Top 5 Lucky Luciano Movies of All Time

Lucky Luciano, also known as Salvatore Lucania, was a notorious Italian-American mobster who is widely recognized as the “father of modern organized crime.” He rose to power during the Prohibition era, becoming one of the most feared and influential figures in the American underworld. In this article, we review the best Lucky Luciano movies ever made.

Over the years, Luciano’s life and legacy have inspired numerous movies, TV shows, and books, which offer a glimpse into the rise and fall of this gangster legend. From historical dramas to crime thrillers, here are the Lucky Luciano movies that provide an insight into the criminal empire that he built and the legacy that he left behind.

Lucky Luciano Movies

While not all Lucky Luciano movies are cinematic masterpieces, the movies that we have included in this list provide valuable insights into the life and legacy of the Italian mob legend Lucky Luciano.

Some of these movies feature Lucky as the main protagonist, while in others, he appears as a side character. Nonetheless, even in the films that Lucky Luciano does not have the most screen time, the context, and history of the Italian mob in the 20th century are presented in them in an interesting manner that mafia movie lovers are going to enjoy.

Let’s jump into it!

Lucky Luciano (1973)

Lucky Luciano movies as well as other gangster films usually depict gangsters as glamorized characters who either meet a bad end or are condemned. However, despite this, such characters remain popular in Hollywood.

The film by Francesco Rosi focuses on Luciano’s years in Italy, where he was involved in the drug trade. This is a part of Luciano’s life that is not well-known in America. Rosi deliberately downplays the glamor and instead portrays Luciano as a middle-aged businessman.

The film also portrays the efforts of the police and government against Luciano as accurately as possible. This approach makes the film less thrilling for those looking for gangster thrills and instead focuses on ideas and critiques, particularly directed toward Italy. However, when it comes to movies about Lucky Luciano, this film is a must-watch.

Mobsters (1991)

This movie is a guilty pleasure for many, blending elements of great mob films with fast-paced action. While the director does a good job of what he was trying to achieve, the film is criticized for not being up to par with classics such as Goodfellas or Godfather. However, it is meant for a younger audience and features a talented cast with good acting, with Christian Slater playing Lucky Luciano.

The action scenes are bloody and well-executed, with nice sets and touches of authentic 1920s-1930s life. The movie’s fast pace detracts from character development and storytelling. The characters are introduced briefly, then suddenly established as small-time crooks. The movie jumps from scene to scene, lacking dramatic pauses or characterization, making it difficult to feel for the characters.

In conclusion, while this Lucky Luciano movie is not a masterpiece, it is a decent and visually pleasing film with plenty of action and good performances. It is meant to be a fast-paced mafia movie and succeeds in that regard, but its limited characterization is its biggest drawback. It is a good movie to watch when you have time to kill, but don’t expect it to be on par with classics like Goodfellas.

Lansky (2021)

The movie “Lansky” is a nuanced and fair portrayal of the life of mobster Meyer Lansky. The film is based on a biography written by a fictional character named David Stone, but the actual author was Robert Rockaway, a leading academic and Jewish historian.

While „Lansky“ does not revolve around Lucky Luciano, he is featured in the movie, as historically these gangsters‘ paths crossed in a significant way. Therefore, this film makes our list of Lucky Luciano movies.

The film does an excellent job of exploring Lansky’s motivations, values, and intentions. The plot revolves around an FBI investigation into Lansky’s alleged hidden fortune. The movie concludes with a poignant scene that touches on the love a father has for his son, which might provide a clue to the question of Lansky’s wealth.

Harvey Keitel and John Magaro both give strong performances, carrying the film. There is speculation that Lansky lost most of his fortune when Fidel Castro took over in Cuba and that he spent the rest caring for his ailing son. Lansky’s total cash reserves at the time of his death were only $57,000 in 1983 money. The film does not officially answer the question about Lansky’s wealth.

Bugsy (1991)

This movie about the life of Ben “Bugsy” Siegel is visually stunning, with perfect period costumes and settings.

Warren Beatty, as Siegel, portrays him as a ruthless gangster with big dreams, including becoming a part of Hollywood. He falls in love with the idea of building a casino in Las Vegas and believes it can be completely legitimate. But, his relationship with Virginia Hill (played by Annette Bening) ultimately leads to his downfall. Bening was fantastic in her role and was even slated to play Cat Woman the following year.

Other noteworthy performances include Ben Kingsley as Meyer Lansky, Elliott Gould as Harry Greenburg, and Joe Mantagna as George Raft. One thing that stood out was the vignette where Siegel buys Lawrence Tibbett’s house for sixty thousand in cash. The film deviates from reality in many places but the Tibbett family objects to their father being portrayed as short, elderly, and overweight.

The score by Ennio Morricone was the only drawback of the film, as it never really set a mood and sounded similar to another one of Morricone’s scores. Despite this, “Bugsy” is worth watching for the powerful performances and attention to period detail. Lucky Luciano is also featured in the movie and the movie is a good depiction of the time when gangsters like Lucky were the most powerful.

Hoodlum (1997)

“Hoodlum” is a long but captivating movie about the rise of “Bumpy” Johnson, portrayed by Laurence Fishburne. After serving time in prison, Johnson begins working for the successful Harlem numbers racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair, played by Cicely Tyson, and eventually takes over the operation when she is sent to prison.

Bumpy’s approach is much different and more proactive than St. Clair’s, which proves useful when they are forced to deal with the activities of the greedy and flamboyant Dutch Schultz, played by Tim Roth. Fishburne shines in his role as Bumpy, portraying a calm and collected man with his own philosophy and way of life. Vanessa L. Williams adds a human touch to the story as Bumpy’s love interest, Francine Hughes, tries to distance herself from Bumpy’s actions, even when acting in self-defense.

While Andy Garcia is passable as mob boss Lucky Luciano, there are other notable antagonists, including a corrupt police captain played by Richard Bradford, and a crooked attorney, Thomas Dewey, played by William Atherton. Tyson, Chi McBride, and Loretta Devine also add to the film, while Queen Latifah has a small supporting role. Tim Roth tends to steal the show with his over-the-top performance as Dutch Schultz. The film has a good period recreation and is directed with style by Bill Duke.

The score by Elmer Bernstein is lovely, and there are a few musical numbers. Although the film is loosely based on real events, it should not be mistaken for a history lesson and is only meant to be entertainment. Overall, it is definitely one of Lucky Luciano movies worth watching.