summary
- Michael Imperioli continues his crime thriller journey, narrating a History Channel documentary series about the Cosa Nostra apparatus in New York.
- American Godfathers explores the origins and operations of the Five Families, revealing lesser-known facts and figures about the Mafia.
- The documentary series is characterised by originality, meticulous research, expert insights, and engaging stories, making it a must-watch for crime fans.
Michael Imperioli He's back in the crime genre, but has he really left it? The Emmy-winning actor—best known for playing the unlucky bartender Spider in Good guys And troubled Di Meo crime family leader Christopher Moltisanti in soprano —He is now part of another mob project. Imperioli works as a narrator. American Godfathers: The Five Familiesa three-part documentary series on the History Channel that traces the activities of the notorious Cosa Nostra gang in New York over nine decades.
“Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in!”
Like Michael Corleone, Imperioli never managed to break free from the world of organized crime. Years after his character was killed in sopranoHe was assigned as the narrator for the show's introductory film, Many Saints in NewarkAdditionally, he has greatly enjoyed co-hosting podcasts, soprano speakers With former star Steve Schirripa.
Now, tasked with exploring the real-world territory controlled by gangs, Imperioli and his production team have done an excellent job. They have explained how a golden age of organized crime came and went in a very productive century before almost everything came to a halt with the advent of new law enforcement technologies.
American Godfathers: The Five Families tackles often overlooked mafia themes.
American Godfathers: The Five Families This film is a catnip for crime genre fans, and it offers a lot of information that is often overlooked in documentaries about organized crime in America.
For example, most stories about the Five Families usually begin with the formation of the Commission by Charles “Lucky” Luciano. Thus the Genovese crime family boss is supposedly the founding father of the New York Mafia, but a lot happened before he created a governing body. Luckey may get all the glory, but it was Salvatore “Little Cesar” Maranzano who created “The Organization” in the first place.
In the aftermath of the bloody Castellammare War, Maranzano noticed how disorganized the Italian-American gangs in New York City were, so he reorganized them into the Profaci, Maranzano, Luciano, Mangano, and Gagliano families. The families later became known as the Colombo, Gambino, Bonanno, Genovese, and Lucchesi families (names coined by the FBI, not the mobsters themselves).
Then Maranzano became Capo di Capi (“The Boss of All Bosses”) before being eliminated less than a year later.
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The documentary also reminds audiences that the public was not always aware of the inner workings of the New York Mafia. The hierarchy of the Five Families only became public knowledge after Genovese crime family member Joseph Valachi sang the praises of the McLennan case during the Senate hearings.
Driven by indignation and fear for his life, Valachi became the first member of the Italian-American Mafia to admit that “this thing of ours really exists.” Additionally, he was the first person to publicly use the term “Cosa Nostra.”
It is also often assumed that the New York Mafia died after Rudy Giuliani led a war against them in the 1980s and imprisoned all the leaders, including fashionista John Gotti.
American Godfathers: The Five Families This proves that this was not the case. The families were weaker, but they still functioned. Not much was heard about the New York mobsters in the 1990s, yet Bonanno crime family boss Joe Massino was running things very effectively. Unfortunately, he later became the first boss to testify, and all the rules of “omerta” were subsequently thrown out. Such information, and much more, is scattered throughout the three episodes.
An air of precision can be observed in every aspect of production.
American Godfathers The documentary series spoils viewers with facts, and that's a good thing. By combining exclusive photos, audio recordings, and news reports with horrifying video footage of the blood-soaked streets after the murder, the documentary series will open your eyes to the cost of embracing a life of crime.
Additionally, the documentary series draws heavily from the New York Times best-selling book Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Return of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires Written by Selwyn Raab, who is best known for writing some of the best investigative reporting on organised crime.
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The commitment to authenticity extends fully to the inclusion of numerous authors, law enforcement figures, and relatives of former gangsters as speakers. They are all given plenty of time to express their opinions, so there are more specialized anecdotes than you would find in a decade-long FBI report. Furthermore, viewers are given not just recollections of past events but also powerful commentary.
The brilliance extends to the production values. Featuring an impeccable soundtrack and gorgeous set designs, American Godfathers It's one of those murders you'll remember for a while.
Diving into the same artistic terrain as gang documentaries like City of Fear, Momo, and Greatest Mafia Songs This project has a kind of investigative story that uses tension and suspense to great effect. Viewers will enjoy the way it presents the exceptional natural beauty of New York City against the brutality of organized crime.
American Godfathers is currently the top choice for fans of the genre who are looking to quench their thirst.
For crime genre fans who might be feeling hungry lately, American Godfathers: The Five Families It's a three-part snack that's well worth watching. It's a tribute to the gangsters of old, and a testament to the tenacious will of law enforcement officers to cuff, prosecute and imprison criminals.
The series is careful to avoid sentimentality and exploitative truth-seeking, and builds the narrative around only those willing and qualified to speak out. So it's worth watching in every way.
American Godfathers: The Five Families
The series aired on the History Channel from August 10-12, but viewers can purchase it on Amazon and Apple TV+. Additionally, it's available to stream on Spectrum on Demand.
