Black Hand (1950): Cast & Plot
Black Hand is a 1950 drama thriller directed by Richard Thorpe, starring Gene Kelly as Giovanni E. 'Johnny' Columbo, Peter Brocco and Eleonora von Mendelssohn. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 32m (92 min)
- Director
- Richard Thorpe
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Black Hand About?
The premise of Black Hand without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
It’s Gene Kelly against The Black Hand! In turn-of-the-century New York, an Italian seeks vengeance on the mobsters who killed his father.
Black Hand Themes & Keywords
· 33 tags- gothic noir
- year 1900
- statue of liberty
- 1900s
- deportation
- bomb making
- film noir style
- blackmail
- year 1908
- italy
- extortion
- fugitive
+21 more Show fewer
- little italy
- naples italy
- racketeer
- henchman
- immigrant
- held at gunpoint
- color in title
- italian
- new york city
- trial
- scar
- murder
- mother son relationship
- kidnapping
- italian american
- hostage
- explosion
- gangster
- revenge
- mafia
- death of father
Black Hand Cast & Characters
Gene Kelly leads the cast as Giovanni E. 'Johnny' Columbo, with Peter Brocco as Roberto Columbo and Eleonora von Mendelssohn as Maria Columbo. Directed by Richard Thorpe; 13 actors are credited in all.
- Director Richard Thorpe
-
Gene Kelly as Giovanni E. 'Johnny' Columbo - Peter Brocco as Roberto Columbo
- Eleonora von Mendelssohn as Maria Columbo
-
J. Carrol Naish as Louis Lorelli
Also Starring in Black Hand
· 9 more- Teresa Celli Isabella Gomboli
- Marc Lawrence Caesar Xavier Serpi
- Barry Kelley Capt. Thompson
- Frank Puglia Carlo Sabballera
- Mario Siletti Benny Danetta / Nino
- Carl Milletaire George Allani / Tomasino
- Mimi Aguglia Mrs. Sabballera
- Marc Krah Lombardi
- Grazia Narciso Mrs. Danetta
More from Richard Thorpe
More films directed by Richard Thorpe, best-rated first: Ivanhoe, Jailhouse Rock, How the West Was Won and The Last Challenge.
Black Hand Plot Summary
What happens in Black Hand from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1900, Roberto Columbo, an Italian-American attorney living in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York City, is gunned down by gangsters as he meets with a police officer to divulge information about an extortion plot. His widow and son return to Italy, where his wife dies. By 1908, his son, Giovanni E. ‘Johnny’ Columbo, returns to New York, driven by a burning resolve to avenge his father’s death. He teams up with his childhood friend, Isabella Gomboli, and with police detective Louis Lorelli, who try to talk him away from a path of revenge. Roberto also speaks with a man whose son was kidnapped after refusing to pay protection money to the mob, a chilling reminder of the city’s grip on the community.
Full summary
The whole story of Black Hand, scene by scene
Black Hand Videos
The clip of Black Hand.
How Well Do You Know Black Hand?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What is the name of the attorney who is gunned down at the beginning of the film?
Black Hand Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “La mano nero” and “La Main noire”.
- Also known as
-
- La mano nero
- La Main noire
- La mano negra
- Blutrache in New York
- A Mão Negra
- La legge del silenzio
- Черная рука
Seen Black Hand?
Movies Like Black Hand
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Black Hand, Black Caesar and Pay or Die!.
Black Hand FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Black Hand, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Black Hand?
Black Hand runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).
When was Black Hand released?
Black Hand was released on March 11, 1950.
Who directed Black Hand?
Black Hand was directed by Richard Thorpe.
More films by Richard Thorpe Who is in the cast of Black Hand?
Black Hand stars Gene Kelly as Giovanni E. 'Johnny' Columbo, Peter Brocco as Roberto Columbo and Eleonora von Mendelssohn as Maria Columbo, among 13 credited actors.
Does Black Hand have a post-credit scene?
No. Black Hand has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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