A Bronx Tale (1993)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Robert De Niro

Writers (WGA):

Chazz Palminteri (play)
Chazz Palminteri (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 September 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

One man lives in the neighborhood, another man owns it. A devoted father battles the local crime boss for the life of his son.

Plot:

A father becomes worried when a local gangster befriends his son in the Bronx in the 1960s.

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Racist | 1960s | Bus | Bar

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Lorenzo Anello
Chazz Palminteri	...	Sonny LoSpecchio
Lillo Brancato	...	Calogero 'C' Anello (age 17)
Francis Capra	...	Calogero 'C' Anello (age 9)
Taral Hicks	...	Jane Williams
Kathrine Narducci	...	Rosina Anello
Clem Caserta	...	Jimmy Whispers
Alfred Sauchelli Jr.	...	Bobby Bars
Frank Pietrangolare	...	Danny K.O
Joe Pesci	...	Carmine
Robert D'Andrea	...	Tony Toupee
Eddie Montanaro	...	Eddie Mush
Fred Fischer	...	JoJo the Whale
Dave Salerno	...	Frankie Coffeecake
Joe D'Onofrio	...	Slick (Age 17)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and several scenes of violence.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Brazil:12 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2006) | UK:18 (original rating) (1993-2006) | Singapore:NC-16 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Price Entertainment

Trivia:

When Lorenzo and Calogero clean out the bus at City Island, a Wonderland advertisement can be seen on the bus.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After Coffee Cakes is brought to the bathroom, in one of the next shots you can still see that Coffee Cake's body from the waist down is still visible. In the left of the frame is his body and to the right is the brick wall. The clothing that Coffee Cakes is wearing gives it away that it is him.

Quotes:

Calogero 'C' Anello: [as C walks out of Sonny's funeral] Sonny and my father always said that when I get older I would understand. Well, I finally did. I learned something from these two men. I learned to give love and get love unconditionally. You just have to accept people for what they are, and I learned the greatest gift of all. The saddest thing in life is wasted talent, and the choices that you make will shape your life forever. But you can ask anybody from my neighborhood, and they'll just tell you this is just another Bronx tale.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Hillz (2004)

Soundtrack:

Tell It Like It Is

Vintage Robert DeNiro

The amount of brillance that Robert DeNiro puts into all of his performances is unmatched and he proves that he can also be a fine director by debuting in that field as well as starring in this 1993 Savoy release. DeNiro is top billed but you actually don't see very much of him. The film's major focus is that of a little boy named Calogero and his idol, a mobster named Sonny (Chazz Palminteri). Sonny owns the Bronx neighborhood where Calogero and his honest bus driver father Lorenzo (DeNiro) live. He also basically owns them. Sonny's heavy amount of power and wealth make him an intimidating force throughout the neighborhood but his mob gang make their fear of him look like complete respect. Sonny knows that he's feared and it just encourages him to keep trying to rise in power. Calogero grows up watching Sonny cavorting on the street with his gang and secretly imitating him much to Lorenzo's chagrin. Lorenzo wants the best life possible for Calogero and doesn't want to see him fall into a life of crime or looking up to crime figures. Calogero doesn't listen because he idolizes Sonny too much and his chance to get Sonny's attention comes when he witnesses Sonny fatally shoot a man. When Calogero is questioned by police, his loyalty comes before his conscience and he doesn't rat out Sonny's guilt in the shooting. Sonny strongly appreciates this and so he gives Calogero an easy money job serving drinks for his high rollers gang. As several years pass and Calogero nears the end of his childhood, he must learn to make the ultimate choice between his two "father" figures. Just like in "Goodfellas", a classic soundtrack and excellent period detail is evident here and this film stands out as yet another classic in the modern day organized crime film genre. Palminteri makes a strong film starring debut and DeNiro makes the very most of his rather small seeming part. Joe Pesci also appears briefly as another respected crime boss. An instant "new classic."