The Alto Knights - trailer

The Alto Knights – trailer – also known as Wise Guys – lands in UK cinemas 21 March

The Alto Knights – trailer

Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, a pair of Italian Americans who run two separate crime families in the mid-20th century. Genovese attempted to assassinate Costello in 1957, although Costello retired from the mob.

Director – Barry Levison

Writer – Nicholas Pileggi

Stars – Cosmo Jarvis – Robert De Nero – Debra Messing

true crime biography Crime drama history

The film follows two of New York’s most notorious organised crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, as they vie for control of the city’s streets. Once the best of friends, petty jealousies and a series of betrayals place them on a deadly collision course that will reshape the Mafia (and America) forever.

Frank Costello, an Italian American criminal from the Luciano family, lived and operated in New York City. Following Vito Genovese’s assassination attempt in 1957, he retired and eventually became his successor. The tale of Costello and Genovese has been passed down for decades. In fact, they worked side-by-side as associates of Charlie ‘Lucky’ Luciano, the Sicilian leader of Manhattan’s Lower East Side gang, as far back as 1920.

De Niro has been involved in numerous crime thrillers, particularly those with mob connections. One of his first films was Martin Scorsese’s 1973 feature “Mean Streets“, where he starred alongside Harvey Keitel.

“The most dangerous enemy is an old friend”