CRAZY JOE

US, 1973, 99 Minutes, Colour.
Peter Boyle, Paula Prentiss, Fred Williamson, Charles Cioffi, Rip Torn.
Directed by Carlo Lizzani.

The Mafia genre flourished in the 70s. Unfortunately none of the successors are near the standard of The Godfather. This one is very episodic and tries for the documentary style and an arty tone which has Joe imitating Richard Widmark's movie-gangster style and later discussing Sartre and Camus and the role of the criminal in society. In the meantime, it is the usual treatment of ambition, violent adolescent vainglory, contracts and brutal slayings and warfare and ultimate futility. Peter Boyle is always striking in his films, though he is asked to show too many facets of a gangster at once. The Mafia holds a grim fascination. But only an average film.

1. Why have so many Mafia films been made? Are they generally good films? Why?

2. What is the main source of interest for audiences in Mafia films? Can they identify with the characters at all? Can they identify with the issues? Is there an attraction in the violence? or an attractive revulsion for the violence? What insight into American history and society do such films give? Insight into the role of the law in the United States? Into the importance of New York as a background for the Mafia? Did this film contribute in this way?

3. How important a central character was Joe? Why was he crazy? The importance for the film of the opening sequences of ice in the theatre? The film was The Kiss of Death.

4. The threat of murder and Joe's imitating the gangsters? To be followed immediately by Mafia contracted murders? And the role of money? How did this establish the themes of the film, gain audience attention? Did the film develop this?

5. Why did Joe depend so much on his brother? What kind of man was his brother? His intelligence and his reading? The fact that he would encourage ice's physical violence? The ambitions of the two? His continued support of Joe? Joe's grief when his brother was almost murdered? The importance of the visit in the prison? His brother's death? Why did he kill himself?

6. Was Joe a punk? Did he have any redeeming features? His devotion to his brother? His wanting to amount to something? Why was he so desperate for success? How important was success for people like this? An adolescent yearning for success?

7. Was the film well presented as a type of documentary? The use of dates and places? The episodic nature of the film? Did this add to or detract from the film? Why?

8. How interesting were the initial clashes? The Falco family and the domination of Joe and his gang? The role of Don Vittorio as a mediator? Vincenzo Colletti as walking out from Joe and becoming so important? What comment on Mafia behaviour did these characters give? Did they give insight into the working of the Mafia?

9. How ugly were the sequences of the wars? Especially such sequences as the murder with the pick and with the cement? The shootings etc.? What comment on the Mafia war did these sequences give? Were they in any way attractive?

10. Were you glad that Joe was sent to prison? Did he deserve to go? His behaviour in the drink shop but the fact that he was framed? Did this indicate that ice was a born loser and doomed to be a failure? How did prison transform Joe? Was it too pretentious that he became an Existentialist? In imitating his brother in his reading? The impact of his brother's death? The fact that he became cleverer as his time in prison went on? (Were these sequences convincing?) His relationship to Willie, the African American? The fact that Joe was a mediator in the prison riot? How important was the riot sequence for the film? And the fact that Joe was a success?

11. How sophisticated were Colletti's methods for covering the Mafia's operations? Why did Don Vittorio not agree with them? Was he too old? The impact of the Italian Federation gatherings? The fact that Colletti was killed at one? What comment on Fascist behaviour and stirring-up of crowds did these sequences give?

12. Why did Joe continue his ambitions when he left prison? What obsessed him? Was this credible? Did he have the power to achieve success? Was he a born loser? His clashes with Colletti and Don Vittorio?

13. Was his death inevitable? How ugly was the sequence of his death? The fact that Anne was there? Was she an important character in the film? Was she meant to be?

14. The ironic significance of the filming of the gangster film? Joe's presence at the party and his discussion of criminals as heroes? Defiers of the law and order? Did this make the gangsters of this film heroic in any way? Are they heroes?

15. What comment did the film have on the futility of Mafia ambitions and gangsterism?