Is Gangs of New York based on a True Story? Gangs of New York True Story
by Subhashree M
Updated Mar 09, 2023
Gangs Of New York
Gangs of New York is a monumental historical drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the 1927 book, The Gangs of New York, by Herbert Asbury. The film was written by Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, and Kenneth Lonergan, and features a star-studded cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Cameron Diaz, with supporting roles played by Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Henry Thomas, Stephen Graham, Eddie Marsan, and Brendan Gleeson.
Set in 1862, the film tells the story of a long-standing feud between Catholic and Protestant groups, which quickly escalates into violence. At the same time, an Irish immigrant community is protesting against the threat of conscription. Scorsese spent two decades developing the project before Harvey Weinstein and Miramax Films acquired it in 1999. The movie was filmed in Rome's Cinecittà and Long Island City, New York City, and was completed in 2001. However, its release was delayed due to the September 11 attacks. Finally, the film was released in theaters in the United States on December 20th, 2002, and was met with generally positive reviews. Daniel Day-Lewis's performance was highly acclaimed, and the film received ten nominations at the 75th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Scorsese, and Best Actor for Day-Lewis. In total, the film grossed over $193 million worldwid.
Is Gangs of New York Based on a True Story?
The movie "Gangs of New York," set in 1863, features Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon, seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, who killed his father during a gang battle in the Five Points slums of Manhattan. Although the events in the film are mostly fictional, many of the gangs depicted, such as the Dead Rabbits, the Plug Uglies, and the Bowery Boys, were real and fought for territory and inter-gang disputes. The story was inspired by Herbert Asbury's nonfiction book, "The Gangs of New York," which served as a direct influence on the script. While some of the characters were written for the screen, others, such as Hell-Cat Maggie and Boss Tweed, had real-life parallels. The Draft Riots, which disrupted and ultimately ended Amsterdam and Bill's feud, were a real event that took place over several days and resulted in over a hundred deaths and widespread destruction. While the Navy did not fire on New York citizens, the military eventually restored order, and the city was forever changed.
Gangs Of New York True Story
"Gangs of New York" is a historical drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 2002. The film is set in the 1860s in the Five Points neighborhood of New York City and tells the story of Amsterdam Vallon (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a young Irish-American seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher (played by Daniel Day-Lewis), a nativist gang leader who killed Vallon's father.While the movie is primarily fictional, it does draw inspiration from real-life events and characters.
The Draft Riots, which serve as the film's climactic event, were a real event that took place in 1863 and were caused by anger and frustration over the Civil War draft. The riots quickly turned violent and took on a racial aspect, with black people being targeted and attacked.Additionally, many of the gangs depicted in the film, such as the Dead Rabbits, the Bowery Boys, and the Plug Uglies, were real gangs that fought for control over territory in the Five Points. Some of the characters in the film, such as Bill the Butcher and Boss Tweed (played by Jim Broadbent), are also based on real people. Bill the Butcher was loosely based on William Poole, a member of the nativist Bowery Boys gang, while Boss Tweed was a notoriously corrupt politician who controlled New York City politics for many years.While the events and characters depicted in the film are not entirely accurate, the movie does offer a glimpse into the brutal and chaotic world of 19th-century New York City.
Gangs Of New York Summary
Set in 1846 in the Five Points slum, two rival gangs, the Protestant Confederation of American Natives, led by "Bill the Butcher" Cutting, and the Irish Catholic Dead Rabbits, led by "Priest" Vallon, engage in a final battle to determine who will control the area. Vallon is killed by Bill, and his son is taken to an orphanage on Blackwell's Island. In 1862, Vallon's son, Amsterdam, returns seeking revenge and retrieves the knife that killed his father. He becomes Bill's protégé while secretly planning to kill him during the anniversary of his victory over the Dead Rabbits.
Amsterdam also becomes attracted to Jenny Everdeane, a pickpocket and grifter, causing tension with Johnny Sirocco, who is also interested in her. Amsterdam saves Bill from an assassination attempt and becomes involved in corrupt dealings with William M. Tweed. On the night of the anniversary, Johnny reveals Amsterdam's identity, and Bill wounds Amsterdam during a knife-throwing act. Amsterdam goes into hiding, but eventually returns to seek vengeance. The gangs prepare to fight, but the Civil War draft riots and naval gunfire interrupt their battle, killing many gang members. Amsterdam uses his father's knife to kill Bill and buries him in Brooklyn next to his father. As Amsterdam and Jenny leave, modern New York City is shown being built over the cemetery.
The Real History Behind The Gangs Of New York
Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York was a highly successful movie in 2002, grossing almost $200 million globally, and was nominated for ten Academy Awards, but went home empty-handed. The film is loosely based on Herbert Asbury's 1927 book, The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld, which focused on a group of Irish immigrants in New York trying to resist conscription at the beginning of the American Civil War during the 19th century. Scorsese was inspired by the book in 1970 and waited 32 years to realize his dream of adapting it into a movie.
Daniel Day-Lewis won almost every Best Actor award outside of the Oscars for his role in the movie.The early 19th century saw a series of gang wars in New York City, resulting from fierce rivalries between two groups of criminals. The first gang in the city was the Forty Thieves, which was made up of Irish immigrants from Five Points. The Dead Rabbits, a gang of Irish immigrants, also lived in the Five Points area. The Bowery Boys were an anti-Irish gang in the early-to-mid-19th century. The Roach Guards were an early 19th-century Irish street gang in Five Points.The Bloods Gang used hand signals as a means of communication and emphasized the brotherhood of the gang. The hand signals were updated periodically as their leaders changed.
The movie has several historical figures based on real characters in New York City, such as Amsterdam Vallon, Bill the Butcher, William Poole, John Morrissey, and the infamous King Kong.Bill the Butcher was the most violent gangster in the city and was based on William Poole, who lived during the antebellum era. Poole was a nativist political organizer and a former boxer. His violent tendencies were turned up to eleven when he became Bill the Butcher. The movie depicts his knife skills and close-quarters strikes, and his rival, Priest Vallon.
Gangs Of New York Ending Explained
The ending of Martin Scorsese's 2002 film "Gangs of New York" has been a subject of interpretation and debate among viewers. Here's a detailed explanation of the ending:The film is set in 1860s New York and follows the story of Amsterdam Vallon (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a young man seeking revenge against the gang leader who killed his father. The leader, Bill "The Butcher" Cutting (played by Daniel Day-Lewis), is a fierce and powerful figure who controls the Five Points neighborhood of New York City.
The film builds up to a violent and bloody confrontation between Amsterdam and Bill, with Amsterdam ultimately succeeding in killing his father's murderer. However, the film's ending goes beyond this final showdown.After Bill's death, the police arrive to restore order to the Five Points neighborhood. The Irish immigrants who had been fighting against the nativist gangs led by Bill are rounded up and sent to fight in the Civil War. Amsterdam himself is shown walking away from the scene of the battle, with a voice-over narration explaining that he eventually left New York and became a prospector in the West.
The ending can be interpreted in a number of ways. Some viewers see it as a commentary on the cyclical nature of violence and revenge - Amsterdam's triumph over Bill ultimately leads to the continued subjugation of the Irish immigrant community by the powers that be. Others see the ending as a commentary on the American Dream - Amsterdam's departure to the West is seen as a symbol of the promise of new beginnings and the possibility of redemption.
Still, others see the ending as a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit - despite the violence and chaos of their environment, Amsterdam and the Irish immigrants continue to struggle and survive, forging a new life in a new place. In summary, the ending of "Gangs of New York" is a complex and multifaceted conclusion to a story about revenge, power, and survival. It invites viewers to reflect on the larger themes and messages of the film, and to come to their own interpretations of what it all means.
Is Gangs Of New York Based On A True Story - FAQs
Yes, the movie is based on a non-fiction book titled "The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld" by Herbert Asbury, which chronicles the gang culture of New York City's Five Points area in the mid-19th century.
The character of "Bill the Butcher" Cutting is loosely based on a notorious New York gang leader named William Poole, who was also known as "Bill the Butcher" and was killed in a barroom brawl in 1855. The character of "Priest" Vallon is inspired by several real-life Irish-American gang leaders of the era, but none directly match his persona in the movie.
"Gangs of New York" grossed over $193 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis, who won the award.