The Man Who Exposed The Mob: "The Valachi Papers"
The 1972 film The Valachi Papers starring Charles Bronson depicts the life and times of mafia turncoat Joe Valachi
Background
In 1963, a member of New York’s Genovese crime family named Joseph Valachi made a stunning decision. Valachi testified before a Senate hearing on organized crime headed by Arkansas Senator John McClellan.
It was the first time that a member of the American mafia had openly discussed or acknowledged the existence of the organization. Valachi proved to be a wealth of information. He named names and provided a detailed description of the organization's structure, members, and inner workings.
Having become a made man in 1930, Valachi possessed decades of knowledge and information that had previously been unknown to the authorities. Portions of the hearings were televised, giving the American public a glimpse into a shadowy and secretive world.
