King of New York (1990)

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writer (WGA):

Nicholas St. John (written by)

Release Date:

28 September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Not everyone who runs a city is elected.

Plot:

A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out all his competition and distribute the profits of his operations to New York's poor and lower classes in this stylish and ultra violent modern twist on Robin Hood.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Prison | Drug Lord | Money | Hospital

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Christopher Walken	...	Frank White
David Caruso	...	Dennis Gilley
Laurence Fishburne	...	Jimmy Jump (as Larry Fishburne)
Victor Argo	...	Roy Bishop
Wesley Snipes	...	Thomas Flanigan
Janet Julian	...	Jennifer
Joey Chin	...	Larry Wong
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Lance
Paul Calderon	...	Joey Dalesio
Steve Buscemi	...	Test Tube
Theresa Randle	...	Raye
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Blood (as Leonard Lee Thomas)
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Tanner (as Roger Smith)
Carrie Nygren	...	Melanie
Ernest Abuba	...	King Tito
Frank Adonis	...	Paul Calgari
Vanessa Angel	...	British Female
Frank Aquilino	...	Card Player (as Butchie Aquilino)
David Batiste	...	Waiter - Chicken Hut
Michael Battin	...	Taxi Driver
Frankie Cee	...	Johnny Chick
Lia Chang	...	Gangmember (as Kim Lia Chang)
Endira	...	Flanigan's Child
Erica Gimpel	...	Dr. Shute
Frank Gio	...	Arty Clay
Jack Goode Jr.	...	Palladium Patron
Lance Guecia	...	Musta
Michael Guess	...	Carter
Freddy Howard	...	Emilio El Zapo
Nancy Hunter	...	Millie
Jay Julien	...	Abraham Cott
Susannah Julien	...	Palladium Patron
Robert LaSardo	...	Italian Guard (as Robert Lasardo)
Phoebe Legere	...	Bordello Woman
James Lorinz	...	Tip Connoly
Gary Landon Mills	...	Chilly
Gerard Murphy	...	Mulligan (as Gerald Murphy)
Anthony Padilla	...	Flanigan's Child
Harold Perrineau	...	Thug Leader
George Lawrence Perry	...	Cop
Marty Pesci	...	Palladium Patron
Peter Richardson	...	Emperor Jones
Alonna Shaw	...	Kathleen Mulligan (as Lonnie Shaw)
Wendell Sweda	...	Man at Breakfast Table
Freddie Jackson	...	Himself
Ariane	...	Ariane
Pete Hamill	...	Pete Hamill
Sari Chang	...	Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George G. Colucci	...	Theatre Goer (uncredited)
Joe Delia	...	Harlem Ballroom Band Member (uncredited)
Tony Garnier	...	Harlem Ballroom Band Member (uncredited)
Laszlo Klima	...	Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Carlos Lauchu	...	Undercover Cop (uncredited)
Mark Monto	...	Cop (uncredited)
Phil Neilson	...	NYPD Detective (uncredited)
Lucille M. Oliver	...	Subway Hostage (uncredited)
Anthony Redman	...	Harlem Ballroom Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
John Reidy	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Matthew Shields	...	Boyfriend at Club (uncredited)
Abe Speller	...	Harlem Ballroom Band Member (uncredited)
Timothy Stickney	...	Cop (uncredited)

Directed by
Abel Ferrara

Writing credits (WGA)
Nicholas St. John		(written by)

Produced by
Augusto Caminito	....	producer
Jay Julien	....	executive producer
Mary Kane	....	producer
Randy Sabusawa	....	associate producer
Vittorio Squillante	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Joe Delia

Cinematography by
Bojan Bazelli		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Anthony Redman

Casting by
Randy Sabusawa

Production Design by
Alex Tavoularis

Art Direction by
Stephanie Ziemer

Set Decoration by
Sonja Roth

Costume Design by
Carol Ramsey

Makeup Department
Ron Abrams	....	key hair stylist
Carla White	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Mary Kane	....	production manager
Diana Phillips	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gerald Cuesta	....	second second assistant director
Robert Huberman	....	dga trainee (as Bob Huberman)
Phil Neilson	....	second unit director
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	second assistant director (as Drew Rosenberg)
David Sardi	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jacqueline Arnot	....	set dresser
Bruce Bullock	....	property production assistant
Tim Eaton	....	set dresser
Peter Gelfman	....	property master
Matt Golden	....	storyboard artist
Charles M. Lagola	....	assistant production designer (as Charles Lagola)
Nicholas H. Parker	....	set dresser (as Nicholas Parker)
Victor J. Zolfo	....	assistant property master (as Victor Zolfo)

Sound Department
Elisha Birnbaum	....	foley artist
Osa Elmfors	....	sound production assistant
Eugene Gearty	....	digital sound effects
Raymond Karpicki	....	dialogue editor (as Ray Karpicki)
Drew Kunin	....	sound mixer
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Eileen Nelson	....	assistant sound editor
David Platt	....	boom operator
Greg Sheldon	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Shore	....	assistant sound editor
Paul P. Soucek	....	sound effects editor
Brian Vancho	....	foley artist
Mel Zelniker	....	sound re-recording engineer

Special Effects by
Dan McMahon	....	special effects assistant
Jeff Naparstek	....	assistant special effects coordinator
Matt Vogel	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunts
Carl Ciarfalio	....	stunts
Daniel Dod	....	stunts
Andy Duppin	....	stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stunts
Frank Ferrara	....	stunts
Jeffrey Lee Gibson	....	stunts (as Jeff Gibson)
Roy E. Harrison	....	stunts (as Roy Eugene Harrison)
Jim Lovelett	....	stunts
Gino Lucci	....	stunts
Chuck Margiotta	....	stunts
Felix Mauras	....	stunts
Cynthia Neilson	....	stunts
Phil Neilson	....	stunt coordinator
Hugh Aodh O'Brien	....	stunts (as Hugh A. O'Brien)
Sean O'Neill	....	stunts
Mick O'Rourke	....	stunts
Sandy Richman	....	stunts
Michael Russo	....	stunts (as Mike Russo)
Columbo Saggese	....	stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunts
Alex Stevens	....	stunts
Jeff Ward	....	stunts
Joel David Webster	....	stunts (as Joel David Webster Jr.)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bojan Bazelli	....	camera operator
Peter Betulia	....	third grip
Ed Cosgrove	....	second assistant camera
Michael Gallart	....	electrician (as Mike Gallart)
Jonathan Herron	....	first assistant camera
Henry Lynk	....	additional camera operator
John Paul McIntyre	....	dolly grip (as Jack McIntyre)
Anthony G. Nakonechnyj	....	gaffer (as Tony Nakonechnyj)
David Noble	....	best boy grip
John O'Malley	....	electrician
Phil Oetiker	....	additional first assistant camera
Greg Rosinsky	....	best boy
Steve Sands	....	still photographer
Rob Southworth	....	camera intern
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera
Bryan Unger	....	key grip (as Brian Unger)

Casting Department
Meredith Jacobson	....	extras casting
Deborah Krainin	....	extras casting assistant
Julie Alter	....	casting consultant: Los Angeles (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Emelle Holmes	....	costumer
Barbara Palmer	....	wardrobe supervisor
Varcra Russal	....	associate costume designer
Alexis Scott	....	second wardrobe
Mary Sheldon	....	costume technician
Marcia Whitney	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Christopher Andrews	....	editor: video (as Chris Andrews)
Quincy Z. Gunderson	....	apprentice editor (as Quincy Gunderson)
Mayin Lo	....	assistant editor
David Pultz	....	color timer
Zeborah Tidwell	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Christopher Andrews	....	music editor (as Chris Andrews)
Richie Boisits	....	music recording engineer
Ernie Buonocore	....	assistant music recording engineer
Greg Curry	....	music recording engineer
David Keyes	....	musician
Brian Koonin	....	musician
Mark 'Love Man' Pender	....	musician (as Mark Pender)
Billy Roues	....	musician
Jerry Vivino	....	musician
Max Weinberg	....	musician
Peter Yellen	....	musician
Ernie Savage	....	music mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Thomas H. Beattie	....	driver (as Tom Beattie)
Pat King	....	driver
Gene Kirley	....	driver
Robert Lapine	....	driver
Jimmy Nugent	....	driver (as James Nugent)
Hugh Rawson	....	picture car coordinator
Kevin R. Wood	....	driver (as Kevin Wood)

Other crew
Christopher Andrews	....	creative consultant (as Chris Andrews)
Deborah Bacquel	....	production auditor
Michael Battin	....	parking coordinator
Fausto Capozzi	....	representative: Scena (as Fausto Cappozi)
Lynn Goldman	....	assistant auditor
Scott Hamilton	....	press publicist
Lys Hopper	....	assistant production coordinator (as Lysbeth A. Hopper)
Scott Hornbacher	....	assistant location manager
Tony Kono	....	production assistant
Lisa Krueger	....	script supervisor
John Landt	....	production assistant
Chong Lee	....	craft service
John Paul McIntyre	....	creative consultant (as John P. McIntyre)
Regina McLeod	....	production assistant
Felix Olivier	....	location scout
Corinna Ott	....	location assistant
Kia B. Puriefoy	....	production assistant (as Kia Puriefoy)
Thomas Reilly	....	teamster captain (as Tom Reilly)
Susan Rosenberg	....	production coordinator
Susan Rossi	....	production assistant
Albert G. Ruben	....	insurance
Jeannette Scheibe	....	production assistant (as Jeanette Scheibe)
K.C. Schulberg	....	location supervisor
Susan Sloan	....	on-set nurse
Lise Wald	....	production assistant
David Yashiv	....	production assistant
Joseph Zizzo	....	production assistant (as Joe Zizzo)

Production Companies

• Caminito
• Rank Organisation, The
• Reteitalia
• Scena International

Distributors

• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1990) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Live Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS) (pan nd scan)
• Premiere Home Video (1991) (Australia) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (2011) (Australia) (DVD)
• Versus Entertainment (2005-2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Maple Pictures (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Emerald (2008) (Argentina) (DVD) (re-release)
• Cinor (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Seven Arts-Carolco Pictures-New Line Cinema (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• TV-Or (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Alliance Home Video (1990s) (Canada) (video)
• Artisan Entertainment (DVD)
• Carlton (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• Live Video (laserdisc)
• Look Filmes (Brazil) (video)
• VPS Film-Entertainment GmbH

Other Companies

• Completion Bond Company  completion bond (as The Completion Bond Company)
• M/S Billings Publicity Ltd.  publicity (as M.S. Billings)
• N&D Film and Video  negative cutting (as N&D Films)
• Optical House, The  titles
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recorded at

Also Known As:

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Italy | USA | UK

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/18 (Qualidade) | Australia:R | France:-16 | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R16 (re-rating) (2004) | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R (re-rating on appeal) | USA:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Caminito

Trivia:

Lucille M. Oliver, who plays Frank's hostage on the subway, had never acted before. Walken prepared her for the scene by telling her "I'm going to do something awful to you, but I will not hurt you."

Goofs:

Continuity: During the car chase, the damage on the cop car's rear passenger side door appears and disappears several times.

Quotes:

Frank White:[to Gilley before he kills him] Hey. You.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in True Crime: New York City (2005) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Rockabilly Willy

Walken Is The "King"

The ruthless underbelly of the New York criminal world is examined somewhat graphically in `King of New York,' directed by Abel Ferrara, and starring Christopher Walken. Upon release from prison, New York crime boss Frank White (Walken), determines to become a major player in the city's underworld and wastes no time in putting the wheels of his plan in motion. Among the major obstacles he encounters are King Tito (Ernest Abuba) and Larry Wong (Joey Chin), both kingpins of their respective organizations, veteran detective Roy Bishop (Victor Argo), and Dennis Gilley (David Caruso), a young, hot-headed Irish cop who seemingly single-handedly wants to take back the city from the riffraff who control it and seem somehow impervious to prosecution. None of which matters to White, who is adamant in his quest to become the King of New York. Though hard-hitting and excessively violent, Ferrara's film lacks the grittiness of say, Scorsese's `Mean Streets,' or `Taxi Driver,' but nevertheless makes an impact, due mainly to the unfettered violence, as well as the subtle, understated menace Walken brings to the role of Frank White. There's an edginess that permeates the film and the characters who bring it all to life, with the exception of White, who-- as played by Walken-- is the picture of restraint, the eye in the center of the storm. And it's that cold, soulless, almost haunted look of his that makes him so disconcerting. It's the contrast between his calm demeanor (which threatens to explode at any moment) and the overt violence with which he is surrounded, that gives him that sense of power, and it's also one of the strengths of the film. There is definitely something unsettling about Walken's presence in a role like this (and indeed with many of the characters he's portrayed in his many films); he has a natural ability and the looks-- which he uses so well to his advantage-- to convey the very essence of evil in all it's myriad forms. If they is any doubt, check him out in `Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead,' and `Sleepy Hollow,' just to mention a couple. He has the tools to make you believe his characters, and with adroit skill he uses them all, as he does here with his creation of White; and his performance is one of the highlights of the movie. Walken doesn't have the floor to himself in that regard, however, as Laurence Fishburne (billed here as `Larry') gives a memorable, high-powered performance as well, as Jump, White's main man who provides the muscle for his organization. Fishburne pulls out all the stops and laces Jump with high voltage energy that never runs out, while taking a page from the John Woo Book by brandishing pistols in both hands at once, which serves to enhance his lethal potential. And his over-the-top, in-your-face attitude is the perfect antithesis to Walken's calm, and is in it's own way just as disturbing in the aloof disregard of-- and lack of respect for-- life. I guarantee this is one pair of hoodlums you will not soon forget. The supporting cast includes Wesley Snipes (Thomas), Janet Julian (Jennifer), Giancarlo Esposito (Lance), Paul Calderon (Joey) and Steve Buscemi (Test Tube). Ferrara's film is fast paced and relentless, and he adds a nice touch to the ending that contrasts well with all that precedes it, and yet `King of New York,' even with the outstanding performances of Walken and Fishburne, never quite captures that elusive something that would've taken it above and beyond the average crime action/drama. It does have it's moments, however, and the aforementioned performances alone are worth the price of admission. Just don't come to this one expecting anything extraordinary; it's a good movie, but the Oscars will have to wait for another day. I rate this one 6/10.