Cleveland. The 1970’s. The Mafia. It is time for the Danny Greene story, and let me tell you crime fans, it has been worth the wait. Greene like most racketeers was a nasty piece of work. Former US Marine, former head of the International longshoremen’s Association and 100% hardcore mobster.
Greene graduated from embezzling union funds to providing muscle for mob bosses Alex “Shondor” Birns, Frank “Little Frank” Brancato, and John Nardi, where he quickly gained a reputation as a violent and ruthless enforcer, using explosives to spectacular and lethal effect.
As with many high echelon mobsters power and ego caused Greene to think he was not only smarter than the cops but the mafia too, a mistake that would cost him dear. Many crime fans will have seen the excellent biography channel documentary on Danny Greene. I urge you to do so if you haven’t already.
A new movie: Kill the Irishman covering the Danny Greene story will be released in March 2011. Loosely based on: To Kill the Irishman: The War That Crippled the Mafia, by former cop Rick Porello. Regarded by many as semi-articulate this book is not to be recommended. The movie however, has a fantastic cast including Ray Stevensen, Val Kilmer and the crimetastic Christopher Walken. Also starring Vincent D’Onofrio, Paul Sorvino, Steven R. Schirripa, Robert Davi and Mike Starr. The film is a who’s who of all your favorite mafia cameo actors. Even professional thug/ soccer star Vinnie Jones makes an appearance, so watch your head when you are getting out of the limo at the premier.
Reckless vanity, the luck of the Irish and the undeniable crime lord charisma that made Danny Greene so popular in the media, will undoubtably make this film the crime hit of the year.
A measure of Danny Greene ‘the man the mob couldn’t kill’ can be gained from a comment Jimmy ‘sleeping with the fishes’ Hoffa reportedly made to teamsters boss Louis Triscaro, “Stay away from that guy. There’s something wrong with him.” Enjoy the film and don’t forget to check underneath your car…
Crimezine 