A DEADLY BUSINESS
US, 1986. 96 minutes, Colour.
Alan Arkin, Armand Assante, Jon Polito, Raymond Serra, Michael Learned, James Rebhorn.
Directed by John Korty.
A Deadly Business is based on a true story, on the testimony of its central character, Harold Kaufmann. Kaufmann was a thief who spent a great deal of time in jail. In jail he met Vitola, played by Jon Polito, who introduces him to Mob connections. The focus is on garbage removal, especially the emerging industry of removal of toxic waste. He is invited to set up a company, pressurise other companies by leader Charles Macaluso (Armand Assante).
The film opens with Kaufmann being assisted by police to give testimony against the Mob. The flashbacks show his emergence from jail, his early meetings with the Mob, his rising up with respectability, the pressure he put on various owners. It also shows his discovery that toxic waste was deadly and his change of heart. In the meantime he had begun a relationship with a middle-aged woman, Anne (Michael Learned). It is noted that this relationship is an invention for the film.
Kaufmann was able to use wires to communicate meetings and discussions by various Mob members and spent several years giving testimony.
Alan Arkin is very good in the central role. Armand Assante has no difficulty in portraying this kind of criminal. Michael Learned (Nurse, The Waltons) is a warm presence. The film was directed by John Korty who directed a number of films, especially films for television, including River Run and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman.
1. An interesting drama? Based on events? Characters? The toxic waste industry? FBI investigations? Court cases?
2. The atmosphere of New York and America in the 1970s? The beginning of the toxic waste transfer industry? Mob connections? The FBI and the courts?
3. Performances, Alan Arkin as Harold Kaufmann? Seeing him being taken to the court, shielding his face from the television cameras? Being seen by Anne? The flashbacks, his background as a thief, so many years in jail, friendship with Vitola? Wanting to go straight on emerging from jail? The failure of the job, the woman supervisor and her disdain of him as a convict? His going to Polito, meeting Macaluso, getting the job? Going to meetings, the discussions, his clothes, putting pressure on various bosses? The threats? His confidence? At the hotel, meeting Anne, their discussions, the relationship? His love for her? His discovery about the truth of the danger of toxic waste? The crisis of conscience? His going to the FBI, wearing the wires, turning up in meetings, his finally being pursued? In the courts, Macaluso’s threat in the corridor? The meeting with Anne, his formally trying to put her off and not tell her the truth? The witness protection program, his love for her? His future and testifying?
4. Macaluso, New Jersey, toxic waste, the businessman, the Mob connections? His henchmen? His friendship with Harold, helping him? Letting him go to meetings? The final discussions, the FBI hearing, his arrest? His antagonism towards Harold at the end?
5. Vitola, the other criminals, Di Nardi, the connections with politicians, the buy-offs, elections and the contributions? The FBI agents, their listening in? Building their cases?
6. Anne, sympathetic, her background, the relationship with Harold? Not wanting just a weekend affair? His putting her off, her seeing him on the television, waiting at the courthouse? A future?
7. The impact of this kind of film in the 1980s when it was topical? The subsequent history of court cases of the Mafia? The continuing relevance of this kind of corruption of industry and politics?
