Pay or Die!

Pay or Die! (1960) is a crime film directed by Richard Wilson rated 7.5/10.

A beautifully rendered, fact-based crime film about a crusading Italian policeman battling Black Hand extortionists in New York’s Little Italy is back on the big screen. In addition to Ernest Borgnine’s brilliantly sensitive portrayal as Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino, this engrossing picture is deftly photographed by Lucien Ballard, beautifully scored by David Raksin with a stellar supporting cast including Zohra Lampert and Alan Austin. Literate, suspenseful and emotionally moving, this memorable film remains the definitive depiction about the emergence of the Mafia in America.

Cast

Ernest Borgnine

Police Lt. Joseph Petrosino

Zohra Lampert

Adelina Saulino

Renata Vanni

Mama Saulino

Bruno Della Santina

Papa Saulino

Franco Corsaro

Vito Zarillo

Robert F. Simon

Police Commissioner

Robert Ellenstein

Luigi Di Sarno

Howard Caine

Enrico Caruso

Barry Russo

Lupo Miano (as John Duke)

Vito Scotti

Officer Simonetti

John Marley

D. Caputo, Ragman

Alan Austin

Johnny Viscardi