The Brotherhood **** (1968, Kirk Douglas, Alex Cord, Irene Papas, Luther Adler, Susan Strasberg, Murray Hamilton, Eduardo Ciannelli, Joe De Santiis) – Classic Movie Review 11,229

Martin Ritt’s 1968 Technicolor Mafia crime thriller film The Brotherhood stars Kirk Douglas, Irene Papas, Alex Cord and Luther Adler. 

Director Martin Ritt’s 1968 Technicolor Mafia crime thriller film The Brotherhood stars Kirk Douglas as Frank Ginetta, a traditional gangster boss, a Mafia don who takes his younger brother Vince (Alex Cord) into the Mafia with tragic results.

This gripping, realist noir-style mob saga was made four years before The Godfather, and paid the price for its trailblazing by being only a modest success at the box-office. Unlike that epic film, this one is only 96 minutes.

Lewis John Carlino provides a powerful screenplay and Ritt directs with due care and attention both to his sterling story and to his fine actors, who give impressive performances. Maybe you can question the notion of Kirk Douglas portraying a Sicilian, but he believably stretches his acting muscles, like Marlon Brando in The Godfather.

The Brotherhood is an adult-themed movie for grown-ups, but the lack of much overt violence and Mafia action told against it at the box-office. Boris Kaufman and Frank Bracht’s Technicolor cinematography, Lalo Schifrin’s score and Tambi Larsen’s production designs are all outstanding.

It also stars Luther Adler, Irene Papas, Susan Strasberg, Murray Hamilton, Eduardo Ciannelli, Joe De Santiis, Connie Scott, Val Avery and Barry Primus, with Alan Hewitt, Val Bisoglio, Michele Cimarosa, Louis Badolati, Anthony Marciona and Margot Stevenson.

It is shot at Filmways Studios, 246 East 127th Street, East Harlem, Manhattan, and in Palermo, Sicily.

It was the 1968 Christmas Day treat! Release date: December 25, 1968.

It may not have done well at the box office, but four years later Paramount Pictures still decided to produce another gangster film with The Godfather,

The Brotherhood is directed Martin Ritt, runs 96 minutes, is made by The Brotherhood Company and Bryna, is released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Lewis John Carlino, is shot by Boris Kaufman and Frank Bracht, is produced by Kirk Douglas, is scored by Lalo Schifrin, and is designed by Tambi Larsen.

Alex Cord

American actor Alex Cord (Alexander Viespi Jr (May 3, 1933 – August 9, 2021) Cord was born to an Italian family in Floral Park, New York, the son of Marie (Paladino) and Alexander Viespi, who was in the construction business.

The cast

The cast are Kirk Douglas as Frank Ginetta, Alex Cord as Vince Ginetta, Irene Papas as Ida Ginetta, Luther Adler as Dominick Bertolo, Susan Strasberg as Emma Ginetta, Murray Hamilton as Jim Egan, Val Avery as Rotherman, Alan Hewitt as Sol Levin, Eduardo Ciannelli, Joe De Santiis, Connie Scott, Barry Primus, Val Bisoglio, Michele Cimarosa, Louis Badolati, Anthony Marciona and Margot Stevenson.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,229

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