A Bronx Tale
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A Bronx Tale (1993) is a movie 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, and based upon his childhood.
The movies opens in 1960 with Lorenzo Agnello's (Robert De Niro) son Calogero (Francis Capra) witnessing a murder committed by the local Mafia boss, Sonny (Chazz Palminteri). When Calogero chooses to cover up the murder, Sonny takes a liking to him. Calogero starts visiting Sonny and his posse almost every day, much to the dismay of his father. 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 an African American girl, and has 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 an African American neighborhood.
A Bronx Tale is generally ranked with other great films of the Mafia film genre. It contains several violent scenes, including the attack on the African American boys bike riding through Calogero's Italian neighborhood, an attack on a biker gang to the tune of 'Come Together', and Calogero's friends' tragically botched incursion into the African American 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 the Bronx. 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.
Cast and roles include
- Robert De Niro - Lorenzo Agnello
- Chazz Palminteri - Sonny LoSpecchio
- Lillo Brancato - Calogero "C" Agnello
- Francis Capra - Calogero Agnello age 9
- Joe Pesci - Carmine
- Taral Hicks - Jane Williams
- Katherine Narducci - Rosina Agnello
- Clem Caserta - Jimmy Whispers
- Alfred Sauchelli Jr. - Bobby Bars
- Frank Pietrangolare - Danny K.O
- Joe D'Onofrio - "Slick" Aldo
- Robert D'Andrea - Tony Toupee
- Eddie Montanaro - Eddie Mush
- Fred Fischer - JoJo the Whale
- Dave Salerno - Frankie Coffeecake