This movie was a gruesome tale of lawlessness and the brutality of the gangs that dominated New York in the 1860?s. The movie's main plot focused on the vengeance and the disputing between the gangs controlling the Bowery and Five Points area of lower Manhattan and concludes with the Civil War draft riots. The two major political parties, Tammany Hall, which was Democratic based and the Native Americans which made up the Know-Nothing Party, used gangs as enforcers for the loot of public funds and to obtain control of the city.
The movie opens with the preparation and the march of each opposing party to engage in a gory feud. Combat breaks out and knives were slung at one another, slaughtering a majority of the crowd. Amsterdam Vallon, a young boy at the time, watches as his father, Pries
Some of this film was hard to watch. There was a huge amount of violence and gory detail. It made for a very interesting movie that provoked my curiosity about the time period. It was a rough time for the new immigrants that were shipped over. The Five Points was filthy and unlivable yet that is where most of the immigrants ended up with no job or money when they reached America. They were really forced to choose a side to be on so they would survive. I?m sure many would have sided with the Butcher or a man of his power. He gained power and was respected only because he was feared. If you rubbed him the wrong way he would kill you. It would not be just a quick simple death either. He liked to see people in agony. The fights were brutal, using knives to slash people to death. The opening batt
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