On this day in movie history - The Valachi Papers (1972 movie & book):

The Valachi Papers

directed by Terence Young,

written by Stephen Geller, Massimo De Rita and Dino Maiuri,

based on the book by Peter Maas,

was released in the United States on October 27, 1972.
Music by Armando Trovajoli and Riz Ortolani.

Cast:

Charles Bronson, Lino Ventura, Jill Ireland, Walter Chiari, Joseph Wiseman, Gerald S. O'Loughlin, Amedeo Nazzari, Fausto Tozzi, Pupella Maggio, Angelo Infanti, Guido Leontini, María Baxa, Mario Pilar, Franco Borelli, Alessandro Sperli, Natasha Chevelev, Anthony Dawson, Fred Valleca, John Alarimo, Calogero Azzaretto, Joe Don Baker, Steve Belloise, Angelo Boscariol, Nestore Cavaricci, Massimo Ciprari, Giacomo De Michelis, Bruno Di Luia, Gianni Di Segni, Richard Dunne, Arny Freeman, Alfonso Giganti, Ron Gilbert, Frank Gio, Syl Lamont, Imelde Marani, Isabelle Marchall, Jason McCallum, Franco Ressel, Sabine Sun, Robert Trout, Steve Vignari.

Recommended reading:

The Valachi Papers

By Peter Maas.

Published by Harper Perennial.

First published 1968.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 006050742X

ISBN-13: 978-0060507428

Description:

“As fascinating as fiction, a bloody history of the Mafia as lived by one of its members." – New York Times Book Review.

The First Inside Account of the Mafia.

The Valachi Papers is a biography written by Peter Maas, telling the true story of former mafia member Joe Valachi, a low-ranking member of the New York based Genovese crime family, was the first ever government witness coming from the American Mafia itself. His account of his criminal past revealed many previously unknown details of the Mafia. The book was made into a film (The Valachi Papers), released in 1972, starring Charles Bronson as Valachi. In October 1963, Valachi testified before Senator John L. McClellan's congressional committee on organized crime, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate Committee on Government Operations. In the so-called Valachi hearings he gave the American public a firsthand account of Mafia activities in the United States.

In the 1960s a disgruntled soldier in New York's Genovese Crime Family decided to spill his guts. His name was Joseph Valachi. Daring to break the Mob's code of silence for the first time, Valachi detailed the organization of organized crime from the capos, or bosses, of every Family, to the hit men who "clipped" rivals and turncoats. With a phenomenal memory for names, dates, addresses, phone numbers – and where the bodies were buried – Joe Valachi provided the chilling facts that led to the arrest and conviction of America's major crime figures.

The rest is history.

Never again would the Mob be protected by secrecy. For the Mafia, Valachi's name would become synonymous with betrayal. But his stunning exposé broke the back of America's Cosa Nostra and stands today as the classic about America's Mob, a fascinating tale of power and terror, big money, crime. . . and murder.

The bloody history of the Mafia as lived by one of its members.

“A highly readable narrative…. A story littered with bodies and unsolved crimes, betrayals and beatings, oaths, ritual, and revenge.” – Newsweek.

“A classic on crime.” – Life.

Born on this day – Jill Ireland:

Jill Ireland

Actress

Writer

Singer

Producer

April 24, 1936 – May 18, 1990

Credits:

1 a Minute (2010); 12 O'Clock High (1965–1966); 7 Nights to Remember (1966); A Trip Down Memory Lane (1965); AFI Life Achievement Award (1973–1978); All Star Tribute to Ingrid Bergman (1979); All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds (1981); All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood (1986); All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan (1985); All-Star Party for Joan Collins (1987); Armchair Theatre (1961); Assassination (1987); Ben Casey (1964); Breakheart Pass (1975); Breakout (1975); By Dawn's Early Light (2001); Carry on Nurse (1959); Catastrophe: No Safe Place (1980); Caught (1987); Charles Bronson, Hollywood's Lone Wolf (2020); Chino (1973); Cold Sweat (1970); Daniel Boone (1969); Dateline: Hollywood (1967); Death Wish II (1982); Destined to Live (1988); Dinah! (1976); Donny B: The Original King of Daytime (2010); Film '81 (1981); For the Love of Spock (2016); From Noon Till Three (1976); Ghost Squad (1961); Girls of the Latin Quarter (1960); Good Morning America (1979); Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987); Hard Times (1975); Hell Drivers (1957); Hollywood Couples (2000); Hollywood on Horses (1989); Hour Magazine (1986–1987); I'll Bet (1965); Inside Edition (1991); Juke Box Jury (1960); Jungle Street Girls (1961); Kiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century (2004); Kraft Mystery Theater (1961); La nuit des César (1984); London Affair (1970); Love and Bullets (1979); Mannix (1968); Murphy's Law (1986); My Favorite Martian (1965); Night Gallery / Segment: The Ghost of Sorworth Place (1972); No Love for Judy (1955); Oh... Rosalinda!! (1955); Probation Officer (1961); Real Heroes (1981); Reason for Living: The Jill Ireland Story (1991); Reflections on Spock (2004); Richard the Lionheart (1963); Rider on the Rain (1970); Robbery Under Arms (1957); Roommates (1961); Shane (1966); Shooting Violent City (2001); Simon and Laura (1955); So Evil, So Young (1961); Someone Behind the Door (1971); Star Trek (1967); The 11th Annual People's Choice Awards (1985); The 16th Annual Shelby Awards (1986); The 30th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1973); The 34th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1977); The 35th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1978); The 46th Annual Academy Awards (1974); The 48th Annual Academy Awards (1976); The Annual Friars Club Tribute Present a Salute to Liza Minnelli (1987); The Battleaxe (1962); The Big Money (1956); The Cheaters (1962); The Desperate Man (1959); The Dick Cavett Show (1972); The Evening Standard Drama Awards (1962); The Evil That Men Do (1984); The Ghost Train Murder (1959); The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything (1980); The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films (2014); The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1977); The Karate Killers (1967); The Late Show (1986–1988); The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964–1967); The Mechanic (1972); The Merv Griffin Show (1972–1973); The Mike Douglas Show (1976–1980); The New Hollywood Squares (1987); The Pat Boone Show (1967); The Rock 'n' Roll Years (1985); The Third Man (1964); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1977–1979); The Valachi Papers (1972); The Voodoo Factor (1959); The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966); The Woman for Joe (1955); There's Always a Thursday (1957); Three Men in a Boat (1956); Today (1989); Twice Round the Daffodils (1962); V.I.P.-Schaukel (1971); Villa Rides (1968); Violent City (1970); Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964); Wogan (1985–1987).