Bits & Pieces
Alto Knights movie release March 2025
America’s fascination with crime drama movies is about to take a deep dive into the real history of the American-Italian Mafia inner sanction. The much anticipated movie The Alto Knights, an American biographical crime drama film, is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 21, 2025, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is directed by Barry Levinson and written by Nicholas Pileggi. Robert De Niro plays the lead dual roles as both 1950s mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello.
Official Trailer:
The story, set in 1950’s New York City, is about the fight between Italian-American mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello vying for the Capo di tutti capo (boss of all bosses) of the La Cosa Nostra (“our thing”) Commission. Both were once good friends in the Luciano crime family but petty jealousies and betrayals made them enemies. Genovese ordered a hit on Costello. Costello survived but was wounded in the attempt and ultimately decided to retire from the Mafia.
The movie was filmed in the Cincinnati, Ohio area by Warner Bros. The production had been stalled by the 2023 SAG-ALTRA writer’s strike. Actors playing the main supporting roles are Debra Messing as Frank’s wife Bobbie Costello, Cosmo Jarvis as underboss Vincent Gigante, Kathrine Narducci as Vito’s wife Anna Genovese, and Michael Rispoli.
Robert De Niro
Historical Background: Vito Genovese and Frank Costello
The American-Italian Mafia, which calls itself La Cosa Nostra, grew in size and power selling bootleg liquor during the 1920s Prohibition. It also got into unions, prostitution, numbers, gambling, extortion, loan sharking, heists, hijacking, smuggling, entertainment, and other activities. After Prohibition, Lucky Luciano organized the crime syndicate run by a joint Commission of crime ‘families’. The Commission was divided on selling heroin whereas the Catholic old school bosses saw heroin as opening the gates of Hell. The Mafia eventually got into drug distribution and the Federal government pushed to prosecute and break up the Commission. Drug distribution was taken over by various global drug cartels.
Vito Genevese
The New York Five Families were:
Lucky Luciano Family (1931-1946), run by Frank Costello 1937 to 1957, became the Vito Genovese Family (1957-1969).
Joe Bonano Family (1931-1968).
Carlo Gambino Family (1957-1976), formerly the Mangano Family.
Tommy Luchese Family (1930-1967).
Joe Profaci Family (1928-1973), succeeded by Joe Colombo.
Vito Genovese (1897-1969) took over the Lucky Luciano Family and grew the lucrative heroin trade. The Genovese Family was the largest and most powerful crime family. In 1957 Genovese vied to be the Capo di tutti capo (boss of all bosses). He ordered the murder of Albert Anastasia and the botched hit on Frank Costello who survived.
Frank Costello (1891-1973) replaced Lucky Luciano as boss from 1937 to 1957. He survived a Genovese ordered hit and was forced into retirement as an advisor to the Five Families.
Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson is a leading Hollywood director of big popular films. He has been awarded 6 Oscars, 4 Golden Globes with 23 nominations, and 6 BAFTA nominations. Levinson is known for Rain Man, Diner, The Natural, Good Morning Vietnam, Tin Men, Wag the Dog, Bugsy, Avalon, and other films.
Nicholas Pileggi is a leading screenwriter of Hollywood crime movies. He has been awarded an Oscar and a BAFTA. He is known for Goodfellas, Casino, City Hall, American Gangster, The Irishman, and other films.
Robert De Niro in two roles
Robert De Niro is a film legend considered one of the best actors of his generation. Highly acclaimed with numerous awards, including 2 Oscars with 9 nominations, 2 Golden Globes with 11 nominations, Venice, Berlin, 8 BAFTA nominations, 4 Emmy nominations, and others. De Niro has acted in many organized crime movies, such as Mean Streets, Godfather II, Casino, Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale, The Irishman, The Untouchables, Heat, Once Upon a Time In America, and other films.
Robert De Niro, Cosmo Jarvis, Debra Messing, Kathrine Narducci
Other Leading Cast Members
Debra Messing plays Bobbie Costello, Frank’s wife. Messing is famous for her role in the Will & Grace TV show. She has been awarded 2 Satellites, an Emmy with 9 nominations, 9 Golden Globe nominations, 8 SAG nominations, and others. She is known for Will & Grace, The Starter Wife, The Wedding Date, Hollywood Ending, and others.
Cosmo Jarvis plays underboss Vincent Gigante in the Genovese Family. He is a British singer and actor of film, TV, and stage. Jarvis is known for Shogun, Persuasion, Hunter Killer, Lady Macbeth, Calm With Horses, and other films.
Kathrine Narducci plays Vito’s wife Anna Genovese. She is an actress of film and TV, known for the Sopranos, A Bronx Tale, Jersey Boys, The Irishman, Euphoria, and others.
Michael Rispoli an actor of film and TV, known for Sopranos, Billions, The Taking of Pelham 123, Kick Ass, Summer of Sam, and others.
Other Supporting Roles
James Ciccone plays crime boss Carlo Gambino known for Boston Strangler, Joker, The Deuce, The Irishman, Worth.
Louis Mustillo plays crime boss Joe Bonano, known for Sopranos, One For the Money, The Peacemaker, Freeway, Mike & Molly, Corrina Corrina.
Wallace Langham plays U.S. Senator Este Kefauver, known for Perry Mason, CSI, Larry Sanders Show, Ford v. Ferrari.
Belmont Cameli plays Frankie Boy, known for Until Dawn, Saved By the Bell, Along For the Ride.
Matt Servitto plays George Wolf, known for Billions, Sopranos, Enchanted, Compliant, All My Children, Brotherhood.
Bob Glouberman plays newspaper reporter Victor Riesel known for Digimon, The Artist, Ultimate Spire Men.
Frank Costello
