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The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight

Play trailer Poster for The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight PG-13 Released Dec 22, 1971 1h 36m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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20% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 27% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A Brooklyn mobster (Jerry Orbach) and his gang try to rub out their rivals, as in the Jimmy Breslin novel.
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The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight

Critics Reviews

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Rex Reed New York Daily News Pure silliness, of course, but I don't mind telling you I had a very good time. Jul 25, 2023 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times One of the hazards of movie comedy is that it's almost impossible to be sure that what reads funny will look funny. The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight, an uncertain comedy based on Jimmy Breslin's funny novel, supplies plenty of examples. Rated: 2/4 Oct 31, 2018 Full Review Michael Billington Birmingham Post Generally the film is full of sound and fury signifying nothing and, looking at some of the mediocre camerawork, one reflects that it's not only the New York gang leaders who apparently can't shoot straight. Oct 25, 2023 Full Review George Melly Observer (UK) I laughed a lot at The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight, a Runyon-esque Mafia comedy dominated by Jo Van Fleet's arthritic, gravel-voiced Big Momma. Oct 24, 2023 Full Review Madeleine Harmsworth Sunday Mirror (UK) Neither thrilling or funny, though it tries hard to be the latter. Oct 24, 2023 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …may still be a by-word from criminal incompetence, but this gang don’t bring much in the way of funny by today’s standards… Rated: 2/5 Jul 21, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (24) audience reviews
Steve D Unfunny and completely lame. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Not a great movie overall, but 5 stars for Robert De Niro's charming and light (in the best way) performance. There's a chaplinesque quality to his physical humor in early scenes, and later scenes between Mario and Angela are surprisingly touching. He is young and heartbreakingly beautiful here. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member It's so bad that you have to watch it. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Dated and dull slow paced comedy about rival mafia gangs.Lots of star tho. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member An early Rob't DeNiro flick with Jerry Orbach, Lionel Stander, Herve' Villechaise (with dubbed-in tough guy bass voice), Burt Young and a host of great character actors like Jo Van Fleet, frank Campanella, Phil Bruns, Jack Kehoe, Michael V. Gazzo and ad infintum. This is a crude awkward black comedy, based on the Jimmy Breslin novel. It still makes me laugh. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member The two best things in this film are one, that I figured out where Big Audio Dynamite got one of their samples ("I'm concerned over the possibility of another gang war.") and two, Jerry Orbach's gorgeous head of hair. Other than that, there's not a lot to recommend about this not so funny mafia comedy. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight

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Cast & Crew

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James Goldstone

Director

Jerry Orbach

Kid Sally

Leigh Taylor-Young

Angela

Jo Van Fleet

Big Momma

Lionel Stander

Baccala

Robert De Niro

Mario

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The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A Brooklyn mobster (Jerry Orbach) and his gang try to rub out their rivals, as in the Jimmy Breslin novel.
Director
James Goldstone
Producer
Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
Screenwriter
Waldo Salt
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 22, 1971, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 18, 2008
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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