Wow!!!! {^) I am of Whitey Northern European Celt and Pioneer-vintage California Mongrel (with a little bit of Mexican tossed in for good luck) extraction, so your grandparents' circle would be pretty exciting for me!
The movie I put off watching for YEARS and wish I hadn't because it is such a friggin' GOOD movie, is Goodfellas. I liked it even better than the Godfather!
The Goodfellas was based on actual folks, of course, but you can trace historical events throughout the GF. Senate hearings, mob moving base to Nevada, Cuba, Vatican bank scandal etc.