Question 1

How accurate was Joe Pesci's portrayal of Tommy DeSimone according to the real-life inspiration?

Accepted Answer

According to Henry Hill, Joe Pesci's portrayal was 90-99% accurate, with one notable exception: the real Tommy DeSimone was massively built.

Question 2

What unusual request did Robert De Niro make for the money-handing scene, and how was it handled?

Accepted Answer

Robert De Niro wanted to use real money because he didn't like how fake money felt. The prop master gave him $5,000 of his own money, and after each take, no one could leave until all money was returned and counted.

Question 3

What real-life incident inspired the 'How am I funny?' scene, and how was it filmed?

Accepted Answer

The scene is based on an incident where Joe Pesci told a mobster he was funny while working in a restaurant. Martin Scorsese included it without putting it in the shooting script to get genuine reactions from the cast.

Question 4

Which festivals has Goodfellas been featured in, according to the database?

Accepted Answer

It has been featured at the San Sebastián International Film Festival (2011), Tribeca Film Festival (2015), Göteborg Film Festival (2026), and Venice Film Festival (1990 and 2020).

Question 5

What is the true story behind Goodfellas as described in the synopsis?

Accepted Answer

It's the true story of Henry Hill, a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn kid adopted by neighborhood gangsters early on, who climbs the ranks of a Mafia family under Jimmy Conway's guidance.

Question 6

How accurate was Joe Pesci's portrayal of Tommy DeSimone according to the real Henry Hill?

Accepted Answer

According to Henry Hill, Joe Pesci's portrayal was 90-99% accurate, with one notable exception: the real Tommy DeSimone was massively built.

Question 7

Why did Robert De Niro use real money in the scene where Jimmy hands out cash?

Accepted Answer

Robert De Niro wanted to use real money because he didn't like how fake money felt. The prop master gave him $5,000 of his own money, and after each take, no one could leave until all money was returned and counted.

Question 8

What real-life incident inspired the 'How am I funny?' scene?

Accepted Answer

The scene is based on an incident where Joe Pesci told a mobster he was funny while working in a restaurant, receiving a less-than-enthusiastic response. Martin Scorsese included it without putting it in the script to get genuine reactions.

Question 9

What unusual authenticity measure involved hiring mobsters as extras?

Accepted Answer

Some mobsters were hired as extras to lend authenticity. They gave Warner Bros. fake Social Security numbers, and no one knows how they received their paychecks.

Question 10

What did Martin Scorsese tell Nicholas Pileggi when he first read 'Wiseguy'?

Accepted Answer

After reading the galley proofs of 'Wiseguy,' Scorsese cold-called Pileggi and said, 'I've been waiting for this book my entire life.' Pileggi replied, 'I've been waiting for this phone call my entire life.'

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Goodfellas

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