The Friends of Eddie Coyle

"It's a grubby, violent, dangerous world. But it's the only world they know. And they're the only friends Eddie has."

1973's The Friends of Eddie Coyle starring Robert Mitchum and a young Peter Boyle is the lost gem of Boston movies. Based on Rockland native and Boston-based federal prosecutor George V. Higgins's novel, this contemporary of Scorsese's Mean Streets features solid performances and a calculated plot involving Irish criminals and betrayal, making Eddie Coyle a fine precursor to 2006's Best Picture, The Departed.

Filming locations:

North Quincy Red Line station, the old Boston Garden, the Kentucky Tavern on the corner of Newbury and Mass Ave (now the Virgin Mega Store/Best Buy), the Sharon MBTA commuter rails stop, banks in Quincy and South Weymouth, Barbo's Furniture in Dedham, and Dorchester's Boston Bowl. Another piece of trivia: also appearing in this movie is Somerville's own Alex Rocco, a fomer small time hood who went on to play Moe Green in The Godfather.

Sadly, this movie has not been released on DVD, and to the best of my knowledge, it is not available on VHS; I've only seen this movie as a bootleg. However, no Boston movie collection is complete with out it.