Completely historically inaccurate

The events in the movie are based on actual events that occurred. The issue is that they do not occur when they did in history. For example there was a war between the Dead Rabbits and the Natives which the Natives won. But that was it, there was no revival of the gang. The gaslight riot and draft riot actually occurred. That part was incredibly accurate.

What the movie lacks in accuracy with regards to chronology, it makes up for with accuracy in social aspects of the modern city. How New York is portrayed socially is 100% accurate. For that reason, this movie is good and useful.

[deleted]

Here is a list of things that are historically accurate about this movie:
1. All the gang names were real historical gangs.
2. The entire concept of Irish gangs vs. Nativist gangs, what they are fighting over, and why is accurate.
3. The reasons why the Nativists hated the Irish were historical:
-Job competition
-Catholic (followers of the Pope)
-didn’t contribute to the building of the country
4. Bill Cutting was based on a real life character called “Bill Poole” who was also a Nativist gang leader.
5. The characterization of Boss Tweed as a corrupt politician was very accurate.
6. The portrayal of the various actions of Tweed’s political machine was EXTREMELY accuate:
-giving bread and soup to the Irish coming of the boat
-trading political favors (schools, orphanages, street clean up, sewers, etc) for votes
-rigging elections (paying people to shave their beards to vote multiple times or using intimidation)
-Tweed dealing with gangs, using them as muscle or to secure votes.
-Tweed being the head of a firehouse to secure votes.
7. The volunteer firehouses fighting over the insurance money while the building burns down is accurate.
8. The looting that occurred when there was a fire is accurate
9. The Nativists anger towards Lincoln and, especially, his Emancipation Proclamation is accurate.
10. DiCaprio mentions the fighting between the Municipal Police and the Metropolitan Police. That is accurate.
11. The scene regarding the poor not being able to pay the $300 to buy their way out of the draft is accurate.
12. The Irish being persuaded to sign up for the war immediately upon getting off the boat is accurate.
13. The Nativists throwing “pavers” at the Irish when they get off the boat is accurate.
14. The character “Hellcat Maggie” is based on a real historical character and she really did keep a jar of ears on the bar where she worked.
15. Women and children pick pocketing to make their way is historically accurate.
16. The Five Points was a real historical slum.
17. The portrayal of The Five Points and the living conditions was EXTREMELY accurate.
18. The fact that the Police ("the crushers") were "owned" by Tweed is accurate
19. The fact that the Police didn't care what the poor did to each other is accurate.
20. Tammany Hall is a historical place and it really was the headquarters of the Democratic political machine in New York
21. The way the Draft Riot started was accurate
When a member of the “Black Joke” fire company was drafted other members of the company initiated the riot (as seen in the movie) and set the draft office on fire
22. Much of what was seen in the Draft Riot was accurate
-The scene CLEARLY shows African-Americans being targeted, lynched, attacked, etc
-The scene clearly shows the rich being targeted as well
-The Colored Orphans Asylum was attacked and burned down
-The Army did fire into and kill rioters
-The Navy did fire cannons into the city
-The Tribune Office was attacked
-The armory was attacked and destroyed
-The Police were attacked


So, yes, other than everything I have listed…you are right “this (movie) had almost NO fact in it whatsoever”. (sarcasm) There is plenty to learn from this film if you; 1. Understand that it is not a documentary and 2. Watch it in conjunction with reading the history or watching a good documentary…like the one that comes with the DVD called “Uncovering the Real Gangs of New York” done by the Discovery Channel. It’s on You Tube.

In reply to the OP... your concluded that the movie was a complete waste of time because it taught you nothing about history...

Perhaps you would be happier watching Documentaries? Or reading textbooks?

Whatever your complaints are (and they ARE valid), I don't think they matter.

This movie never got the kind of attention that invites ongoing discussion/discourse.

It doesn't merit it.

Despite all the attention to historic detail and the cast, it is nothing more than a valiant attempt at a historic epic.

That said - I had such high hopes for this film. Honestly, I thought it was "foolproof" with its focus on a little-known but certainly significant phase of New York City history.

BOY WAS I WRONG!

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

It is NOT a documentary, it is a movie for entertainment!!!

The Irish have never been chummy with any blacks,anywhere.Why did Scorsese
have all these black people hanging about the Irish?It is/was an insult to yours
truly...an Irish Catholic and an historic joke.
Were there Irish Catholics with Martin Luther King.....NO.
What about the Sicilians/Italians...no way.
I am suffrering from "Negro Fatigue,"and you?

I never took it as a documentary.

Its that man again!!