'The Valachi Papers' (1972) – Terence Young.
The Valachi Papers is closely based on the brutally compelling true crime history of former Cosa Nostra soldier, turned informant Joseph Valachi. In many ways an exemplary, engagingly written, violently entertaining Gangster film, bolstered by an exceptionally fine cast, with icons, Lino Ventura, and Charles Bronson delivering wholly credible performances. Bronson's unsophisticated, physically capable, seemingly guileless Valachi is a surprisingly sympathetic, if not altogether likeable protagonist, and Ventura subtly portrays the villanously paranoiac boss Genovese with remarkable restraint. Snappily paced, if a little rushed at times, Young's film-making is professional, but unremarkable, lacking the bravura muscularity of Lucio Fulci, or dazzling inventiveness of Umberto Lenzi. I am fond of The Valachi Papers, since I feel it remains a damn fine film, but I feel the lovely HD restoration does, on occasion, highlight the odd minor flaw, and budgetary shortfall. The grisly castration of Walter Chiari's Gap is especially well staged, Bronson and Chiari bringing an queasy verisimilitude to Vito Genovese's unnecessarily cruel retribution.
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