The Valachi Papers (1972): Cast & Plot
The Valachi Papers is a 1972 crime drama directed by Terence Young, starring Nestore Cavaricci as Prisoner with Valachi (uncredited), Jason McCallum and Jill Ireland. It runs 2 hours 5 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 5m (125 min)
- Director
- Terence Young
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Valachi Papers About?
The premise of The Valachi Papers without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Based on true events, the film follows mobster Joe Valachi, who learns that Don Vito Genovese has placed a bounty on his life. While incarcerated, Valachi resorts to desperate measures to stay alive, including a failed suicide attempt. The ordeal drives him to abandon the Mafia’s oath of silence and cooperate with authorities.
The Valachi Papers Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- robert f. kennedy quotation
- reference to al capone
- reference to julius caesar
- reference to benito mussolini
- reference to franklin d. roosevelt
- mobster
- three word title
- prison yard
- car chase
- robbery
- mugging
- warehouse
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- police chase
- prison cell
- newspaper article
- bunk bed
- criminal as protagonist
- telephone call
- car in water
- bludgeoned to death
- shower
- solitary confinement
- knife held to throat
- elevator
- submachine gun
- photograph
- apartment
- apartment building
- thompson sub machine gun
- tommy gun
- silk
- release from prison
- death threat
- hit with a metal pipe
- mob war
- assassination
- shot to death
- henchman
- gang war
- chauffeur
- funeral
- marriage proposal
- blood pact
- pricked finger
- shot in the chest
- suicide attempt by hanging
- man kisses a man
- attempted murder
- stabbing
- meeting
The Valachi Papers Cast & Characters
Nestore Cavaricci leads the cast as Prisoner with Valachi (uncredited), with Jason McCallum as Donald Valachi (uncredited) and Jill Ireland as Maria Reina Valachi. Directed by Terence Young; 38 actors are credited in all.
- Director Terence Young
- Nestore Cavaricci as Prisoner with Valachi (uncredited)
- Jason McCallum as Donald Valachi (uncredited)
-
Jill Ireland as Maria Reina Valachi -
Charles Bronson as Joe Valachi
Also Starring in The Valachi Papers
· 34 more- Lino Ventura Vito Genovese
- Anthony Dawson Federal Investigator
- Gerald S. O'Loughlin Ryan, federal agent
- Joseph Wiseman Salvatore Maranzano
- Amedeo Nazzari Gaetano Reina
- Pupella Maggio Letizia Reina
- Alessandro Sperli Giuseppe 'Joe the Boss' Masseria
- Angelo Infanti Lucky Luciano
- Guido Leontini Tony Bender
- Walter Chiari Dominick Petrilli, aka "Gap"
- Alfonso Giganti Wedding party guest (uncredited)
- Joe Don Baker Irish member of Valachi gang (uncredited)
- Angelo Boscariol Gangster (uncredited)
- Fausto Tozzi Albert Anastasia
- Franco Ressel
- Bruno Di Luia Luciano's Henchman (uncredited)
Show all 38 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Sabine Sun Jane (uncredited)
- Calogero Azzaretto Man of the clan (uncredited)
- Isabelle Marchall Mary-Lou (uncredited)
- Imelde Marani Donna Petrillo's friend (uncredited)
- María Baxa Donna Petrillo
- Franco Borelli Buster
- Mario Pilar Salierno
- Arny Freeman Warden (uncredited)
- Ron Gilbert Prison Guard (uncredited)
- Frank Gio Frank (uncredited)
- Syl Lamont Commander of Fort Monmouth (uncredited)
- Richard Dunne Judge (uncredited)
- Giacomo De Michelis Augie (uncredited)
- Steve Belloise Winnie (uncredited)
- Robert Trout Themselves
- Natasha Chevelev Jane
- Fred Valleca Buck
- John Alarimo Steven Ferrigno (uncredited)
The Valachi Papers Plot Summary
What happens in The Valachi Papers from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, an aging Joseph Valachi sits behind bars for heroin smuggling, while the crime boss Vito Genovese is housed nearby. Genovese suspects Valachi of being an informant and delivers the so-called “kiss of death,” a grim challenge that Valachi only returns with a wary, defiant gesture. The tension between them thickens after a violent shower attack days earlier, a stark reminder of the prison’s dangerous code.
Full summary
The whole story of The Valachi Papers, scene by scene
The Valachi Papers Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer The Valachi Papers ≣ 1972 ≣ Trailer
How Well Do You Know The Valachi Papers?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- 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
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the central figure whose life is portrayed in the film?
Cars in The Valachi Papers
25 cars on screen, including the 1927 Studebaker President Big Six and the 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special.
-
1927 Studebaker President Big Six Main role -
1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special Important role -
1932 Essex Super Six Important role -
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner Important role
The Valachi Papers Also Known As
25 alternative titles, including “Los secretos de la Cosa Nostra” and “Carteggio Valachi”.
- Also known as
-
- Los secretos de la Cosa Nostra
- Carteggio Valachi
- Cosa Nostra - A Valachi-ügy
- Le dossier Valachi
- Os Segredos da Cosa Nostra - Charles
- 贼杀贼
- 바라키
- Die Valachi Papiere
- Valachiho svědectví
- Joe Valachi - I segreti di Cosa Nostra
- Cosa Nostra
- Коза Ностра
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- Valachi-sagen
- Тайните на Коза Ностра
- Os Segredos da Cosa Nostra
- Mafian korppikotkat
- 大时代
- Joe Valachi
- 살인 영장
- مقالات والاچی
- バラキ
- מסמכי המאפיה
- Grym hämnd
- O Caso Valachi
- Mazisini Satan Adam
Seen The Valachi Papers?
Movies Like The Valachi Papers
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Kill the Irishman, Al Capone and The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.
The Valachi Papers FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Valachi Papers, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Valachi Papers?
The Valachi Papers runs 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes).
When was The Valachi Papers released?
The Valachi Papers was released on January 6, 1972.
Who directed The Valachi Papers?
The Valachi Papers was directed by Terence Young.
More films by Terence Young Who is in the cast of The Valachi Papers?
The Valachi Papers stars Nestore Cavaricci as Prisoner with Valachi (uncredited), Jason McCallum as Donald Valachi (uncredited) and Jill Ireland as Maria Reina Valachi, among 38 credited actors.
Does The Valachi Papers have a post-credit scene?
No. The Valachi Papers has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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