It was in 1975 that Martin Scorsese finally met his idol, Michael Powell, and embarked upon a fifteen year friendship that would see Powell — one half of The Archers and the renowned British filmmaker behind such movies as The Red Shoes, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, and, most controversially, Peeping Tom — repeatedly offering invaluable advice and feedback to the American director.A perfect example: In 1988, after reading a new script of Scorsese’s entitled “Wise Guys,” Powell sent his friend the following enthusiastic letter and declared it “one of the best constructed scripts [he had] ever read.” That movie’s eventual title was Goodfellas. Powell sadly passed away in February of 1990, just months before the completed film’s theatrical release. Michael Powell to Martin Scorsese. Re: the script of Wise Guys (Goodfellas) is.gd/UK2ajI via @lettersofnote #screenplay — LaFamiliaFilm (@LaFamiliaFilm) November 15, 2012
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It was in 1975 that Martin Scorsese finally met his idol, Michael Powell, and embarked upon a fifteen year friendship that would see Powell — one half of The Archers and the renowned British filmmaker behind such movies as The Red Shoes, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, and, most controversially, Peeping Tom — repeatedly offering invaluable advice and feedback to the American director.

A perfect example: In 1988, after reading a new script of Scorsese’s entitled “Wise Guys,” Powell sent his friend the following enthusiastic letter and declared it “one of the best constructed scripts [he had] ever read.” That movie’s eventual title was Goodfellas. Powell sadly passed away in February of 1990, just months before the completed film’s theatrical release.

Source: lettersofnote.com

a-bittersweet-life: According to the real Henry Hill, whose life was the basis for the book and film, Joe Pesci’s portrayal of Tommy DeVito was 90% to 99% accurate, with one notable exception; the real Tommy DeVito was a massively built, strapping man. In a documentary entitled The Real Goodfella, which aired in the UK, Henry Hill claimed that Robert De Niro would phone him seven to eight times a day to discuss certain things about Jimmy’s character, such as how Jimmy would hold his cigarette, etc. After the premiere, Henry Hill went around and revealed his true identity. In response, the government kicked him out of the Federal Witness Protection Program.  Previously on Cinephilia & Beyond: Goodfellas
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a-bittersweet-life:

According to the real Henry Hill, whose life was the basis for the book and film, Joe Pesci’s portrayal of Tommy DeVito was 90% to 99% accurate, with one notable exception; the real Tommy DeVito was a massively built, strapping man.

In a documentary entitled The Real Goodfella, which aired in the UK, Henry Hill claimed that Robert De Niro would phone him seven to eight times a day to discuss certain things about Jimmy’s character, such as how Jimmy would hold his cigarette, etc.

After the premiere, Henry Hill went around and revealed his true identity. In response, the government kicked him out of the Federal Witness Protection Program. 

Previously on Cinephilia & Beyond: Goodfellas

Source: movie-poster-trivia

Martin Scorsese, Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro and Frank Vincent on the set of Goodfellas.
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Martin Scorsese, Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro and Frank Vincent on the set of Goodfellas.

(via lettertojane)

Source: jimmyconways

PBS American Masters documentary featuring profile of Martin Scorsese including behind-the-scenes material shot during GOODFELLAS production.

The legendary Steadicam shot in Goodfellas through the nightclub kitchen was a happy accident – Scorsese had been denied permission to go in the front way and had to improvise an alternative.  By now you’ve heard the news that former gangster-turned-mob informant Henry Hill passed away last Tuesday, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of moviegoers who’ve watched Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (itself based on the life of Henry Hill) and often wondered just how the guy managed to survive long enough to die at the age of 69 without being whacked by those he turned against. Clues to that mystery may be found in this documentary, called The Real Goodfella, which is one of the more fascinating docs on the real-life man behind the character Ray Liotta so memorably portrayed on screen. Featuring in-depth interviews with Hill, FBI agents, Martin Scorsese and more, the 47-minute doc uses dramatized reenactments to piece together what really happened versus what Scorsese chose to use for his film. You can watch the entire doc below, which dates back to 2006.  Interview with the real gangster behind GoodFellas, Henry Hill [PDF]. A Recipe For the Mouthwatering Prison Dinner From ‘Goodfellas’: 6 onions peeled and finely diced 75g Cotswold gold rapeseed oil or olive oil A teaspoon of salt 300g minced beef 300g minced pork shoulder 300g diced English rose veal flank 30g Cotswold gold rapeseed oil or olive oil 250g beef or brown chicken stock 10 cloves garlic peeled 100ml white wine 150g tomato puree 750g ripe vine tomatoes (chopped) or equivalent weight of quality chopped tinned tomatoes A pinch of salt Good grind of black pepper Just like the guys in Goodfellas, I like to serve this with a char grilled 34 day aged hanger steak cooked medium rare, a bottle of Chianti and good crunchy country bread ( to soak up all those wonderful juices and flavours).  Yes, indeed, The Godfather is masterful. The Sopranos? We never missed an episode. But you want to talk about a movie that leaves a mark? Twenty years after the release of GoodFellas, the good people behind it—Scorsese, Liotta, De Niro!—re-create the making of the truest, bloodiest, greatest gangster film of all time. Getting Made The Scorsese Way 
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The legendary Steadicam shot in Goodfellas through the nightclub kitchen was a happy accident – Scorsese had been denied permission to go in the front way and had to improvise an alternative. 

By now you’ve heard the news that former gangster-turned-mob informant Henry Hill passed away last Tuesday, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of moviegoers who’ve watched Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (itself based on the life of Henry Hill) and often wondered just how the guy managed to survive long enough to die at the age of 69 without being whacked by those he turned against. Clues to that mystery may be found in this documentary, called The Real Goodfella, which is one of the more fascinating docs on the real-life man behind the character Ray Liotta so memorably portrayed on screen. Featuring in-depth interviews with Hill, FBI agents, Martin Scorsese and more, the 47-minute doc uses dramatized reenactments to piece together what really happened versus what Scorsese chose to use for his film. You can watch the entire doc below, which dates back to 2006. 

Interview with the real gangster behind GoodFellas, Henry Hill [PDF].

A Recipe For the Mouthwatering Prison Dinner From ‘Goodfellas’:

6 onions peeled and finely diced
75g Cotswold gold rapeseed oil or olive oil
A teaspoon of salt
300g minced beef
300g minced pork shoulder
300g diced English rose veal flank
30g Cotswold gold rapeseed oil or olive oil
250g beef or brown chicken stock
10 cloves garlic peeled
100ml white wine
150g tomato puree
750g ripe vine tomatoes (chopped) or equivalent weight of quality chopped tinned tomatoes
A pinch of salt
Good grind of black pepper

Just like the guys in Goodfellas, I like to serve this with a char grilled 34 day aged hanger steak cooked medium rare, a bottle of Chianti and good crunchy country bread ( to soak up all those wonderful juices and flavours). 

Yes, indeed, The Godfather is masterful. The Sopranos? We never missed an episode. But you want to talk about a movie that leaves a mark? Twenty years after the release of GoodFellas, the good people behind it—Scorsese, Liotta, De Niro!—re-create the making of the truest, bloodiest, greatest gangster film of all time.

Getting Made The Scorsese Way 

‘The Real Goodfella,’ a Doc About Former Gangster Henry Hill

By now you’ve heard the news that former gangster-turned-mob informant Henry Hill passed away last Tuesday, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of moviegoers who’ve watched Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (itself based on the life of Henry Hill) and often wondered just how the guy managed to survive long enough to die at the age of 69 without being whacked by those he turned against. Clues to that mystery may be found in this documentary, called The Real Goodfella, which is one of the more fascinating docs on the real-life man behind the character Ray Liotta so memorably portrayed on screen.

 Featuring in-depth interviews with Hill, FBI agents, Martin Scorsese and more, the 47-minute doc uses dramatized reenactments to piece together what really happened versus what Scorsese chose to use for his film. You can watch the entire doc below, which dates back to 2006. 

 

Interview with the real gangster behind GoodFellas, Henry Hill [PDF]

Source: movies.com

The legendary Steadicam shot in Goodfellas through the nightclub kitchen was a happy accident – Scorsese had been denied permission to go in the front way and had to improvise an alternative.

Source: reddit.com