Sunday, October 27, 2024

Recommended reading - The Valachi Papers (1968):


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.

Mortimer Adler, on books:


In the case of good books,
the point is not how many of them you can get through,
but rather how many can get through to you.

- Mortimer Adler.

Saturday, October 26, 2024

On this day in movie history - Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023):


Albert Brooks: Defending My Life

documentary directed by Rob Reiner,
was released at the AFI Fest in the United States on October 26, 2023.
Music by Marc Shaiman.


Cast:

Albert Brooks, Judd Apatow, James L. Brooks, Larry David, Nikki Glaser, Alana Haim, Jonah Hill, Conan O'Brien, Rob Reiner, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Steven Spielberg, Ben Stiller, Sharon Stone, Wanda Sykes, Neil deGrasse Tyson.

On this day in movie history - Interstellar (2014):


Interstellar

directed by Christopher Nolan,
written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan,
was released in the United States on October 26, 2014.
Music by Hans Zimmer.

Cast:

Ellen Burstyn, Matthew McConaughey, Mackenzie Foy, John Lithgow, Timothée Chalamet, David Oyelowo, Collette Wolfe, Francis X. McCarthy, Bill Irwin, Anne Hathaway, Andrew Borba, Wes Bentley, William Devane, Michael Caine, David Gyasi, Josh Stewart, Casey Affleck, Leah Cairns, Jessica Chastain, Liam Dickinson, Topher Grace, Matt Damon, Flora Nolan, Griffen Fraser, Jeff Hephner, Lena Georgas, Elyes Gabel, Brooke Smith, Russ Fega, William Patrick Brown, Cici Leah Campbell, Belle Doyle, Mark Casimir Dyniewicz Jr., Troy Fyhn, Benjamin Hardy, Alexander Michael Helisek, Ryan Irving, Alexander Lu, Derek McEntire, Joseph Oliveira, Benjamin Pitz, Marlon Sanders, Bryan Stamp, Kristian Van der Heyden, Kevan Weber.

On this day in music history - Sanctuary II: Earth, by Sherry Finzer (2011):

The album Sanctuary II: Earth,
by Sherry Finzer,
was released on October 26, 2011.

On this day in music history - The Art of Susan Graham, by Susan Graham (2010):

The album The Art of Susan Graham,
by Susan Graham,
was released on October 26, 2010.

On this day in movie history - Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007):


Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

directed by Sidney Lumet,
written by Kelly Masterson,
was released in the United States on October 26, 2007.
Music by Carter Burwell.


Cast:

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei, Aleksa Palladino, Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan, Sarah Livingston, Brían F. O'Byrne, Rosemary Harris, Blaine Horton, Arija Bareikis, Leonardo Cimino, Lee Wilkof, Damon Gupton, Adrian Martinez, Patrick G. Burns, Jordan Gelber.