Goodfellas
A couple of prospect and succession from Martin Scorsese’sGoodfellashave become classic , among those the “ take on the crew ” scene , which has an interesting connection to a classic movie . Based on the bookWiseguyby Nicholas Pileggi , Goodfellaschroniclesthe life of Henry Hill(Ray Liotta ) , from his days as a teenager running errands for Paul Cicero ( Paul Sorvino ) and his crew to his full engagement with the Lucchese offense family and his determination to become an FBI informant and infix the attestator security program years afterward . During his time in the mob , Henry became familiarise with some of the biggest name in the mob , and he was particularly close-fitting to Jimmy “ The Gent ” Conway ( Robert De Niro ) and Tommy DeVito ( Joe Pesci ) .
Goodfellasis narrated by Henry , and Scorsese made sure that the consultation was fully immersed in the mob ’s lifestyle , and he achieve so through some of the full scene and sequences in the movie , as werethe Copacabana one - shotand the “ meet the crew ” scene . The latter , set in the Bamboo Lounge , introduce Paulie ’s crowd as the camera goes around the place with Henry explaining to the consultation who each mobster is and , in some cases , with a quick explanation of their nicknames or link to other notable name in the family . However , there ’s a deep signification to this scene as it ’s a homage to the gap vista of Federico Fellini’sI Vitelloni .
Related : Goodfellas : What Being A Made Man Means ( & Why Henry Hill Ca n’t Be One )
How Goodfellas References Fellini’s “I Vitelloni”
It ’s not unusual for manager to pay tribute to other movies and movie maker in their works , and there are many ways in which they can do so . In Scorsese ’s case , inGoodfellashe pay court to one of Fellini ’s works : the 1953 comedy - drama movieI Vitelloni , wich narrate the story of five young friends – Moraldo ( Franco Interlenghi ) , Alberto ( Alberto Sodi ) , Fausto ( Franco Fabrizi ) , Leopoldo ( Leopoldo Trieste ) , and Riccardo ( Riccardo Fellini ) – at crucial turn point in their small township lives . I Vitelloniis a survey of virile friendship and the decisions every young adult has to take as they find their way in life .
I Vitelloniopens with a sequence where the television camera goes around a eating place while Fausto introduces his friends , with a abbreviated verbal description or remark about each of them , though none of theminteract with the camera as inGoodfellas . Federico Fellini ’s chronological sequence is shorter as it insert fewer persona than Scorsese did , but both are about groups of men who share warm bonds , though inGoodfellas ’ case , these could be separate beyond repair with fateful consequences , and the friendships in Fellini ’s movie are much more genuine . This is n’t the only influenceI Vitellonihad on Scorsese , as it ’s also one of the inspirations behind his 1973 movieMean Streets .
Other Classic Movies Referenced In Goodfellas
Fellini’sI Vitelloniisn’t the only definitive movie cite inGoodfellas . The scene where Tommy pip Spider ( Michael Imperioli ) on the foot to make him dance is a reference to the 1939 WesternThe Oklahoma Kid(which is even refer in the scene by one of the mobsters playing calling card with Tommy ) , Scorsese also used the famous “ Vertigo barb ” made democratic by Alfred Hitchcock’sVertigoin the diner scene with Jimmy and Henry in the third routine ofGoodfellas , and , of course , Tommy ’s last scene where he shoots at the camerais a homage to the Hellenic Western brusk filmThe Great Train Robbery . However , out of all these , the ones that go beyond being references and homage are theI VitelloniandThe Great Train Robberyscenes , with the first one linked to the family relationship between the characters and the latter linked to the consequences of the crimes of the characters .
Next : Goodfellas : The True Story Behind Joe Pesci ’s " Funny How " Scene
