King of New York (1990)

King of New York is a chronicle of the downfall of New York drug kingpin Frank White (Christopher Walken), who, after years of illegal activity – and newly released after a spell in Sing Sing – decides to expiate his sins by building a hospital in an inner-city neighbourhood.

And so his loyal crew begin to hit all the other major drug lords in NY – to eliminate the competition and to utilise their money to help the poor.

Frank’s attempts to give something back to the community encounter hostile resistance from every side – his Chinese drug partner, Larry Wong (Joey Chin), the local Mafia, and overzealous cops Dennis Gilley (David Caruso), Thomas Flanigan (Wesley Snipes) and Roy Bishop (Victor Argo), who are ready to do anything to bring him down.

Along the way, he triggers an ethnically-motivated gangster war that ends in a bloody showdown among the city’s criminal factions.

Walken gives a tour de force performance in the lead as a ruthless killer with a twisted sense of morality, and Laurence Fishburne as White’s henchman Jimmy Jump contributes to the film’s frenetic energy. The photography is stunning and New York at night never looked so good.

Frank White
Christopher Walken
Dennis Gilley
David Caruso
Jimmy Jump
Laurence Fishburne
Roy Bishop
Victor Argo
Thomas Flanigan
Wesley Snipes
Jennifer
Janet Julian
Larry Wong
Joey Chin
Lance
Giancarlo Esposito
Joey Dalesio
Paul Calderon
Test Tube
Steve Buscemi
Raye
Theresa Randle
Blood
Leonard L. Thomas
Tanner
Roger Guenveur Smith
Melanie
Carrie Nygren
King Tito
Ernest Abuba
Paul Calgari
Frank Adonis
Johnny Chick
Frankie Cee
Dr Shute
Erica Gimpel
Arty Clay
Frank Gio
Musta
Lance Guecia
Carter
Michael Guess
Emilio El Zapo
Freddy Howard
Millie
Nancy Hunter
Abraham Cott
Jay Julien
Tip Connoly
James Lorinz
Chilly
Gary Landon Mills

Director
Abel Ferrara

Video