Terence Young
The Valachi Papers

THE REVIEW

United States, 1962. The first informer of the American Mafia makes his initial statements before Bob Kennedy. His name is Joe Valachi. He is a stocky man, with a husky voice due to too many cigarettes, who speaks for the first time about the 5 Families of New York and the “crime syndicate” that includes Italian, Irish and Jewish crime.  

After making his statements, which for the first time bring the name “Cosa Nostra” to the general public (20 years before Buscetta) he is imprisoned. He asks for some papers, and begins to write his memoirs at a frenzied pace – probably believing he might be killed or die at any moment (he would pass away in 1971).

He will write several hundred pages. The FBI will call his memoirs “The Valachi Papers” (the papers of Valachi) and will allow a partial release. They remain a precious treasure today, due to Valachi's prodigious memory. 

In 1972, the year of “The Godfather”, this film was also made. From a cinematic point of view, this work is not much. In terms of acting, however, it is excellent, with a great Lino Ventura in the role of Vito Genovese and Charles Bronson in the role of Valachi. 

As for historical richness, this film is undoubtedly a masterpiece (forgotten).

You will find Valachi entering Cosa Nostra, becoming the driver of Salvatore Maranzano – the only character mentioned by his real name by Mario Puzo, and mentioned by Clemenza in “The Godfather Part II”. 

You will discover what the “Castellammarese War”  (1930-1931) is, in which the families allied with Maranzano (originally from Castellammare del Golfo, hence the name) will challenge the arrogance of Joe Masseria, and bring Lucky Luciano (icy in Angelo Infanti's portrayal) to betray his boss – Masseria indeed – in a restaurant in Coney Island, with a real “coup de theatre”. 

You will then see the division of New York into 5 families and immediately afterwards you will witness the attack on Maranzano in his Park Avenue office on September 10, 1931, when Lucky Luciano took his place as “boss of all bosses”, beginning the history of modern mafia. 

Ironically, the murders of Masseria and Maranzano went unpunished, because the mastermind behind both, Lucky Luciano, died a few months before Valachi started to speak.  

A film that must be seen if you want to know the true origins of “Cosa Nostra”, and if you wish to discover two great Italian actors perhaps unknown.