King of New York (1990)

A drug kingpin is released from prison and seeks to take total control of the criminal underworld in order to give back to the community.

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writer:

Nicholas St. John

Stars:

Christopher Walken, David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

After completing a lengthy prison sentence, one-time drug kingpin Frank White returns to New York intent on reestablishing his empire and making things as they were before he left. Others of course have taken over the business during his absence but that clearly isn't going to stop White. While he is gunning down the opposition, he decides he's going to give away the money he'll make to modernize the hospital in his old neighborhood. Drug dealers aren't the only thing he has to worry about however: a group of rogue cops decide they are going to take him down.

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Plot Keywords:

cult film | neo noir | drugs | prison | gang | 

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Taglines:

Where "Scarface" left off... "King of New York" begins.

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 August 1991 (Italy)

Also Known As:

King of New York

Filming Locations:

436 W. 162nd St., New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$2,554,476

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reteitalia,Scena International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

F.W. Murnau's "Nosferatu" (1922) is the movie the Chinese gang is watching in the screening room. In addition, there are several references to Nosferatu throughout the movie. Star Christopher Walken later went on to play Max Schreck (named after the lead actor in Nosferatu) in Batman Returns.

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Goofs

In the car chase, the right headlight gets knocked out in the dark sedan, but later shots of the chase show both headlights working on all three cars.

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Quotes

[Frank is taking a woman hostage]
Roy Bishop: You can't hide behind her forever.
Frank White: I don't need forever!

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Alternate Versions

Orignally rated "X", edited and changed for R rating on appeal.

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Connections

Featured in The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened? (2015)

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Soundtracks

Dream On
Words & Music / Joe Delia (as Delia) - Nicholas St. John (as St. John)
Slymoon Pub. Co. BMI
Performed by Freddie Jackson
(c) 1989

User Reviews

A Monster

Abel Ferrara created a monster here and Christopher Walken grabbed it by the neck and made it one of the best gangster movies ever made. A truly faultless performance by Walken. The scene where his crew first see him after his release from prison is superb, he may try to act as one of the boys but his unnerving manner is there for all to see.

Considering this film was released in 1989, the cinematography is highly impressive. The shots of Walken as he looks cold-eyed into the night are tremendous, as are many of the New York shots. This movie has a very dark feel and edge to it and I thought the score complemented this superbly.

Larry Fishburne also does an excellent job as a drug-fuelled punk and the drug deal scene is one of the films many highlights. What impressed me most about this film is that not one scene is wasted. It is short, sharp, action packed and to the point and it is one of those rare gems that actually has a fantastic ending.

Well done Ferrara, this movie is one of the greats.