The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight
Encyclopedia
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight is a 1969 novel written by Jimmy Breslin
and a film of the same name based on the book and released in 1971
starring Robert De Niro
. The novel is a roman à clef
of the life of Joey Gallo
whose fictional counterpart, Kid Sally Palumbo, is played by Jerry Orbach
in the film. Orbach later met Gallo by accident, and though Gallo was a bit frosty at first, eventually the two and their wives became close friends. In fact, the Orbachs had dinner with the Gallos earlier in the evening the night Joey was murdered.
The Mafia comedy
also features a young Robert De Niro
as a member of an Italian cycling team who stays behind illegally in New York
after the cancellation of the race for which he had come to America. For money, he masquerades as a priest
and cons Mafia bosses into giving donations to a nonexistent charity along with being an adept thief. This film is one of De Niro's earliest. Originally, Al Pacino
signed up to play the part of Mario Trantino, but this was later given to De Niro when Pacino was given the part of Michael Corleone
in The Godfather
.
Jimmy Breslin
Jimmy Breslin is an American journalist and author. He currently writes a column for the New York Daily News' Sunday edition. He has written numerous novels, and columns of his have appeared regularly in various newspapers in his hometown of New York City...
and a film of the same name based on the book and released in 1971
1971 in film
The year 1971 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 8 - Bob Dylan's hour long documentary film, Eat the Document, premieres at New York's Academy of Music...
starring Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
. The novel is a roman à clef
Roman à clef
Roman à clef or roman à clé , French for "novel with a key", is a phrase used to describe a novel about real life, overlaid with a façade of fiction. The fictitious names in the novel represent real people, and the "key" is the relationship between the nonfiction and the fiction...
of the life of Joey Gallo
Joe Gallo
Joseph Gallo , also known as "Crazy Joey" and "Joe the Blond", was a celebrated New York City gangster for the Profaci crime family, later known as the Colombo crime family...
whose fictional counterpart, Kid Sally Palumbo, is played by Jerry Orbach
Jerry Orbach
Jerome Bernard "Jerry" Orbach was an American actor and singer. He was well known for his starring role as Detective Lennie Briscoe in the Law & Order television series and as the voice of Lumière in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As well, Orbach was a noted musical theatre star...
in the film. Orbach later met Gallo by accident, and though Gallo was a bit frosty at first, eventually the two and their wives became close friends. In fact, the Orbachs had dinner with the Gallos earlier in the evening the night Joey was murdered.
The Mafia comedy
Mafia Comedy
Mafia comedy films are a sub-genre hybrid of comedy films and crime/gangster films.Mafia comedies revolve around the mafia and a comedic plot line, usually a chase or a complicated situation involving the Mafia...
also features a young Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
as a member of an Italian cycling team who stays behind illegally in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
after the cancellation of the race for which he had come to America. For money, he masquerades as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and cons Mafia bosses into giving donations to a nonexistent charity along with being an adept thief. This film is one of De Niro's earliest. Originally, Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
signed up to play the part of Mario Trantino, but this was later given to De Niro when Pacino was given the part of Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novels, The Godfather and The Sicilian. He is also the main character of the Godfather film trilogy that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, in which he was portrayed by Al Pacino, who was twice nominated for an Academy Award for his...
in The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
.
External links
- The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight: A Novel at Amazon.comAmazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
- http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/gang_that_couldnt_shoot_straight/ Review on Rotten Tomatoes