King of New York (1990)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writer (WGA):

Nicholas St. John (written by)

Release Date:

28 September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Not everyone who runs a city is elected.

Plot:

A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out all his competition and distribute the profits of his operations to New York's poor and lower classes in this stylish and ultra violent modern twist on Robin Hood.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Prison | Drug Lord | Hospital | Money

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Christopher Walken	...	Frank White
David Caruso	...	Dennis Gilley
Laurence Fishburne	...	Jimmy Jump (as Larry Fishburne)
Victor Argo	...	Roy Bishop
Wesley Snipes	...	Thomas Flanigan
Janet Julian	...	Jennifer
Joey Chin	...	Larry Wong
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Lance
Paul Calderon	...	Joey Dalesio
Steve Buscemi	...	Test Tube
Theresa Randle	...	Raye
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Blood (as Leonard Lee Thomas)
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Tanner (as Roger Smith)
Carrie Nygren	...	Melanie
Ernest Abuba	...	King Tito
Frank Adonis	...	Paul Calgari
Vanessa Angel	...	British Female
Frank Aquilino	...	Card Player (as Butchie Aquilino)
David Batiste	...	Waiter - Chicken Hut
Michael Battin	...	Taxi Driver
Frankie Cee	...	Johnny Chick
Lia Chang	...	Gangmember (as Kim Lia Chang)
Endira	...	Flanigan's Child
Erica Gimpel	...	Dr. Shute
Frank Gio	...	Arty Clay
Jack Goode Jr.	...	Palladium Patron
Lance Guecia	...	Musta
Michael Guess	...	Carter
Freddy Howard	...	Emilio El Zapo
Nancy Hunter	...	Millie
Jay Julien	...	Abraham Cott
Susannah Julien	...	Palladium Patron
Robert LaSardo	...	Italian Guard (as Robert Lasardo)
Phoebe Legere	...	Bordello Woman
James Lorinz	...	Tip Connoly
Gary Landon Mills	...	Chilly
Gerard Murphy	...	Mulligan (as Gerald Murphy)
Anthony Padilla	...	Flanigan's Child
Harold Perrineau	...	Thug Leader
George Lawrence Perry	...	Cop
Marty Pesci	...	Palladium Patron
Peter Richardson	...	Emperor Jones
Alonna Shaw	...	Kathleen Mulligan (as Lonnie Shaw)
Wendell Sweda	...	Man at Breakfast Table
Freddie Jackson	...	Himself
Ariane	...	Ariane
Pete Hamill	...	Pete Hamill
Sari Chang	...	Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George G. Colucci	...	Theatre Goer (uncredited)
Joe Delia	...	Harlem Ballroom Band member (uncredited)
Tony Garnier	...	Harlem Ballroom Band member (uncredited)
Laszlo Klima	...	Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Carlos Lauchu	...	Undercover Cop (uncredited)
Mark Monto	...	Cop (uncredited)
Phil Neilson	...	NYPD Detective (uncredited)
Lucille M. Oliver	...	Subway Hostage (uncredited)
Anthony Redman	...	Harlem Ballroom Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
John Reidy	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Matthew Shields	...	Boyfriend at Club (uncredited)
Abe Speller	...	Harlem Ballroom Band Member (uncredited)
Timothy Stickney	...	Cop (uncredited)

Directed by
Abel Ferrara

Writing credits (WGA)
Nicholas St. John		(written by)

Produced by
Augusto Caminito	....	producer
Jay Julien	....	executive producer
Mary Kane	....	producer
Randy Sabusawa	....	associate producer
Vittorio Squillante	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Joe Delia

Cinematography by
Bojan Bazelli		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Anthony Redman

Casting by
Randy Sabusawa

Production Design by
Alex Tavoularis

Art Direction by
Stephanie Ziemer

Set Decoration by
Sonja Roth

Costume Design by
Carol Ramsey

Makeup Department
Ron Abrams	....	key hair stylist
Carla White	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Mary Kane	....	production manager
Diana Phillips	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gerald Cuesta	....	second second assistant director
Robert Huberman	....	dga trainee (as Bob Huberman)
Phil Neilson	....	second unit director
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	second assistant director (as Drew Rosenberg)
David Sardi	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jacqueline Arnot	....	set dresser
Bruce Bullock	....	property production assistant
Tim Eaton	....	set dresser
Peter Gelfman	....	property master
Matt Golden	....	storyboard artist
Charles M. Lagola	....	assistant production designer (as Charles Lagola)
Nicholas H. Parker	....	set dresser (as Nicholas Parker)
Victor J. Zolfo	....	assistant property master (as Victor Zolfo)

Sound Department
Elisha Birnbaum	....	foley artist
Osa Elmfors	....	sound production assistant
Eugene Gearty	....	digital sound effects
Raymond Karpicki	....	dialogue editor (as Ray Karpicki)
Drew Kunin	....	sound mixer
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Eileen Nelson	....	assistant sound editor
David Platt	....	boom operator
Greg Sheldon	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Shore	....	assistant sound editor
Paul P. Soucek	....	sound effects editor
Mel Zelniker	....	sound re-recording engineer

Special Effects by
Dan McMahon	....	special effects assistant
Jeff Naparstek	....	assistant special effects coordinator
Matt Vogel	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunts
Carl Ciarfalio	....	stunts
Daniel Dod	....	stunts
Andy Duppin	....	stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stunts
Frank Ferrara	....	stunts
Jeffrey Lee Gibson	....	stunts (as Jeff Gibson)
Roy E. Harrison	....	stunts (as Roy Eugene Harrison)
Jim Lovelett	....	stunts
Gino Lucci	....	stunts
Chuck Margiotta	....	stunts
Felix Mauras	....	stunts
Cynthia Neilson	....	stunts
Phil Neilson	....	stunt coordinator
Hugh Aodh O'Brien	....	stunts (as Hugh A. O'Brien)
Sean O'Neill	....	stunts
Mick O'Rourke	....	stunts
Sandy Richman	....	stunts
Michael Russo	....	stunts (as Mike Russo)
Columbo Saggese	....	stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunts
Alex Stevens	....	stunts
Jeff Ward	....	stunts
Joel David Webster	....	stunts (as Joel David Webster Jr.)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bojan Bazelli	....	camera operator
Peter Betulia	....	third grip
Ed Cosgrove	....	second assistant camera
Michael Gallart	....	electrician (as Mike Gallart)
Jonathan Herron	....	first assistant camera
Henry Lynk	....	additional camera operator
John Paul McIntyre	....	dolly grip (as Jack McIntyre)
Anthony G. Nakonechnyj	....	gaffer (as Tony Nakonechnyj)
David Noble	....	best boy grip
Phil Oetiker	....	additional first assistant camera
John O'Malley	....	electrician
Greg Rosinsky	....	best boy
Steve Sands	....	still photographer
Rob Southworth	....	camera intern
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera
Bryan Unger	....	key grip (as Brian Unger)

Casting Department
Meredith Jacobson	....	extras casting
Deborah Krainin	....	extras casting assistant
Julie Alter	....	casting consultant: Los Angeles (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Emelle Holmes	....	costumer
Barbara Palmer	....	wardrobe supervisor
Varcra Russal	....	associate costume designer
Alexis Scott	....	second wardrobe
Mary Sheldon	....	costume technician
Marcia Whitney	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Christopher Andrews	....	editor: video (as Chris Andrews)
Quincy Z. Gunderson	....	apprentice editor (as Quincy Gunderson)
Mayin Lo	....	assistant editor
David Pultz	....	color timer
Zeborah Tidwell	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Christopher Andrews	....	music editor (as Chris Andrews)
Richie Boisits	....	music recording engineer
Ernie Buonocore	....	assistant music recording engineer
Greg Curry	....	music recording engineer
David Keyes	....	musician
Brian Koonin	....	musician
Mark 'Love Man' Pender	....	musician (as Mark Pender)
Billy Roues	....	musician
Jerry Vivino	....	musician
Max Weinberg	....	musician
Peter Yellen	....	musician
Ernie Savage	....	music mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Thomas H. Beattie	....	driver (as Tom Beattie)
Pat King	....	driver
Gene Kirley	....	driver
Robert Lapine	....	driver
Jimmy Nugent	....	driver (as James Nugent)
Hugh Rawson	....	picture car coordinator
Kevin R. Wood	....	driver (as Kevin Wood)

Other crew
Christopher Andrews	....	creative consultant (as Chris Andrews)
Deborah Bacquel	....	production auditor
Michael Battin	....	parking coordinator
Fausto Capozzi	....	representative: Scena (as Fausto Cappozi)
Lynn Goldman	....	assistant auditor
Scott Hamilton	....	press publicist
Lys Hopper	....	assistant production coordinator (as Lysbeth A. Hopper)
Scott Hornbacher	....	assistant location manager
Tony Kono	....	production assistant
Lisa Krueger	....	script supervisor
John Landt	....	production assistant
Chong Lee	....	craft service
John Paul McIntyre	....	creative consultant (as John P. McIntyre)
Regina McLeod	....	production assistant
Corinna Ott	....	location assistant
Kia B. Puriefoy	....	production assistant (as Kia Puriefoy)
Thomas Reilly	....	teamster captain (as Tom Reilly)
Susan Rosenberg	....	production coordinator
Susan Rossi	....	production assistant
Albert G. Ruben	....	insurance
Jeannette Scheibe	....	production assistant (as Jeanette Scheibe)
K.C. Schulberg	....	location supervisor
Susan Sloan	....	on-set nurse
Lise Wald	....	production assistant
David Yashiv	....	production assistant
Joseph Zizzo	....	production assistant (as Joe Zizzo)

Production Companies

• Caminito
• Rank Organisation, The
• Reteitalia
• Scena International

Distributors

• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1990) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Alliance Home Video (1990s) (Canada) (video)
• Artisan Entertainment (DVD)
• Carlton (DVD)
• Emerald (2008) (Argentina) (DVD) (re-release)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• Live Video (laserdisc)
• Look Filmes (Brazil) (video)
• Maple Pictures (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Premiere Home Video (1991) (Australia) (VHS)
• Seven Arts Entertainment
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• VPS Film-Entertainment GmbH
• Versus Entertainment (2005-2006) (Spain) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Completion Bond Company  completion bond (as The Completion Bond Company)
• M/S Billings Publicity Ltd.  publicity (as M.S. Billings)
• N&D Film and Video  negative cutting (as N&D Films)
• Optical House, The  titles
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recorded at

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Italy | USA | UK

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 (TV rating) | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:R | France:-16 | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R16 (re-rating) (2004) | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R (re-rating on appeal) | USA:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Caminito

Trivia:

The production avoided shooting on the streets during the production as much as possible due to the NYC drought. Director Abel Ferrara used sprayers and hoses in order to better portray the city.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bishop is chasing Frank White in the subway, Bishop passes through three cars toward the front of the train, each with the same background extra (a white man in a blue shirt and glasses). Then when Frank White departs the subway after shooting Bishop, it's from the second car from the rear of the train.

Quotes:

Frank White: There are some things I don't do.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Saturday Night

Ferrara & Walken Make a Great Team

King of New York(1990) is an excellent movie that is Abel Ferrara's most stylish film. As years go by, King of New York is a film that will be more respected and seen as an example of Ferrara's best work. It was the second best gangster film in 1990 next to Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. The direction is surpurb and the characters are filled with colorful traits.

King of New York(1990) is a modern reworking of the Robin Hood legend. Its basically about a former drug lord who wants to use drug money to help poor and unfortunate people. Christopher Walken gives one of his five top best performances in the role of Frank. The feature is a neo noir because there are no people except for a couple that are likable.

The violence in this film is very brutal and done with plenty of flair. Frank's plans do not work out as everyone is out to get him(espically the police). Frank is a person who's alive on the outside but dead on the inside. King of New York has been compared to Scarface(1983) but I believe that this movie is closer in spirit to Ringo Lam's City on Fire(1987) and the two Chow Yun Fat/Andy Lau films of Rich & Famous(1986) and Tragic Hero(1987).

Laurence Fishburne gives a very good performance as Frank's loyal right hand man. In fact, all of the action sequences involving him makes the actor the Hollywood B-movie eqevulent of Chow Yun Fat with his two gun act. Steve Buscemi has a bit part as a rival drug dealer. I only wished that the idea of putting a contract on the police was expanded on with a few scenes of many police officers being assassinated by Frank's men.

One scene that is terrific is the scene where the police dressed up as drug dealers who raid and try to terminate Frank and his gang. Another excellent scene is the funeral sequence. The ending is unusually low key for a mafia flick. I would like to see a director's cut of this film released on video because I feel that something's missing from the R-rated version.