The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971)

Director:

James Goldstone

Writers:

Jimmy Breslin (novel)
Waldo Salt (writer)

Release Date:

21 July 1972 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Plot:

This is the funny story about two warring Mafia gangs in New York. The weaker gang use incredibly a lion to blackmail the opposite gang's "clients". The police succeeds to stop one of the gang, while the other remain without the Boss. |

Plot Keywords:

Mafia | Punctuation In Title | Based On Novel

Cast

Jerry Orbach	...	Kid Sally
Leigh Taylor-Young	...	Angela
Jo Van Fleet	...	Big Momma
Lionel Stander	...	Baccala
Robert De Niro	...	Mario
Irving Selbst	...	Big Jelly
Hervé Villechaize	...	Beppo (as Herve Villechaize)
Joe Santos	...	Exmo
Carmine Caridi	...	Tony, the Indian
Frank Campanella	...	Water Buffalo
Harry Basch	...	DeLauria
Sander Vanocur	...	Television Commentator
Philip Bruns	...	Gallagher (as Phil Bruns)
Philip Sterling	...	District Attorney Goodman
Jack Kehoe	...	Bartender

Also Known As:

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot (UK) (cable TV title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including some violence, racial slurs, drug use and brief nudity.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:AA (original rating) | Norway:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (re-rating) (1996)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

While Paramount brass dithered over whether to cast him as Michael Corleone, the role that would make him a star, a frustrated Al Pacino signed up for the role of Mario Trantino in this movie. When Paramount decided to offer him the role, they had to buy him out of his contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Ironically, the role went to Robert DeNiro, whom "The Godfather Part II" would make a star.

Goofs:

Continuity: The lion in the back of the van is female. By the time it gets to the basement, it has become a male.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Sopranos: D-Girl (#2.7)" (2000)

Dated But Still Fairly Funny

I bought this film because it's one of DeNiro's first roles. Based on a book by Jimmy Breslin, the movie has a dated flavor to it that renders it rather stale; my kids didn't care much for it. However, it can still charm at times and the cast was very good overall. Orbach, without a drop of Italian blood in his veins, does a first-rate penny-ante mobster. There are plenty of sight gags, some more subtle than others, and many do make the viewer groan. The real problem is this type of movie requires a serious attention span on the part of the viewer, something sadly lacking in the modern era. DeNiro was no disappointment---he was fresh, funny and charming. The price of the video was worth every cent just to see him in such an unusually lightweight role. Who knew from watching this that he'd end up as one of film's toughest dramatic actors? In summary, not a great movie, but not awful, either.