Pay or Die!

The story

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 & crew

Ernest BorgninePolice Lt. Joseph Petrosino

Zohra LampertAdelina Saulino

Renata Vanni

Renata VanniMama Saulino

Bruno Della Santina

Bruno Della SantinaPapa Saulino

Franco Corsaro

Franco CorsaroVito Zarillo

Robert F. SimonPolice Commissioner

Robert EllensteinLuigi Di Sarno

Howard CaineEnrico Caruso

Barry RussoLupo Miano (as John Duke)

Vito ScottiOfficer Simonetti

John MarleyD. Caputo, Ragman

Alan AustinJohnny Viscardi