A Modern Classic Gangster Movie Airs Tonight
Tonight, 8 November, the television feature is Gangs of New York, a sweeping historical gangster drama directed by Martin Scorsese, known for films such as Goodfellas and The Departed.
Inspired by Herbert Asbury’s 1927 non-fiction book The Gangs of New York, the 2002 film presents a vivid portrait of 19th-century New York turbulence. The ensemble includes Oscar-winners Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside Brendan Gleeson, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Marsan, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Liam Neeson, and Stephen Graham.
Plot Overview
The story follows Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio), an Irish-American orphan returning to New York’s Five Points district to avenge his father’s death. His father was killed by William “Bill the Butcher” Cutting (Day-Lewis), a powerful anti-immigrant gang leader.
“Vallon knows that revenge can only be attained by infiltrating Cutting’s inner circle.”
“Amsterdam’s journey becomes a fight for personal survival and to find a place for the Irish people in 1860s New York.”
Production Background
Gangs of New York was one of Scorsese’s long-cherished projects, involving a complex and costly production that ran beyond schedule and budget. Reports have suggested that producer Harvey Weinstein demanded significant edits, and that an extended, unreleased version might exist, reflecting more of Scorsese’s original vision.
Author’s Summary
This epic crime drama, rich in history and atmosphere, reveals Martin Scorsese’s ambitious vision of a violent yet transformative New York in the mid-1800s.