Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace (1991) (TV)

Director:

Peter Markle

Writers (WGA):

Eric Pooley (articles)
Dick Beebe (written by)

Release Date:

24 November 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Action

Plot Keywords:

Based On Article | Mafia

Cast

Tony Danza	...	Gus Farace
Ted Levine	...	Charles Rose
Dan Lauria	...	Paulie Romano
Frank Vincent	...	Joseph F. Zanni Jr.
Joe Lisi	...	Bobby Fontino
James Rebhorn	...	Timothy Lanigan
Nicholas Turturro	...	Danny D'Arcangelo
Caroline Aaron	...	Dolly
Leonardo Cimino
Sam Coppola
Wendy Makkena	...	Brenda
Margaret Klenck
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Hatcher
Kevin Corrigan
Steven Marcus	...	Vinnie Pergola

Also Known As:

Dead and Alive
In the Line of Duty: Mob Justice
Mob Justice (USA) (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence and drug content.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Katie Face Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Farace and his accomplice drive past the DEA agents' car and does a U-Turn, there is a security officer/fireman in the background. In the next shot from outside the car, the officer is gone.

Good movie, but most people have never seen it

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This is the fact-based story of Gus Farace, a wannabe mobster who kills an undercover federal DEA agent because he thinks he's a drug snitch. At the time the movie was filmed, it was the largest ever federal manhunt in U.S. history (and I believe it still is as of 2006).

In order for the feds to find him, they start harassing known mob associates of Farace to the point where their mob operations are being considerably hindered. The mob is afraid that if Farace is captured, he will give out secret information regarding certain members of the crime family. Therefore, the mob "puts out a contract" on Farace to have him killed before the feds get to him - hence the name Dead (the mob wants him dead) and Alive (the feds want him alive).

The story does a fairly good job of sticking to the facts. If you like mob movies, this one would be worth your while to see.

I have the DVD version of the movie and I think the director (Peter Markle) gives one of the most boring commentaries I've ever heard. There are so many things that happened in this movie (I know because I was an extra) and he never really mentions them. Also, when watching the commentary, he goes for minutes on end without saying one word (and you cannot hear the sound of the movie in the background).

***Spoiler Warning*** In the end, the mob gets to Farace first, pumping him with several bullets.