Sonny Grosso

The Godfather (1972)

Thought provokingEmotionalViolentDark

Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francis Ford Coppola
CAST:  Marlon Brando  •  Al Pacino  •  James Caan  •  Richard S. Castellano

Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francis Ford Coppola
CAST:  Marlon Brando  •  Al Pacino  •  James Caan  •  Richard S. Castellano

Cruising (1980)

A serial killer brutally slays and dismembers several gay men in New York's S&M and leather districts. The young police officer Steve Burns is sent undercover onto the streets as a decoy for the murderer. Working almost completely isolated from his department, he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Friedkin
CAST:  Al Pacino  •  Karen Allen  •  Paul Sorvino  •  Richard Cox

A serial killer brutally slays and dismembers several gay men in New York's S&M and leather districts. The young police officer Steve Burns is sent undercover onto the streets as a decoy for the murderer. Working almost completely isolated from his department, he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Friedkin
CAST:  Al Pacino  •  Karen Allen  •  Paul Sorvino  •  Richard Cox

The French Connection (1971)

Tough narcotics detective 'Popeye' Doyle is in hot pursuit of a suave French drug dealer who may be the key to a huge heroin-smuggling operation.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Friedkin
CAST:  Roy Scheider  •  Fernando Rey  •  Tony Lo Bianco  •  Marcel Bozzuffi

Tough narcotics detective 'Popeye' Doyle is in hot pursuit of a suave French drug dealer who may be the key to a huge heroin-smuggling operation.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Friedkin
CAST:  Roy Scheider  •  Fernando Rey  •  Tony Lo Bianco  •  Marcel Bozzuffi

Out of the Darkness (1985)

A gripping thriller telling the true story of the hunt and capture of David Berkowitz, a.k.a. "Son of Sam" — the infamous serial killer who stalked New York in the 70s.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jud Taylor
CAST:  Martin Sheen  •  Hector Elizondo  •  Charlie Sheen  •  Matt Clark

A gripping thriller telling the true story of the hunt and capture of David Berkowitz, a.k.a. "Son of Sam" — the infamous serial killer who stalked New York in the 70s.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jud Taylor
CAST:  Martin Sheen  •  Hector Elizondo  •  Charlie Sheen  •  Matt Clark

To Kill a Cop (1978)

Earl Eischied is a man with his hands full. As the Chief of Detectives in New York City he is trying to break up a group of black militants that are on a crime spree including the killing of a police officer. He is also trying to battle with a mayor and police ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Nelson
CAST:  Joe Don Baker  •  Desi Arnaz Jr.  •  Christine Belford  •  Scott Brady

Earl Eischied is a man with his hands full. As the Chief of Detectives in New York City he is trying to break up a group of black militants that are on a crime spree including the killing of a police officer. He is also trying to battle with a mayor and police ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gary Nelson
CAST:  Joe Don Baker  •  Desi Arnaz Jr.  •  Christine Belford  •  Scott Brady

Report to the Commissioner (1975)

Police officer Patty Butler, alias "Chicklet," is the live-in girlfriend of Thomas 'Stick' Henderson to gather evidence. Detective Bo Lockley is instructed to try to find her, not knowing she's also a cop.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Milton Katselas
CAST:  Michael Moriarty  •  Yaphet Kotto  •  Susan Blakely  •  Hector Elizondo

Police officer Patty Butler, alias "Chicklet," is the live-in girlfriend of Thomas 'Stick' Henderson to gather evidence. Detective Bo Lockley is instructed to try to find her, not knowing she's also a cop.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Milton Katselas
CAST:  Michael Moriarty  •  Yaphet Kotto  •  Susan Blakely  •  Hector Elizondo

The Seven-Ups (1973)

A tough detective who is part of an elite New York City unit is trying to find out who killed his partner, but uncovers a plot to kidnap mobsters for money.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip D'Antoni
CAST:  Roy Scheider  •  Jerry Leon  •  Tony Lo Bianco  •  Victor Arnold

A tough detective who is part of an elite New York City unit is trying to find out who killed his partner, but uncovers a plot to kidnap mobsters for money.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip D'Antoni
CAST:  Roy Scheider  •  Jerry Leon  •  Tony Lo Bianco  •  Victor Arnold

The Joe Spinell Story (2001)

The Joe Spinell Story is a An outstanding and eye-opening documentary, made in 2001 for the Anchor Bay DVD release of Maniac (1980). His most notable roles were as mafioso Willi Cicci in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, and as loan shark Tony Gazzo in Rocky ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Gregory
CAST:  Joe Cirillo  •  Tony Conforti  •  William Lustig  •  Frank Pesce

The Joe Spinell Story is a An outstanding and eye-opening documentary, made in 2001 for the Anchor Bay DVD release of Maniac (1980). His most notable roles were as mafioso Willi Cicci in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, and as loan shark Tony Gazzo in Rocky ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Gregory
CAST:  Joe Cirillo  •  Tony Conforti  •  William Lustig  •  Frank Pesce

Making the Connection: Untold Stories of 'The French Connection' (2001)

The exciting story of the making of William Friedkin's The French Connection (1971), hosted by former NYPD detective Sony Grosso, who inspired the character of Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo, played in the film by actor Roy Scheider.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Sonny Grosso  •  William Friedkin  •  Edwin Torres  •  Tony Lo Bianco

The exciting story of the making of William Friedkin's The French Connection (1971), hosted by former NYPD detective Sony Grosso, who inspired the character of Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo, played in the film by actor Roy Scheider.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Sonny Grosso  •  William Friedkin  •  Edwin Torres  •  Tony Lo Bianco

Exorcising 'Cruising' (2007)

Part two of the making of William Friedkin's 1980 thriller "Cruising" and the controversies it created.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Laurent Bouzereau
CAST:  William Friedkin  •  Jerry Weintraub  •  Michael Aronin  •  Jay Acovone

Part two of the making of William Friedkin's 1980 thriller "Cruising" and the controversies it created.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Laurent Bouzereau
CAST:  William Friedkin  •  Jerry Weintraub  •  Michael Aronin  •  Jay Acovone

The History of 'Cruising' (2007)

Part one of the making of William Friedkin’s 1980 thriller "Cruising" and the controversies it created.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Laurent Bouzereau
CAST:  William Friedkin  •  Jerry Weintraub  •  Michael Aronin  •  Jay Acovone

Part one of the making of William Friedkin’s 1980 thriller "Cruising" and the controversies it created.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Laurent Bouzereau
CAST:  William Friedkin  •  Jerry Weintraub  •  Michael Aronin  •  Jay Acovone

Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside (1973)

Two New York City cops investigate a drug-smuggling ring that they believe is run by New York-based foreign diplomats.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Graham
CAST:  Tony Lo Bianco  •  Hal Linden  •  Paul Benjamin  •  Marcia Jean Kurtz

Two New York City cops investigate a drug-smuggling ring that they believe is run by New York-based foreign diplomats.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Graham
CAST:  Tony Lo Bianco  •  Hal Linden  •  Paul Benjamin  •  Marcia Jean Kurtz

Contract on Cherry Street (1977)

A policeman devises an unorthodox plan for bringing criminals to justice after his partner is brutally gunned down.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Graham
CAST:  Frank Sinatra  •  Martin Balsam  •  Jay Black  •  Verna Bloom

A policeman devises an unorthodox plan for bringing criminals to justice after his partner is brutally gunned down.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William A. Graham
CAST:  Frank Sinatra  •  Martin Balsam  •  Jay Black  •  Verna Bloom

Murder in Music City (1979)

A brash songwriter who buys a detective agency as a tax shelter finds himself and his photographer's model bride involved in a puzzling murder, when a dead body turns up in their honeymoon suite, and on a trail that leads them to Nashville.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leo Penn
CAST:  Sonny Bono  •  Lee Purcell  •  Lucille Benson  •  Claude Akins

A brash songwriter who buys a detective agency as a tax shelter finds himself and his photographer's model bride involved in a puzzling murder, when a dead body turns up in their honeymoon suite, and on a trail that leads them to Nashville.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leo Penn
CAST:  Sonny Bono  •  Lee Purcell  •  Lucille Benson  •  Claude Akins

The Poughkeepsie Shuffle: Tracing 'The French Connection' (2000)

A documentary on the production of The French Connection (1971).  (more)

DIRECTION:  Russell Leven
CAST:  Mark Kermode  •  Sonny Grosso  •  William Friedkin  •  Randy Jurgensen

A documentary on the production of The French Connection (1971).  (more)

DIRECTION:  Russell Leven
CAST:  Mark Kermode  •  Sonny Grosso  •  William Friedkin  •  Randy Jurgensen