The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight

An American crime comedy film from 1971, directed by James Goldstone and based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Jimmy Breslin, which was inspired by the life of gangster Joe Gallo. The story follows Salvatore "Kid Sally" Palumbo (Jerry Orbach), an ambitious gangster from Brooklyn who seeks to overthrow the aging mob boss Baccala (Lionel Stander). Kid Sally is tasked with organizing a six-day bicycle race aimed at raising funds for criminal operations. Among the invited Italian cyclists is Mario Trantino (Robert De Niro), a young and resourceful thief who decides to stay in New York City to carry out his own scams, including posing as a priest. Kid Sally's mother, known as Big Momma (Jo Van Fleet), urges her son to depose the outdated mafia leadership. However, his attempts lead to a series of failures and comedic situations, attracting police attention and causing chaos in the city's criminal underworld. The film explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the absurdity of organized crime, blending elements of satire and dark humor. Despite a star-studded cast, including Leigh Taylor-Young as Angela Palumbo and Hervé Villechaize as Beppo "The Dwarf," the film received predominantly negative reviews from critics. Roger Ebert noted that James Goldstone's direction was heavy-handed, and the characters were overly caricatured. Nonetheless, the film holds interest for fans of the crime comedy genre and provides insight into early 1970s cinema.