its strong suits; it's tough, gritty and fast-paced, and the look of the film never lets you forget that these people were scumbags of the lowest order. I think Bronson had a lot of guts playing this character, who many believed was a no-good rat. Joe Valachi was an interesting guy, and while I would never regard him as a hero, in the classic sense, he lent a hand in the eventual dismantling of the Cosa Nostra. He was doing it out of sheer revenge, but despite his reasons he did a lot to cripple organized crime. Interesting character, and a great movie with one of Bronson's most challenging roles... and he rose to the challenge brilliantly.

[harmonica]

Great post, I totally agree.It's definately one of the greatest mafia movies ever.I'm glad you think that too.I love the scene in which Lino Ventura and Bronson are in Jill Ireland's house to ask her mother's permition so that she gets married to Bronson and while Ventura tries to talk to Ireland's mother he's interrupted by a strange and funny noise Bronson made while he was eating like a cow.

[Mean Little Ass-Kicker]

I don't get the hate some have of this one. I think it's a surprisingly good gangster drama/thriller with some great performances from the cast. Even though you don't fully view Bronson as an Italian, it doesn't really bug you because he plays the unexpected part well enough. For those with an interest in the Mafia in America, it's a must-see.