11 Little-Known Details About A Bronx Tale

Released on September 29, 1993, by the now-closed Savoy Pictures, the crime drama A Bronx Tale features Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri. The film originated from Palminteri’s one-man show, which debuted in Los Angeles in 1989 and later Off-Broadway that same year. Palminteri penned the screenplay and secured a role in the movie, while De Niro took the opportunity to step into the director’s chair for the first time.

Set in the 1960s Bronx, the story follows Calogero “C” Anello, a young boy who observes a mob boss, Sonny (Palminteri), commit a murder. As Calogero matures, he finds himself torn between Sonny’s influence and the moral guidance of his father (De Niro). Drawing from Palminteri’s real-life experiences (he indeed witnessed a murder), this semi-autobiographical film earned $17.2 million on a $10 million budget.

In 2007, Palminteri revived the play on Broadway, and by 2016, A Bronx Tale: The Musical premiered on the same stage. Palminteri authored the book, while De Niro co-directed alongside Jerry Zaks. The musical concluded its 700-show run on August 5, 2018, though it continues to tour. In honor of the film’s 25th anniversary, here are 11 fascinating facts about A Bronx Tale.

1. A NEGATIVE INCIDENT AS A BOUNCER MOTIVATED CHAZZ PALMINTERI TO CREATE THE PLAY.

During his time in Los Angeles pursuing an acting career in the 1980s, Palminteri took on various jobs, including working as a nightclub bouncer. “One evening, a rude individual attempted to enter the club,” Palminteri shared with The A.V. Club. “I refused him entry, and he angrily claimed I’d be fired within 15 minutes. I dismissed his threat, but it turned out he was Swifty Lazar, the world’s top agent at the time—this was 1989—and true to his word, I was fired shortly after.”

Returning home, Palminteri reflected on his situation. “I realized that if no one was going to offer me a significant role—and breaking into films was undeniably tough—I would create my own opportunity.” He began writing the play piece by piece, performing new segments weekly at Theatre West in Los Angeles. “I refined and polished it over time,” he explained. “After about 10 months to a year, I had a complete 90-minute one-man show.”

2. PALMINTERI INSISTED ON PLAYING SONNY AS A CONDITION TO SELL THE FILM RIGHTS.

Palminteri's play generated significant attention, leading studios to offer between $250,000 and $1 million for the story rights. However, they were reluctant to cast Palminteri, as he wasn’t a well-known actor. De Niro, after seeing the play, decided to support Palminteri. “Initially, I wanted a clean slate for the film adaptation, but I enjoyed the play and admired Chazz,” De Niro told Interview Magazine. “While he was drafting the screenplay, I advised him, ‘If you sell it to a studio, they’ll pay you but assign the role of Sonny to someone else. If you let me handle it, I’ll ensure you’re cast, and we’ll maintain creative control without interference from producers. I wanted to avoid unnecessary complications and stay true to the vision.’

3. PALMINTERI AIMED TO CREATE A FILM CELEBRATING “THE WORKING MAN.”

In reality, Palminteri’s father worked as a school bus driver and played the saxophone. “Many films stereotype us as mobsters or gangsters,” Palminteri told Roger Ebert. “I wanted to highlight the working-class Italian-American community. My father, much like Lorenzo in the film, would wake up early, put on his boots, and drive the bus in all weather conditions, all to provide a better life for his family. To me, such men are true heroes, and I wanted the film to honor their sacrifices.”

4. ROBERT DE NIRO SOUGHT TO CAST LOCAL KIDS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

For the film’s casting, De Niro preferred non-actors from New York. “Marco Greco, our casting director, spotted a kid at Jones Beach and asked if he’d like to audition,” De Niro told Roger Ebert. “The kid replied, ‘You’re not looking for me—you’re looking for my brother.’ His brother, Lillo Brancato, emerged from the water and began impersonating me and Joe Pesci from Goodfellas. He was fantastic and ideal for the role of C. I love working with fresh talent who naturally fit the part. To recreate the Bronx’s authentic atmosphere, I needed real teenagers, not actors pretending to be teens.”

5. DE NIRO CAUTIONED LILLO BRANCATO ABOUT THE PITFALLS OF FAME.

Shortly after the movie’s debut, Brancato gained popularity, even landing a role in the second season of The Sopranos. However, his on-screen father, De Niro, cautioned him about the risks of fame. “De Niro visited my home in the spring or summer of 1993 to warn not just me but also my parents,” Brancato told People. “As Italian immigrants, my parents were unfamiliar with the entertainment industry and its temptations. De Niro explained how my life would change and emphasized the dangers if I didn’t handle it properly.”

Sadly, Brancato ignored De Niro’s advice and was later sentenced to eight years of a 10-year prison term after a 2005 attempted burglary resulted in the death of a New York City police officer. Brancato was convicted of attempted burglary but cleared of murder charges. His accomplice, however, was found guilty of murder and received a life sentence without parole.

6. DE NIRO SOUGHT DIRECTING GUIDANCE FROM MARTIN SCORSESE.

Since it was De Niro’s directorial debut, he sought advice from his frequent collaborator, Martin Scorsese. “I asked him about specific techniques and approaches,” De Niro told Interview Magazine. “I also consulted other actor-turned-directors like Danny DeVito. I felt confident but didn’t want to overthink it. Directing yourself isn’t overly stressful—it’s just a bit awkward because you have to focus on your performance while also guiding the rest of the cast.”

7. THE ACTUAL EDDIE MUSH PORTRAYED EDDIE MUSH IN THE FILM.

Eddie Mush, a gambler both on and off-screen, appears in a racetrack scene where he, Sonny, and Calogero bet on a horse named Kryptonite and lose. “We needed someone to play Bad Luck Eddie Mush, the character known for his jinx,” Palminteri told Roger Ebert. “After struggling to find the right actor, I suggested the real Eddie Montanaro, who was 63 at the time. De Niro met him and cast him, but I was concerned because Eddie truly has bad luck. Sure enough, on his first day of filming, it started to rain.”

8. DE NIRO AIMED TO BREAK FROM HIS TYPICAL ROLES.

In 1993, De Niro told Interview Magazine that casting himself in the film would help “get it off the ground more easily.” While he had already committed to giving Palminteri the role of Sonny, De Niro found the character of Lorenzo—Calogero’s father—more intriguing. “I hadn’t taken on a role like this before, and it felt fresh and unexpected. People would assume I’d play Sonny, but Lorenzo resonated with me because of my own experiences as a father. My son is around the same age as Lillo’s character.”

9. THE ROMANCE BETWEEN CALOGERO AND JANE NEARLY DIDN’T MAKE THE FINAL CUT.

A central plotline in the film revolves around Calogero’s relationship with Jane (Taral Hicks), a black girl from his neighborhood. De Niro told Interview Magazine that this subplot was nearly removed, but he insisted on keeping it. “Some argued that the father-son dynamic was strong enough on its own, which it was. However, I believed removing any element would diminish the story. Jane’s character adds an unexpected layer, and that’s precisely why I wanted to retain it. Their relationship unfolds quickly—they meet, fall in love, and boom!—it’s a complete arc.”

10. TOMMY MOTTOLA WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING THE MUSICAL TO LIFE.

The former chairman and CEO of Sony Music—also known as Mariah Carey’s ex-husband—played a key role in launching the musical. In an interview with The A.V. Club, Palminteri said it was Tommy Mottola, a Bronx native, who proposed turning the film into a Broadway production. (Mottola eventually produced it.) “I had been trying to make it happen for years, but Tommy was the one who took charge and made it a reality,” Palminteri explained. “Without him, it wouldn’t have happened. He backed his vision with action.”

11. PALMINTERI BELIEVES THE FILM EXPLORES THE CHOICE BETWEEN LOVE AND FEAR.

In a 2016 interview on The Today Show, Palminteri shared his thoughts on why the film and musical remain impactful. “The story highlights the divide between the black and Italian neighborhoods, but at its core, A Bronx Tale is about unity,” he said. “A central theme is the choice between love and fear. Sonny, who studied Machiavelli in prison, poses this question to the boy: ‘Do you choose love or fear?’ Ultimately, Sonny chooses love, and that’s why the story still resonates so strongly today.”