You don’t make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets…|Oct. 14, 1973|USA|112 Min.|R
Genre: Crime;Drama
Description: Charlie Cappa, a young Italian-American living in New York City’s Little Italy, struggles with his sense of responsibility for his reckless friend, John “Johnny Boy” Civello. Johnny, a small-time gambler and troublemaker, refuses to work and owes money to multiple loan sharks. Charlie is also secretly involved with Johnny’s cousin, Teresa, who suffers from epilepsy and is shunned by the community, especially Charlie’s influential mafia-connected uncle, Giovanni. Giovanni urges Charlie to distance himself from Johnny, emphasizing that “honorable men go with honorable men.”
Torn between his Catholic faith and his involvement in Giovanni’s mafia activities, Charlie seeks redemption. As Johnny’s behavior becomes increasingly self-destructive and disrespectful toward his creditors, Charlie considers sacrificing himself to save Johnny. At a bar, a loan shark named Michael confronts Johnny, demanding payment. When Johnny insults Michael, a tense confrontation ensues, and Johnny pulls a gun. After a standoff, Michael leaves, and Charlie convinces Johnny they need to leave town temporarily. Teresa insists on joining them, and they drive off without incident.
However, Michael and his henchman, Jimmy Shorts, follow them. Jimmy fires shots at their car, hitting Johnny in the neck and Charlie in the hand. Charlie crashes the car into a fire hydrant. In the aftermath, Johnny staggers toward a police car in an alley, while Charlie kneels in the water from the hydrant, dazed and injured. Paramedics take Teresa and Charlie away, but Johnny’s fate remains uncertain.
Cast director: Martin Scorsese
Cast actor: Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, David Proval, Amy Robinson, Richard Romanus, Cesare Danova, Victor Argo, George Memmoli, Lenny Scaletta, Jeannie Bell
Original name: Mean Streets