independent film   based on novel   1920s   stabbing   ethnic slur   mob hit   film within a film   face slap   corpse   new york city   irish american   gangster   singing   organized crime   mafia   manhattan new york city   dance   racial slur   1930s   racism   african american   garbage   nudity   controversy   jazz   california   box office flop   band   vietnam vet   drive by shooting   black american   ethnic hatred   practical joke   mob boss   racial prejudice   racist   tap dancing   racial relations   musician   orchestra   harlem manhattan new york city   reference to oprah winfrey   dead boy   politician   grand central station manhattan new york city   garbage truck   surfer   pizza delivery   dead children   flapper   brat pack   biracial   buddy comedy   racial segregation   double child murder   pellet gun   phrenology   cotton club manhattan new york city   cultural assimilation   dutch schultz   light skinned black   gang war   violence   singer   song   hitman   police