The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti
- Episode aired Feb 28, 1999
- TV-MA
- 49m
The FBI begins closing in on the DiMeo family. Tony and Carmela are angry over all the attention Italians get from the authorities, while Chris fumes that he's not getting enough attention.The FBI begins closing in on the DiMeo family. Tony and Carmela are angry over all the attention Italians get from the authorities, while Chris fumes that he's not getting enough attention.The FBI begins closing in on the DiMeo family. Tony and Carmela are angry over all the attention Italians get from the authorities, while Chris fumes that he's not getting enough attention.
- Jimmy Altieri
- (as Joe Badalucco Jr.)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaChristopher (Michael Imperioli) shoots a bakery clerk in the foot because he perceives him to be disrespectful. In Goodfellas (1990), Imperioli's character was shot in the foot for the very same reason. When the clerk cries loudly about his foot, Christopher says "it happens," likely as an inside joke referencing the film.
- GoofsThe FBI agents should be wearing gloves when searching the Soprano home.
- Quotes
Christopher Moltisanti: You ever feel like nothin' good was ever gonna happen to you?
Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri: Yeah. And nothin' did. So what? I'm alive, I'm survivin'.
Christopher Moltisanti: That's it. I don't wanna just survive. It's says in these movie writing books that every character has an arc. Understand?
Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri: [shakes head]
Christopher Moltisanti: Like everybody starts out somewheres. and they do something, something gets done to them and it changes their life. That's called an arc. Where's my arc?
- ConnectionsEdited into Making 'Cleaver' (2007)
- SoundtracksYou
Written by Dave Goddard and Larry Vannata
Performed by The Aquatones
During the wedding of Larry Boy's daughter, the capos discuss the matter of increasing FBI scrutiny that could lead to a crackdown. Junior naïve brushes it off, but Tony suggests that the mobsters get rid of anything incriminating. Though I enjoyed this scene very much, Junior's dialogue seemed very unrealistic to me. Yeah, I know they are showing us that he is an incompetent boss but the stuff he came out with just made it too obvious ("That was my next suggestion!"). Aside from that minor issue, The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti is the best episode of the show so far. It's the only episode that actually feels like it has a plot, and we feel the nervousness of the capos and the tension that the FBI are bringing the mob. That is until they show up at Tony's front back door and searching through the whole house. An argument with an Italian- American federal agent sparks an interesting discussion at dinner between Tony, Carmela and the kids. They talk about prejudice and going against your own people, the influence and importance of the Italians contrasting with the American school teachings (like Antonio Meucci inventing the telephone, contrary to the more popular believe that the creator was Alexander Bell) and some significant Italian/American events or people, such as the shameful Sacco and Vanzetti executions and, of course, Frank Sinatra. Being a British citizen of Pakistani decent (Pakistani and Italian culture is very similar), I can easily relate to the ideals of the Soprano family, and empathise with the confusion that Anthony Jr goes through in regards to his identity. Strange and disturbing dreams make a return, but this time it's Christopher in need of a psychiatrist. Of all the characters created for the show, he is by far the most cinematic. He loves movies, especially gangster flicks, is struggling with a doomed screenplay (we can all relate to that), and manages to execute violence in a casual way reminiscent of Scorsese and De Palma. Christopher's love of crime movies reflects our own. We too get "high off that popcorn smell at Blockbusters" just as this cinephile does. His screenplay, about a rising foot soldier and his conflicting loyalties with his bosses, is comparable to Christopher's own life, as longs to make it big both in Hollywood and in the crew. In all honesty it seems the guy just wants fame. He gets a little taste as he sees the name Christopher Moltisanti printed on a local paper in regards to a crime of some sorts, which causes Christopher to become hysterical with joy. This isn't before his raw desire for recognition causes him to shoot a rude but innocent bakery worker in the foot, similarly to what happens to Imperioli in Goodfellas. Tony, understandably with all the FBI hullabaloo, is not pleased, and Christopher receives an earful from Tony in a car conversation. What starts off as comical quickly turns to touching, as Tony realises that Chris has problems of his own, and does his best to help without revealing that he if fact sees a psychiatrist. Speaking of which, Livia has sure done it now. In telling Junior that Tony sees a shrink, she's caused all sorts of alarm bells to go off in the Boss's head. Is Tony cracking up? Is he talking to the feds? Who knows? It's ironic that Tony, the mafia underboss of New Jersey, complains that the media paints the Italian-American people as evil. This is a point that is emphasised at dinner with Dr Melfi and family, where her son points out that when people think of Italians, they think of mobsters. In addition, mob movies have become part of America's legacy. Jennifer's family discusses the negative press their people receive due to Italian gangsters, and toast themselves on being nothing of the sort. My Rating: 8/10
- The-Social-Introvert
- Oct 27, 2014
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Filming locations
- Detroit, Michigan, USA(Exterior shot of the apartment building that Christopher and Adriana live in, "The Manchester" is located on E Jefferson in Detroit, MI. You can google image search for The Manchester on E Jefferson and will see the building.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime49 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 1.78 : 1