Isabella (28 Mar. 1999)

The stress Tony is going through begins to take its toll, and the hit Junior has ordered doesn't help.

Director:

Allen Coulter

Writers:

David Chase (creator), Robin Green,

Stars:

James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
James Gandolfini	...	Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco	...	Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco	...	Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli	...	Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese	...	Junior Soprano
Vincent Pastore	...	Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero (credit only)
Steven Van Zandt	...	Silvio Dante
Tony Sirico	...	Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri
Robert Iler	...	A.J. Soprano
Jamie-Lynn Sigler	...	Meadow Soprano
Nancy Marchand	...	Livia Soprano
Maria Grazia Cucinotta	...	Isabella
Al Sapienza	...	Mikey Palmice
Paul Schulze	...	Father Phil Intintola
Matt Servitto	...	Agent Dwight Harris

Storyline

Tony is highly depressed and can hardly get himself out of bed in the morning leading Dr. Melfi to add to his medication. He practically lives in his bathrobe and the only ray of sunshine is the beautiful and voluptuous Italian dentistry student house-sitting for his next door neighbors, the Cusamanos. He later realizes that the beautiful woman next door is not really as she appeared to be. He drags himself to his sessions with Melfi and it's after one of these that Uncle Junior's less than capable hit men may their try against Tony. He survives and for public consumption, Tony tells the police it was an attempted car-jacking. The attempted hit seems to invigorate Tony who is pretty sure he knows who was behind it all. All he needs is proof to start settling accounts.

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Plot Keywords:

gangster

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 1999 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Silvercup Studios - 4222 22nd Street, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brad Grey Television, Chase Films, Soprano Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Just before the attempt on his life, Tony buys orange juice. In The Godfather, Vito Corleone buys oranges before the attempt on his life.

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Goofs

After the hitman, William Clayborn, fires a shot at Tony and the bullet breaks the orange juice bottle, some dangling wires from the squib used to break the bottle can be seen briefly behind it.

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Quotes

Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: I'm like King Midas in reverse. Everything I touch turns to shit.

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Soundtracks

"Milonga Del Angel"
by Al Di Meola

User Reviews

It's a hit!

Tony spots a beautiful young woman next door named Isabella, a student who is staying at the Cusamano's house while they are away. Tony eventually takes her out for coffee, and her description of her native town sends the poor, stressed-out guy off into la-la-land, where he pictures Isabella sitting in a rocking chair with a small baby in her arms. The look she momentarily gives the camera is as enigmatic as Mona Lisa's smile. Or maybe Tony's mother's. Carmela discovers Tony's new interest and reads him the riot act. Later, he will discover things are not necessarily what they seem. Meanwhile, Junior's hit on Tony (triggered by Tony's indelicate remarks about Junior being a tuna eater) comes to fruition. The episode at times has a dream-like, elegiac quality and proves once again that this series can do anything it wants, thanks to smart writing and high production values.