Director:
Carlo LizzaniWriter:
Lewis John CarlinoProducer:
Dino De LaurentiisCinematographer:
Aldo TontiEditor:
Peter ZinnerProduction Designer:
Robert GundlachProduction Companies:
Produzioni De Laurentiis Intermaco S.p.A., Bright-Persky AssociatesThe Summary for this unviewed film was derived from contemporary reviews.
According to a 2 May 1973 Var news item, the screenplay for Crazy Joe was based on NYT reporter Nicholas Gage’s articles on the “Mafia wars,” and contemporary reviews of the film, including the 6 Feb 1974 Var and 16 Feb 1974 NYT reviews, suggested that Peter Boyle’s character, “Crazy Joe,” was modeled specifically after famous Mafia figure Joseph Gallo.
Filming began 25 Jun 1973, as announced in a DV news brief on the same date, and shooting took place entirely in New York City, according to a 17 Oct 1973 Var item.
On the film’s first day of release in New York City, a 15 Feb 1974 DV reported that Barry Slotnick, a lawyer for Mafia member Joseph Colombo, Sr., intended to file an injunction against Crazy Joe, claiming that the character “Coletti” was based on Colombo and therefore violated his “right of privacy.” At the time, Colombo was comatose, having been shot in the head at “an Italian-American Unity Day rally in Columbus Circle in June, 1971.” A 26 Feb 1974 DV news brief reported that a New York Supreme Court judge ruled against the injunction, having determined that Crazy Joe was not an invasion of Colombo’s privacy.
...
The Summary for this unviewed film was derived from contemporary reviews.
According to a 2 May 1973 Var news item, the screenplay for Crazy Joe was based on NYT reporter Nicholas Gage’s articles on the “Mafia wars,” and contemporary reviews of the film, including the 6 Feb 1974 Var and 16 Feb 1974 NYT reviews, suggested that Peter Boyle’s character, “Crazy Joe,” was modeled specifically after famous Mafia figure Joseph Gallo.
Filming began 25 Jun 1973, as announced in a DV news brief on the same date, and shooting took place entirely in New York City, according to a 17 Oct 1973 Var item.
On the film’s first day of release in New York City, a 15 Feb 1974 DV reported that Barry Slotnick, a lawyer for Mafia member Joseph Colombo, Sr., intended to file an injunction against Crazy Joe, claiming that the character “Coletti” was based on Colombo and therefore violated his “right of privacy.” At the time, Colombo was comatose, having been shot in the head at “an Italian-American Unity Day rally in Columbus Circle in June, 1971.” A 26 Feb 1974 DV news brief reported that a New York Supreme Court judge ruled against the injunction, having determined that Crazy Joe was not an invasion of Colombo’s privacy.
Crazy Joe and his brother Richie are mafia henchmen in a territory controlled by Falco. However, when Falco does not pay them enough for a murder they were hired to commit, they defect from Falco’s organization. Crazy Joe eventually is convicted for extortion and sentenced to eight years in prison. While incarcerated, Crazy Joe reads existentialist novels and bonds with black prisoners. In the meantime, Richie, still on the streets, commits suicide. Upon his release from prison, Crazy Joe teams up with a former prison mate, Willy, and together they seek revenge on the mafia family with whom Crazy Joe was once associated. However, Crazy Joe is shot down in a restaurant after attempting to kill mafia boss Don Vittorio. ...
Crazy Joe and his brother Richie are mafia henchmen in a territory controlled by Falco. However, when Falco does not pay them enough for a murder they were hired to commit, they defect from Falco’s organization. Crazy Joe eventually is convicted for extortion and sentenced to eight years in prison. While incarcerated, Crazy Joe reads existentialist novels and bonds with black prisoners. In the meantime, Richie, still on the streets, commits suicide. Upon his release from prison, Crazy Joe teams up with a former prison mate, Willy, and together they seek revenge on the mafia family with whom Crazy Joe was once associated. However, Crazy Joe is shot down in a restaurant after attempting to kill mafia boss Don Vittorio.
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