But before that, the last really major international films made at Cinecitta were Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, shot way back in 2004, and Martin Scorsese's The Gangs of New York, which came out a decade ago.

BBC: Italy film industry: Battle on for Cinecitta studios

You also did the film "Gangs of New York, " which was the Irish immigrants.

NPR: Scorsese on the Immigrant Experience on Film

Alongside these new films, Sky Movies customers will also have exclusive access to Entertainment Film Distributors' world-class back catalogue containing a wide range of classic titles including Brokeback Mountain, The Departed, Gangs of New York, American Psycho and Ali.

ENGADGET: Sky Movies lands deal with Entertainment Film Distributors to stream top movies

"Chicago" director Rob Marshall and "Gangs of New York" director Martin Scorsese -- the latter winless now in four directing nominations -- were thought to be the front-runners.

CNN: 'Chicago' triumphs at Oscars

Kerry Hayden, a barber with London salon Atherton Cox who specializes in men's grooming and men's runway shows, says that the first real catwalk moment for men's beards was Alexander McQueen's "Gangs of New York"-inspired show in 2009.

WSJ: The Bearded Man

And so New York, while it had gangs, there were not anything of the magnitude or order or, for that matter, longevity of the cast of characters out here.

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