The Don Is Dead (1973)

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Marvin H. Albert (novel)
Christopher Trumbo (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

14 November 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Power built an empire. Passion destroyed it.

Plot:

After his mistress is murdered a Mafia leader goes after the killer with a bloody vengeance. Soon after the hunt begins, a gang war ensues. |

Plot Keywords:

Mafia | Murder | Female Nudity | Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Cast

Anthony Quinn	...	Don Angelo
Frederic Forrest	...	Tony
Robert Forster	...	Frank
Al Lettieri	...	Vince
Angel Tompkins	...	Ruby
Charles Cioffi	...	Orlando
Jo Anne Meredith	...	Marie
Barry Russo	...	Don Bernardo (as J. Duke Russo)
Louis Zorich	...	Mitch
Anthony Charnota	...	Johnny Tresca
Ina Balin	...	Nella
Joe Santos	...	Joe Lucci
Frank DeKova	...	Giunta (as Frank de Kova)
Abe Vigoda	...	Don Talusso
Victor Argo	...	Augie the Horse

Also Known As:

Beautiful But Deadly (USA) (TV title)
The Deadly Kiss

Runtime:

Germany:106 min | Netherlands:115 min | USA:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | UK:18 (video rating)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Soundtrack:

The Eyes of Love

Playing for all the marbles

Charles Cioffi, the consigliere of a jailed Mafia chieftain decides to get a war started among the three Las Vegas crime families. Knowing that Angel Tompkins, singer girlfriend of the son of a recently deceased Mafia Don, is looking for a break, he arranges a meeting with Anthony Quinn, Godfather of the third Mafia family where nature takes its course.

When former boyfriend Robert Forster returns to America and finds out it ain't long before the bullets start flying. When the film is over there are only a couple left standing and if you want to know who does pick up all the marbles than watch the film.

Of course this film came out to take advantage of the enormous publicity reaped by The Godfather in the previous year. It's an average sort of gangster flick, it could have been done at Warner Brothers during the Thirties with their stable of gangster players.

Al Lettieri and Abe Vigoda were both in The Godfather and their presence sort of lends an aura authenticity to the film. Lettieri was just coming into his own as a great portrayer of villains and assorted gangland types. His early death was a real loss to film.

Anthony Quinn of course is always good and fans of his which are legion will want to catch The Don is Dead.