bkoganbing I don't read much in the way of fiction, but one of the exceptions was Jimmy Breslin's wry novel The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. It was based in part on Joey Gallo's buccaneering crew in South Brooklyn challenging the big Mafia bosses. It didn't Breslin any fans, but Gallo would soon be in no position to exact any vengeance.The film has some good moments, but overall it should have been a lot better. Jerry Orbach is the Gallo character who thinks he and his crew hasn't been getting enough of a split from the big capo Bacala played by Lionel Stander.In the meantime a young Italian bicycle rider just come to this country gets caught up in the war mainly because he's interested in Orbach's sister Leigh Taylor-Young. The bicycle rider is Robert DeNiro who would really make his mark in these kind of films.Two blacklisted people of note are prominent in The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. Lionel Stander who had up to the mid 60s been doing films in Europe and screenwriter Waldo Salt.Two performances really stand out. One is Jo Van Fleet as Big Momma who is Orbach's and Young's mom. I'd worry about getting on the bad side of that woman. The second is crusading for the camera District Attorney Philip Sterling. I've seen so many politicians like him.A lot of the subtleties from Jimmy Breslin's work are missing here. Nice Brooklyn location shooting helps. It's good entertainment, but it isn't the classic it should have been.

sharkattack1978 This is one of those classics. Not only for the first starring role for Robert De Niro but also its a comedy that is lighthearted and funny. De Niro does a good job as Mario (with a well done Italian accent) as does the late and great Jerry Orbach as Kid Sally the hood who wants to be the boss but keep having it fall from his hands. Lionel Sander (from Hart to Hart fame) does well as Baccala, the main gangster that Kid Sally is trying to take over. I found this hilarious fairly slapstick in some parts but also some strong performances of a film of this calibre. It reminded me for the old 1920's silent films as some of it you could have watched with no speaking at all and you'd still understand what was going on. There are some great scenes with Orbach and his Mama which had me laughing a lot and there were some touching scenes to between Mario and Kid Sally's kid sister. It's one to be watched and not missed if you want to see De Niro and how he started before the greats like Mean Streets, Raging Bull and Goodfellas.

bigmike-3 "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" was a blast in 1971 and it's just as funny today. Before the Godfather and The Sopranos, writer Jimmy Breslin and then-light comic and musical star Jerry Orbach had the hapless Bonnano crime family skewered. The gags alone would have made the film, but there's a brain at work here, too, in the portrayal of a benighted crime leader and his clownish goons.There's also a small part for an then-unknown unknown Robert DeNiro that forecast and anticipated what Bob would do. After Jerry Orbach's death, I was stunned that so few obits mentioned this film, suggesting his real movie debut was in Prince of the City. He was great in Prince of the City, but this one made him somebody to watch. Don't miss it. It still delights.

vinnie_hans As a DeNiro fan i watched this film. But Leigh Taylor-Young stole my heart with her very natural way of acting. There was not a great storyline but it was good entertainment. It was fun to see Bobbie DeNiro as a priest. Later in his career he would play more spiritual roles in True Confessions, We're no Angels and Sleepers.