directed by David Abeckaser
The only person ahead of him was his boss, the equally notorious and imprisoned Charles "Lucky" Luciano. Fleeing a murder rap, Genovese went to Italy where he befriended Benito Mussolini and profited accordingly. Genovese's friendship with Mussolini did not prevent him from switching sides when the Americans invaded. Genovese offered his services to the Americans as an interpreter, guide and liaison to the Italian partisans. The wily Genovese used the Americans to profit in the black market, selling anything he could steal or borrow.
However an American officer recognized Genovese and returned him to America to face justice, despite the infuriated Genovese's pleas and threats. Genovese was either very lucky or very resourceful as the remaining witness against him died from poison.
After the war when Luciano was deported, Genovese thought that he would become boss. However Luciano had never liked Genovese. During Luciano's imprisonment and Genovese's overseas sojourn Frank Costello, the Family's counselor and top fixer, had profitably and peacefully run the organization. After Luciano's permanent deportation Costello was formally recognized as the new boss.
By 1957, Genovese's power had grown significantly while Anastasia's murderous rages had made him less popular in his own Family and with other mobsters. Costello's respect had also declined. He was a white collar boss leading an organization of murderous blue collar thugs.
Mob Town is a fictionalization of the abortive Appalachin New York meeting that Genovese called after he became boss. By the time of the meeting Genovese had helped to arrange Anastasia's murder. Genovese ordered an unsuccessful attempt on Costello's life which convinced him to retire.
Now murdering your boss or other bosses without other bosses' explicit approval is frowned upon in the Mafia. It's actually a death penalty offense. Genovese intended to explain himself, work out new deals with other bosses, and possibly have himself declared boss of all bosses. Genovese never lacked for ego. Genovese invited everyone in the Mob and the larger syndicate to the meeting.
Also wasted is Robert Davi as Vito Genovese. Testosterone levels rise when Davi enters the room but aside from some glowering and yelling I don't think the viewer would get just why so many people were scared sh**less of Genovese.
This would have been a better film if the meeting preparations and the abortive meeting itself had been a much smaller part of the movie. The importance of Appalachin was not that a meeting was raided but that the proven existence of a national crime syndicate was something that reformers used to light a fire under Hoover and the FBI, who had previously denied it.
Too much of the movie is Barbara calmly promising his NYC counterparts that he can do something, before hanging up the phone and screaming at his wife that he has no idea how he can do what he just said he'd do. Funny once or twice but that's it. All in all this felt like a TV movie.
