Set in turn-of-20th-century New York, Pay or Die! concerns Joseph Petrosino (Ernest Borgnine), a Sicilian-born NYPD lieutenant who founded Manhattan’s Police Department Italian squad and met his death while exposing the notorious Black Hand gang.
The true tale is skilfully characterised, and director Richard Wilson displays both sensitivity and showmanship. Compelling human and romantic by-play logically breaks up scenes of terror and violence, and the period backgrounds, faithfully re-created, have a mellowing effect.
During a festival in New York’s Little Italy, a bomb thrown by an extortion mob known as the Black Hand gang kills a small girl, and Petrosino determines to bust the racket.
Later, the thugs intimidate baker Papa Saulino (Bruno Della Santina) and when Papa refuses to pay, they wreck his shop and assault Adelina (Zohra Lampert), his pretty grown-up daughter.
Joseph, who loves Adelina but thinks she prefers his handsome aide Johnny Viscardi (Alan Austin), gains permission to organise an undercover squad.
The Black Hand continues its dastardly work: Famous tenor Enrico Caruso (Howard Caine) narrowly escapes assassination, a jewellery store is demolished and twelve schoolgirls are killed, and Joseph receives a bomb – luckily discovered in time – on his marriage to Adelina.
Joseph now feels certain that local Italian lawyer Vito Zarillo (Franco Corsaro) is the secret head of the New York Mafia and visits Sicily to establish the connection between the American Mafia and the Black Hand.
He is liquidated just after he posts vital evidence, but Johnny arrests Zarillo, and Adelina derives comfort from the knowledge that she will soon be a mother.
Lt. Joseph Petrosino
Ernest Borgnine Adelina Saulino
Zohra Lampert Johnny Viscardi
Alan Austin Mama Saulino
Renata Vanni Papa Saulino
Bruno Della Santina Vito Zarillo
Franco Corsaro Police Commissioner
Robert F. Simon Luigi Di Sarno
Robert Ellenstein Enrico Caruso
Howard Caine Voice of Caruso
David Poleri Lupo Miano
Barry Russo (as John Duke) Officer Simonetti
Vito Scotti D. Caputo
John Marley Palumbo
Nick Pawl Enzo Loria
Mario Siletti Fabraka
Vincent Barbi Nun
Mimi Doyle Giulia De Sarno
Sherry Alberoni Mrs Rossi
Mary Carver Mayor
Paul Birch Botti
Sal Armetta
Director
Richard Wilson
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Later, the thugs intimidate baker Papa Saulino (Bruno Della Santina) and when Papa refuses to pay, they wreck his shop and assault Adelina (Zohra Lampert), his pretty grown-up daughter.
Lt. Joseph Petrosino
Papa Saulino
Officer Simonetti
