Pay Or Die (1960)

Set in New York's Little Italy in the early 1900s. Citizens cower in fear as organized crime (aka The Black Hand) demands payment for "protection" or retaliation in the form of destroyed businesses and even death. But an Italian police lieutenant (Ernest Borgnine) is determined to end the reign of terror. Directed by Richard Wilson (THREE IN THE ATTIC). Based on the true story of Joseph Petrosino and his Italian Squad's fight against the extortions of the "Black Hand". While not without interest, it's no better than an above average episode of TV's THE UNTOUCHABLES. You pretty well know where it's going although I wasn't prepared for the (partially) downer ending. The mafioso aspect of the film's narrative is padded out with a romance, that of the police lieutenant and an Italian immigrant (Zohra Lampert). If you're into gangster movies, you might enjoy a little bit better than I did but it's no SCARFACE. With Alan Austin, Robert F. Simon, Renata Vanni, John Marley, Vito Scotti and Robert Ellenstein.