A Modern Classic Gangster Movie Airs Tonight
Tonight, Saturday, November 8, the TV film choice is Gangs of New York, Martin Scorsese’s historical crime epic known for its gritty portrayal of 19th-century New York. The film, released in 2002, draws inspiration from Herbert Asbury’s 1927 nonfiction book The Gangs of New York.
Cast and Storyline
The movie features a distinguished cast including Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brendan Gleeson, Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Liam Neeson, Eddie Marsan and Stephen Graham. The story centers on Amsterdam Vallon, a young Irish-American orphan portrayed by DiCaprio, who returns to the Five Points district to avenge his father’s death at the hands of William “Bill the Butcher” Cutting, played by Day-Lewis.
“Vallon knows that revenge can only be attained by infiltrating Cutting’s inner circle.”
“Amsterdam’s journey becomes a fight for personal survival and to find a place for the Irish people in 1860s New York.”
Production Background
The film was a long-standing passion project for Scorsese and proved to be a challenging production, reportedly exceeding schedule and budget. Reports suggested that producer Harvey Weinstein pushed for significant edits, and there may exist a longer, unreleased version that more closely aligns with Scorsese’s original vision.
Author’s Summary
This powerful Scorsese classic mixes vengeance, history, and cultural struggle, capturing both the brutality and the identity conflicts of 19th‑century New York.