A hilarious gangster parody set in prohibition-era Chicago
In prohibition-era Chicago, a war between rival gangs is waged with sprawling fistfights
After the seriousness of westerns was eroded by comedy (starting with Lo chiamavano Trinità), here is another genre associated with violence and cynicism – the gangster film – getting the same treatment. In 1973, two films were released set in prohibition-era America, Anche gli angeli mangiano fagioli and Tutti figli di Mammasantissima, and both featured good-hearted humour. Alfio Caltabiano (who worked as a stuntman and weapons handler before becoming a director) shows the Chicago mob in a grotesque and funny light, where a lot of shots are fired but nobody gets killed, and there’s also a fistfight finale that is up to the standards of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. The cast features the great character actor Tano Cimarosa, the enchanting Ornella Muti, and the director himself (under the alias Alf Thunder) as a burly priest who is better at fighting than he is at giving sermons.
Chicago, 1929. Sicilian and Irish gangsters are fighting a turf war. The Italians are awaiting the arrival of a ruthless killer from Italy. When he arrives, he’s not exactly what they expected. The refined young man seems more interested in chasing the boss’s daughter than settling scores with the rival gang.
A hilarious gangster parody set in prohibition-era Chicago
In prohibition-era Chicago, a war between rival gangs is waged with sprawling fistfights
After the seriousness of westerns was eroded by comedy (starting with Lo chiamavano Trinità), here is another genre associated with violence and cynicism – the gangster film – getting the same treatment. In 1973, two films were released set in prohibition-era America, Anche gli angeli mangiano fagioli and Tutti figli di Mammasantissima, and both featured good-hearted humour. Alfio Caltabiano (who worked as a stuntman and weapons handler before becoming a director) shows the Chicago mob in a grotesque and funny light, where a lot of shots are fired but nobody gets killed, and there’s also a fistfight finale that is up to the standards of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. The cast features the great character actor Tano Cimarosa, the enchanting Ornella Muti, and the director himself (under the alias Alf Thunder) as a burly priest who is better at fighting than he is at giving sermons.
Chicago, 1929. Sicilian and Irish gangsters are fighting a turf war. The Italians are awaiting the arrival of a ruthless killer from Italy. When he arrives, he’s not exactly what they expected. The refined young man seems more interested in chasing the boss’s daughter than settling scores with the rival gang.
