The Real Story Behind 'The Alto Knights': Robert De Niro’s New Mafia Masterpiece

Throughout his acting career, Robert DeNiro has taken on roles such as a godfather, an Irishman, and a good fellow. Currently, he is portraying a couple of wise guys.

In “The Alto Knights,” DeNiro plays not one, but two notorious gangsters: Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, two Mafia bosses who ascended to prominence together and eventually turned into virtual archenemies within the New York City criminal underworld.

Based on the work of Nicholas Pileggi, who authored " Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family" —the inspiration behind the classic gangster movie "Goodfellas"—this Barry Levinson-directed film (known for directing " Rain Man") offers a meticulously detailed account of the complex relationship between Costello and Genovese. The narrative delves into their power dynamics, culminating in an assassination attempt that severely tests the previously strong bond shared by these influential mob leaders.

In the movie, Costello, dubbed "the king of racketeering," favored operating primarily from the shadows. Conversely, DeNiro portrays another character, the Naples-native Vito Genovese, who is characterized by his ambition and insatiable desire for dominance within the criminal underworld, aiming to become the ultimate boss through forceful methods.

"The Alto Knights" chronicles the intense competition between two mob leaders set into motion when Genovese returns to his hometown near Naples following World War II, aiming for Costello's spot at the top of the criminal hierarchy.

Continue reading for a detailed examination of the portrayal of crime bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese.

Who were Vito Genovese and Frank Costello?

Both Vito Genovese and Frank Costello were born in Italy but moved to New York where they later immersed themselves in organized crime activities.

When Vito Genovese was just 15 years old, he made his way to New York City from Naples, Italy. He had his initial encounter with the legal system at the age of 19, as detailed in "The Deadly Don: Vito Genovese," written by acclaimed author Anthony M. DeStefano who won a Pulitzer Prize. According to a 1958 letter addressed to the FBI director that was incorporated into various records, by the time he reached his sixties, FOIA request document He was "undoubtedly one of the most infamous gangsters in the country."

Initially called Francesco Castiglia and born in Calabria in 1891, Frank Costello arrived in Manhattan with his family in 1895 as a young boy. As per the records, National Museum of Criminality and Law Implementation , Costello joined the Five Point Gang in Manhattan and was imprisoned multiple times between 1908 and 1918 for charges including assault, theft, and possessing weapons on at least four occasions.

During the Prohibition era, Costello rose to prominence as a notorious bootlegger. He collaborated closely with other prominent gangsters—most notably the legendary Charles "Lucky" Luciano—and was part of Joe Masseria’s bootlegging operation along with various other business endeavors in the 1920s, according to the source. National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement .

In 1931, Luciano founded and headed the "Commission," an alliance among the five dominant crime families following the violent Castellammarese War. Genovese took on the role of underboss, while Costello served as Genovese’s advisor, known as the consigliere.

How would you describe their connection?

In "The Deadly Don: Vito Genovese," DeStefano details the strained dynamic between Costello and Genovese and explores the origins of their fraught connection.

DeStefano states that the conflict started because Luciano was sentenced to as many as 50 years in prison in 1936 for forced prostitution, leading him to hand over control to Costello rather than Genovese.

The book portrays Costello as a "gangster-statesman who, due to his deep connections with the Democratic Party, accommodating demeanor, and business ventures," proved to be an ideal candidate for the position. The text also notes, "As long as Costello was present, Genovese felt a sense of inadequacy."

However, Genovese didn't stay around for long. The following year, 1937, after becoming an American citizen, Genovese escaped from New York as he was identified as a suspect in the 1934 killing of Ferdinand Boccia.

"The Alto Knights" begins in 1945 when Genovese returned to New York from Italy following his indictment for murder. He was eventually cleared of all charges because there wasn’t enough evidence, lacking confirmation from a supporting witness. New York Times wrote at the time.

The film traces Genovese as he returns to New York and adjusts to his new circumstances while collaborating with Costello to return to the streets. Later, Costello was sentenced: He faced conviction for hindering justice and providing false testimony to Congress, leading to an imprisonment period of 18 months.

During Costello's imprisonment, Genovese took over as the leading acting boss of the Luciano family.

Genovese tried to retain command of the Commission despite Costello's imprisonment. In 1957, he arranged for an assassination attempt on Costello near his residence on Central Park West.

"As for Costello, the bullet merely skimmed his scalp, allowing him to make a full recovery. However, this incident conveyed the intended message to Costello. Consequently, he entered into an agreement with Genovese, pledging to step down from his role within the mafia organization, thereby transferring control of the family to Genovese," according to DeStefano’s account.

What became of Vito Genovese and Frank Costello?

In late 1957, Genovese and several other mob leaders convened a meeting. Apalachin, New York, which is the location of Joseph Barbara.

As stated in DeStefano's book, the main objective of the gathering was for Genovese to declare himself "the head of the family." Additional topics discussed involved the assassination of Mafia leader Albert Anastasia, which had taken place earlier in the same year.

The police disbanded the gathering and detained more than 60 participants for interrogation. Although charges were eventually dismissed, the event "had severely backfired" for the gang members, as stated in DeStefano’s publication. This incident additionally compelled the FBI director to take action. J. Edgar Hoover had to admit the existence of the Mafia publicly For the first time, altering the trajectory of organized crime's legacy.

Genovese later received a A 15-year jail term for drug smuggling and passed away in jail in 1969.

Costello passed away due to a cardiac arrest At 82 years old, following a lifetime away from the public eye. Costello’s obituary highlighted his passion for gardening at his residence in Long Island throughout his life outside the mafia, as noted in the movie's finale.

The article was initially posted on GudangMovies21