Acclaimed actor and producer Anthony LaPaglia embarks on a riveting journey into the murky depths of organised crime in the new ABC series “The Black Hand.”
The first episode airs on Tuesday, 27 June at 8:30 pm on ABC and iview.
In this three-part series, Anthony LaPaglia reveals the chilling story of the Black Hand, an Italian organised crime syndicate that wreaked havoc among Italian Australians working in North Queensland’s cane fields during the harsh 1930s. The series delves into the trials faced by an Australian Italian community who lived under the shadow of extortion, arson, kidnapping, chaos, and murder.
Set against a backdrop of economic hardship, extreme politics, the impending war, and the mafia, this historical documentary showcases the Italian community’s resilience in Queensland. As they battled old-world traditions, they seized the opportunity to prosper in a new land.
The series follows LaPaglia’s personal journey from Queensland’s cane country to Calabria, Italy, as he seeks to understand the experiences of those who establish new lives in foreign lands. It explores the question: what aspects of the old country do immigrants carry with them, and what do they choose to abandon?
“The Black Hand” is a production by WildBear Entertainment for the ABC, with principal production funding from Screen Australia, in association with the ABC. The series has also received financial support from Screen NSW and Screen Queensland. The series is produced by Kate Pappas and Adam Grossetti, with Alan Erson, Michael Tear, and Anthony LaPaglia serving as executive producers. The ABC Factual Manager is Julie Hanna.
