Across 110th Street (1972)

Two New York City cops go after amateur crooks who are trying to rip off the Mafia and start a gang war.

Director:

Barry Shear

Writers:

Luther Davis (screenplay), Wally Ferris (novel)

Stars:

Anthony Quinn, Yaphet Kotto, Anthony Franciosa

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robinson Frank Adu	...	Black Assistant (as Frank Adu)
Frank Arno	...	Detective Rizzo
Joseph Attles	...	Mr. Jessup (as Joe Attles)
Paul Benjamin	...	Jim Harris
Ed Bernard	...	Joe Logart
Tina Beyer	...	Black Whore
Gerry Black	...	Patrolman
Samual Blue Jr.	...	Dr. Christmas
Norman Bush	...	Bartender
Anthony C. Cannon	...	Sal (as Anthony Cannon)
Maria Carey	...	Maria
Anthony Charnota	...	Frank
Dick Crockett	...	Patrolman
Keith Davis	...	Cab Driver
George DiCenzo	...	Patrolman (as George Di Cenzo)

Storyline

In Harlem, two Italian mobsters meet three black gangsters that work to the kingpin Doc Johnson to collect dirty money from their associates in an apartment building. Out of the blue, the smalltime thieves Jim Harris and Joe Logart knock on the door disguised as police officers to steal US$ 300,000.00 from the Mafia. However, they startle when the suitcase with the money falls on the floor and Jim kills the five men with a machine gun. They flee to the runaway car driven by Henry J. Jackson and they kill two policemen. The idealist NYPD Lt. Pope and the violent Capt. Mattelli investigate the case while the Italian Mafia and the black gangsters hunt the killers down. Will Jim Harris and his accomplices be found?

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Plot Keywords:

massacre | police procedural | police detective | blaxploitation | african american | 

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Taglines:

If you steal $300,000 from the mob, it's not robbery. It's suicide.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 March 1973 (Finland)

Also Known As:

110-Ban machi kôsaten

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Studio Plaza - 3400 W. Riverside Dr. Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$10,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Guarantors

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 92 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anthony Quinn hoped to cast Sidney Poitier as Lt. Hope, Harry Belafonte as Jim Harris and Sammy Davis Jr. as Henry J. Jackson. However, the community of Harlem objected to these choices, as they were from Hollywood and not the city streets, so they doubted their ability to accurately portray city life. Quinn relented.

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Goofs

When Anthony Quinn is beating the man in the chair of the police station, his gun falls out of his holster. It is never put back in.

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Quotes

Lt. Pope: What else brings whites to Harlem but business?

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Alternate Versions

The original UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC with edits made to nearly all the fight scenes and shots of beatings, and heavy cuts to shootings and a man on fire during the climax. All later releases were uncut.

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Connections

Referenced in So Wrong They're Right (1995)

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Soundtracks

Hang On In There
(uncredited)
Written by Bobby Womack
Performed by Bobby Womack

User Reviews

Betraying The Mafia

In Harlem, two Italian mobsters meet three black gangsters that work to the kingpin Doc Johnson (Richard Ward) to collect dirty money from their associates in an apartment building. Out of the blue, the smalltime thieves Jim Harris (Paul Benjamin) and Joe Logart (Ed Bernard) knock on the door disguised as police officers to steal US$ 300,000.00 from the Mafia. However, they startle when the suitcase with the money falls on the floor and Jim kills the five men with a machine gun. They flee to the runaway car driven by Henry J. Jackson (Antonio Fargas) and they kill two policemen. The idealist NYPD Lt. Pope (Yaphet Kotto) and the violent Capt. Mattelli (Anthony Quinn) investigate the case while the Italian Mafia and the black gangsters hunt the killers down. Will Jim Harris and his accomplices be found?

"Across 110th Street" is a great action-crime-Blaxploitation film from the 70´s. The realistic plot would be politically incorrect in the present days but reflects life in those years. The performances and the art direction are magnificent, with tacky, dirty and ugly locations and costumes. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "A Máfia Nunca Perdoa" ("The Mafia Never Forgives")