Watched this with my brother growing up and can't say I liked it since I was scared by it. "Black Hand," and as others have mentioned, "Pay Up or Die," told frightening tales of immigrant Italian thugs preying on their own people. Any story of courage to stand up to such brutal bullies is commendable. When I was a kid I didn't think Gene Kelly had a chance to succeed in this flick with his enemies so ominous.
TCM just ran it in 2022 and one's suspension of belief might have to be in full bloom. While I accept a great actor can do any role, H'Wood's tendency to cask dark-haired men and women as "ethnic" holds up less and less today. Gino from the hood? Sure, the hood was in Pittsburgh. Funny thing about Kelly - he was no great actor, no great singer, and his dancing style was simply unique, so not great by any standards. If you buy him as an Italian immigrantin NYC in the early 20th century, then you should enjoy this movie.
TCM just ran it in 2022 and one's suspension of belief might have to be in full bloom. While I accept a great actor can do any role, H'Wood's tendency to cask dark-haired men and women as "ethnic" holds up less and less today. Gino from the hood? Sure, the hood was in Pittsburgh. Funny thing about Kelly - he was no great actor, no great singer, and his dancing style was simply unique, so not great by any standards. If you buy him as an Italian immigrantin NYC in the early 20th century, then you should enjoy this movie.