Themes: Dishonor Among Thieves, Sibling Relationships, Drug Trade
Main Cast: Anthony Quinn, Frederic Forrest, Robert Forster, Al Lettieri, Angel Tompkins
Release Year: 1973
Country: US
Run Time: 115 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
In this organized crime drama (one of many that came in the wake of The Godfather, Tony (Frederic Forrest) and Vince (Al Lettieri) are two brothers whose father is a high-ranking Mafia kingpin; they've followed him into the family business, operating a profitable drug ring. While waiting for a delivery of a large supply of heroin, the pair are ambushed, which leads them to suspect their associate Frank (Robert Forster) is a snitch. They soon realize that the corruption within their organization runs deeper than expected when they discover that their father has been assassinated. Don Angelo (Anthony Quinn) is chosen to be the new boss in a tense meeting of the Mafia brass, but Tony and Frank refuse to follow his leadership. Meanwhile, Orlando (Charles Cioffi), a mob accountant whose boss, Don Bernardo (J. Duke Russo), is behind bars, has a plan to bring himself to a position of power in the mob; he engineers a situation that will put Frank's fiancée Ruby (Angel Thompkins) into the arms of Don Angelo, thereby sending Frank into a murderous rage. Cult figure Sid Haig has a supporting role as The Arab. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
This obvious cash-in on the success of The Godfather is a competent but uninspired affair. Marvin Albert's screenplay is pro-forma at best, trotting out the usual collection of shootouts and back room mobster meetings but forgetting to include the colorful details and twists that would redeem its mundane plotting. Richard Fleischer's direction is polished but distant, content to let the proceedings role by in a slick but styleless fashion. This overall lack of inspiration ensures that The Don Is Dead feels like little more than a slightly raunched-up t.v. movie. The film's one real attribute is its cast: Anthony Quinn uses his movie star charm to flesh out an underwritten role and Al Lettieri and Frederic Forrest give sympathetic, nicely underplayed performances as a pair of brothers caught in the middle of the mob war. Cult movie fans will also be delighted with the supporting cast, which is studded with plenty of familiar faces like Abe Vigoda, Vic Tayback and Sid Haig. However, a likable cast can't make up for lackluster storytelling and The Don Is Dead is best left to mob movie completists. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Preston Ames - Art Director, Paul Nathan - Associate Producer, Edith Head - Costume Designer, David Hall - First Assistant Director, Richard Fleischer - Director, Edward A. Biery - Editor, Jerry Goldsmith - Composer (Music Score), Carol Goldsmith - Songwriter, Richard H. Kline - Cinematographer, William Gray - Production Manager, Hal B. Wallis - Producer, Don Sullivan - Set Designer, Waldon O. Watson - Sound/Sound Designer, John K. Kean - Sound/Sound Designer, Ronald Pierce - Sound/Sound Designer, George Sawava - Stunts, Michael Butler - Screenwriter, Christopher Trumbo - Screenwriter, Marvin H. Albert - Screenwriter, Marvin H. Albert - Book Author
