"The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" has all but been forgotten more than 40 years after it was made. Seeing it, it's easy to figure out why. In its defense, the movie gives an interesting look at a New York City that was seedy before it was cleaned up. It's also interesting to see a young Jerry Orbach, and the movie has the occasional mild chuckle. But for the most part, the movie simply doesn't work, and the problems come with the script. For some reason, the movie does not go into depth with ANY of its characters, and they all end up being pretty interchangeable with each other. Also, there really isn't much of a story here - instead, it's one seemingly unrelated vignette after another. The movie is never aggressively bad, but it still ends up being a big disappointment.

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.

"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.

I bought this film because it's one of DeNiro's first roles. Based on a book by Jimmy Breslin, the movie has a dated flavor to it that renders it rather stale; my kids didn't care much for it. However, it can still charm at times and the cast was very good overall. Orbach, without a drop of Italian blood in his veins, does a first-rate penny-ante mobster. There are plenty of sight gags, some more subtle than others, and many do make the viewer groan. The real problem is this type of movie requires a serious attention span on the part of the viewer, something sadly lacking in the modern era. DeNiro was no disappointment---he was fresh, funny and charming. The price of the video was worth every cent just to see him in such an unusually lightweight role. Who knew from watching this that he'd end up as one of film's toughest dramatic actors? In summary, not a great movie, but not awful, either.