Gangsters '70 (1968)
A weathered crime boss risks everything on one final heist in this taut Italian crime film featuring Hollywood legend Joseph Cotten.
Gangsters '70 - Movie Information
- Original Title: Gangsters '70
- Release Year: 1968
- Directed by: Mino Guerrini
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime
- Runtime: 1h 50m
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): April 29, 1968 (Italy), June 13, 1969 (Germany - 16)
- Alternative Titles: Gangster sterben zweimal (DE), Days of Fire (US), Gangsters 70 (BR)
- Production Companies: Bema Film
- Production Countries: Italy
Gangsters '70 - Plot
An elderly gangster just released from prison plans one last job, and gathers a small crew to do the job, but the plan goes sour when one of the crew betrays the details of the operation to a rival gangster.
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Gangsters '70 - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Mino Guerrini
Main Cast
- Joseph Cotten
- Franca Polesello
- Giampiero Albertini
- Giulio Brogi
- Bruno Corazzari
- Milly Vitale
- Cesarino Miceli Picardi
- Dennis Kilbane
- Jean Louis
- Franco Ressel
Writers
- Fernando Di Leo
- Mino Guerrini
- Adriano Baracco
Producers
- Benito Bertaccini
Gangsters '70 - FAQs
What is Gangsters '70 about?
Gangsters '70 follows an aging crime boss freshly released from prison who assembles a small crew for one final, ambitious heist. The plan unravels when a trusted member sells out the operation to a rival gangster, turning what should have been a clean job into a deadly confrontation.
Does the heist in Gangsters '70 succeed?
Things go badly wrong. The carefully laid plan falls apart after a crew member betrays the operation's details to a rival gang. What starts as a calculated, controlled job spirals into chaos, putting the aging protagonist and everyone around him in serious danger.
Who are the main actors in Gangsters '70?
Hollywood veteran Joseph Cotten leads the cast as Destil, the aging gangster at the center of the story. He's joined by Franca Polesello, Giampiero Albertini, Giulio Brogi, Bruno Corazzari, and Milly Vitale, with Cotten's presence lending the film an international appeal unusual for Italian crime cinema of the era.
Who directed Gangsters '70 and who wrote the screenplay?
Mino Guerrini directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay alongside Fernando Di Leo and Adriano Baracco. Di Leo's involvement is particularly noteworthy — he would go on to become one of Italian crime cinema's most celebrated directors with his acclaimed poliziottesco films of the 1970s.
Is Gangsters '70 worth watching for crime film fans?
For fans of Italian genre cinema, it's a solid find. The film benefits from Joseph Cotten's commanding screen presence and a screenplay co-written by Fernando Di Leo, whose fingerprints on the gritty crime mechanics are evident. It's a lean, atmospheric late-1960s Italian crime picture with a satisfying sense of betrayal and tension.
What is the connection between Gangsters '70 and Fernando Di Leo?
Fernando Di Leo co-wrote the screenplay for Gangsters '70 before becoming a celebrated director in his own right. He later helmed landmark Italian crime films like Milano Calibro 9 and The Italian Connection, making his early writing work on this film a fascinating precursor to his iconic career in the poliziottesco genre.
When and where was Gangsters '70 released?
The film premiered in Italy on April 29, 1968, and received a German release on June 13, 1969. It was also distributed internationally under alternative titles, including Days of Fire in the United States and Gangster sterben zweimal in Germany.
Are there films similar to Gangsters '70?
If Gangsters '70 hits the spot, you might enjoy other Italian and international crime films like Lucky Luciano (1973), Donnie Brasco (1997), Casino (1995), Kill the Irishman (2011), and Gloria (1980). Street People (1976) and Four Murders Are Enough, Darling (1971) share a similar late-1960s and 1970s European crime atmosphere.
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