Watch Alto Knights Online Free on Afdah
- afdahfreemovies
- Apr 12
- 2 min read
The Alto Knights initially appears to be a conventional American gangster film, but it ultimately deviates from that norm. Significantly, in 1957, the two main characters were in their sixties, which sets the film apart from the traditional portrayals of gangsters with the strong, masculine traits typical of 1930s films featuring actors like Cagney and Robinson. Furthermore, the film includes relatively few notable action scenes, which is atypical for its genre. While it does depict violence, including a carefully orchestrated murder scene in a barber shop that cleverly subverts audience expectations, most of the killings are presented through brief montages that emphasize the rising gang violence in urban areas. Additionally, the film's climax does not lead to an explosive shoot-out; rather, it culminates in a police operation triggered by a tip-off, where law enforcement records the license plates of mobsters attending a significant meeting. In essence, The Alto Knights is defined more by its dialogue than by its action sequences.
In The Alto Knights, recognizing that the story of Genovese and Costello does not fit neatly into the conventional gangster narrative, Levinson and co-writer Nicholas Pileggi work to heighten the dramatic tension. They accomplish this through frequent intercutting, including a particularly striking sequence that contrasts stabbings in silhouette with a television airing of Cagney’s 1949 film White Heat, as well as through rapid editing techniques. For example, the opening scene showcases a dynamic range of shots aimed at amplifying the intensity of the assassination attempt on Costello. Pileggi, who has previously partnered with Scorsese on the screenplays for Goodfellas and Casino, is certainly in familiar territory; however, the presence of numerous mobsters restricts the opportunity to portray these characters as unique individuals.
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