Inspired by the events of mid-19th century US history, and the 1928 book The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury, director Martin Scorsese’s 2002 historical epic roars with sound and fury, capturing a time when street gangs and crooked politicians roamed the muddy terrain of Manhattan.
Initially conceived in the 1970s, Gangs of New York’s production was costly and challenging. Filming took place in Rome’s storied Cinecitta studio, with large sets designed to recreate the historic locales of the period. The film contains numerous action sequences involving some of the most technically elaborate set pieces of Scorsese’s filmography. The disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein then reportedly demanded reshoots that led to the film’s theatrical release being postponed by a year.
