The Alto Knights (#663)


I'll clarify one thing in the event that it bothers you: The Alto Knights Club was a venue for a social gathering of the top gangsters in New York City in the 1950s, and where two of the leaders, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese loomed large and had been the best of friends since childhood. Now, they are deadly enemies, each vying to be number one.  I was working in New York City then and could not avoid following the news coverage for weeks after Albert Anastasia, Costello's top aide, was murdered in broad daylight in a barber shop which opened the gates to mass indictments and imprisonment of the two principals and others.  That's the whole story of the film I saw.  It was violent and okay but not great, and the most interesting aspect of THE ALTO KNIGHTS is that Robert DeNiro played both men, which made me feel like I was imagining things. Wonder if he was paid double for the two roles? DeNiro did his usual capable job but playing both seemed like overkill for this 2 hour and 3 minute spectacle, which was just too long. 37% of critics and 69% of audiences gave both DeNiros a thumbs up.  

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