By: Elizabeth Flynn
Stories relating to the Italian-American Mafia and the individuals who worked in the top crime families make interesting film. Drugs, extortion, love affairs, illegal gambling, and murder are just some of the topics that capture the interest of the public. For this reason, stories relating to the mafia have been used as a basis for many well-known movies and here are some of the best.
The Godfather
When thinking of mobster related films, it is The Godfather that usually springs to mind first. This 1972 movie was based on a novel by Mario Puzo and starred Marlon Brando. Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay and also directed the movie. The Godfather Part II was released in 1974 and starred Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
GoodFellas
In this 1990 Martin Scorsese movie, a young man who was brought up in the mob wants to climb the ranks but a combination of mistakes and a drug addiction unravel his dreams. The film is an adaptation of the book ‘Wiseguy’ by Nicholas Pileggi. The movie starred Robert De Niro (pictured), Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco.
Casino
In 1995, Martin Scorsese (pictured) released another epic crime drama about the Mafia with Robert De Niro in a leading role. A low-level mobster becomes the boss of a casino and is at first successful before running into a variety of problems. The film is based on the book ‘Casino’ by Nicholas Pileggi.
The Untouchables
The Untouchables is another film directed by Brian De Palma. The story is based on Al Capone’s rule of Chicago with Capone (pictured) played by Robert De Niro. The film was released in 1987 and had a soundtrack composed by Ennio Morricone.
