Everything about A Bronx Tale totally explained
A Bronx Tale is a
1993 film set in
New York City during the turbulent era of the 1960s. It was the directorial debut of
Robert De Niro, and follows a young man as his path in life is guided by two father figures, played by De Niro and
Chazz Palminteri. It also includes a brief appearance by
Joe Pesci. It was written by Palminteri, based partially upon his childhood.
A Bronx Tale is generally ranked with other great films of the Mafia film genre.
A Bronx Tale on DVD is
out of print, making it difficult to find.
Plot
The movie opens in
1960 with Lorenzo Anello's (
Robert De Niro) son Calogero (
Francis Capra) witnessing a murder committed by the local
Mafia boss, Sonny (
Chazz Palminteri). When Calogero chooses to keep quiet when questioned by police officers, Sonny takes a liking to him. Calogero starts visiting Sonny and his posse almost every day in the bar downstairs, much to the dismay of his father, a hard-working bus driver struggling to make ends meet. Eight years later, in 1968, Calogero (now played by
Lillo Brancato Jr.) has grown into a young man. He will eventually have to make the choice between his two mentors. He also pursues an
interracial relationship with a
Black girl named Jane Williams (
Taral Hicks), and he's to cope with this while being in the company of
racist friends who coincidentally attack the girl's brother and his friends, and who later plan to raid a Black neighborhood.
The film contains several violent scenes, including a savage beating of a
biker gang by the Mafia, and Calogero's friends' tragically botched incursion into the Black neighborhood.
Settings and filming locations
A Bronx Tale was filmed in three New York City neighborhoods. Though set entirely in the Bronx, only one of these locations was actually in that borough. The
Fordham neighborhood in which Calogero lives was actually filmed in
Astoria,
Queens; the
black neighborhood said to be on and around Webster Avenue was actually filmed at East 15th Street and Gravesend Neck Road in
Sheepshead Bay,
Brooklyn; finally, the scene set on the Bronx's
City Island was actually filmed in that location.
Sources
Palminteri adapted the screenplay from his
one-man show of the same name. The show had successful runs in
Los Angeles and
Off-Broadway. Palminteri wouldn't sell the rights to his story unless he could write the screenplay and was guaranteed the role of Sonny. At one point he was offered one million dollars, but refused because his conditions were not met. Later, De Niro saw the show and approached Palminteri. He said he knew about Palminteri refusing to sell the rights. For the rights he told Palminteri he'd act in the movie and meet Palminteri's conditions if he could direct. De Niro said he was good to his word with only a handshake from Palminteri.
Palminteri based the character of Calogero on himself; his real first name is Calogero. The
Lucchese crime family mobster
Louis Inglese a.k.a. "Gigi The Whale" was the inspiration for "Jo-Jo The Whale" in the film.
Further Information
Get more info on 'A Bronx Tale'.
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