The final collaboration between Charles Bronson and one-time 007 director Terence Young, THE VALACHI PAPERS is a far better film than COLD SWEAT, but entertainment-wise, it pales next to RED SUN.
I will say THE VALACHI PAPERS is not without its good points: Bronson is fantastic in an understated performance and the direction is appropriately without glamor, befitting the "true crime" nature of the narrative. Unfortunately, the script rushes through decades-worth of story, leaving the movie with an underbaked feeling.
The movie also feels very low-budget and not to its merit. Despite having a period setting, there are enough glaring anachronisms and bad wigs to take one out of the experience. It sometimes came off like community theater, that's how shoddy some of the production values were.
Many, including Terence Young, have bewailed the film's being released the same year as THE GODFATHER, which has all but dwarfed THE VALACHI PAPERS in the years since. With all due apologies, I think this would have been the film's fate had it been released the year prior. It's decent viewing, but nothing outstanding.
I will say THE VALACHI PAPERS is not without its good points: Bronson is fantastic in an understated performance and the direction is appropriately without glamor, befitting the "true crime" nature of the narrative. Unfortunately, the script rushes through decades-worth of story, leaving the movie with an underbaked feeling.
The movie also feels very low-budget and not to its merit. Despite having a period setting, there are enough glaring anachronisms and bad wigs to take one out of the experience. It sometimes came off like community theater, that's how shoddy some of the production values were.
Many, including Terence Young, have bewailed the film's being released the same year as THE GODFATHER, which has all but dwarfed THE VALACHI PAPERS in the years since. With all due apologies, I think this would have been the film's fate had it been released the year prior. It's decent viewing, but nothing outstanding.