Bonanno: A Godfather's Story

So many people have seen Mario Puzo's the 'Godfather' and Terence Young's 'The Valachi Papers ' that the famous families of all the gangland characters of the 1920s' and 30's are very familiar household names to audiences everywhere. Thus this serious film directed by Michel Poulette, called " Bonanno: A Godfather's story " should come as no surprise to anyone watching the movie. The story is a multi-generational tale as recalled by Joseph and William Bonanno. They were the Father (Martin Landau and Costas Mandylor) and son heads of the Bonanno crime family in New York. Beginning with his birth in Italy, emigrating to America and later ruling as one of the Five Families in New York, Joseph relates his life as part of the Rise and Fall of the Cosa Nostra. Audiences are towed along on a historical ride as the two relate their ties with all the well known bosses, and key family heads like Charlie 'Lucky' Luciano, Joe Masseria, Don Ciccio Joe Profaci, Albert Anastasia and Joe Valachi. Other notable figures also surprise audiences like Joe Sr., John and Robert Kennedy. Through four hours of vivid narration, we see how a single life touched so many during the heyday of the gangster, adding key elements to historical assassinations and murders. It's a great film, albeit, a tad long, nevertheless, Martin Landau is a superb choice for the centerpiece of this Classic movie. ****