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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 25 general entries.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Donnie Brasco
Joseph Pistone.. Organized crime was rampant in this area of Brooklyn, and the FBI needed to put in a mole. Mafia “turncoats” were not able to provide them with enough incriminating evidence to put these criminals away. They needed someone on the inside, someone who would win the trust and respect of the bosses. Agent Pistone was the man chosen. Only no one, least of all Pistone himself, realized how close to it he would get.
Mike Newel. British.. This wonderfully diversified, British-born director traveled throughout Brooklyn during the filming of this movie. He frequented well known gangland hangouts to pick up pointers for this masterpiece on the workings of organized crime.
| When the film first opens, Lefty and Nicky, were arguing about the quality of two specific automobiles. Paulie and Sonny “Black” interjected comments. What was the make of the cars they were arguing about? | A Friend of Yours - Part I, "Donnie Brasco"
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a Cadillac and a Lincoln Continental.. Lefty was a gambler and was in debt to loan sharks for large sums of money. Anyone who owed out large sums in gambling debts did not get the respect of the other men in their group. They therefore, overlooked this aging wiseguy, and regarded him as a loser. He hung out with them, and argued points on unimportant subjects like women and cars. When it came to important plans of action, he was left out. The men would tease him but while they did this, they overlooked one important thing - the fabric that Lefty was made of. He was from the old school of mob thinking. The one that was about loyalty and respect, and that is what he was all about. Donnie Brasco came into his life at his most vulnerable time...he needed a friend and he found one.
Huge, amber tinted eyeglasses.. This fantastic method actor cannot be outdone in his “feel” for the character and its portrayal. Al Pacino became Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero. As in his portrayal of "Tony Montana", the opposing forces of bravado vs. senitivity, endears this character. Al Pacino is a master of his craft, no question about it. He showed this contradiction in the character of Tony Montana. Bravo!
Don the Jeweler.. Donnie Brasco infiltrated the inner circle of gangsters, masquerading as a jeweler. Lefty immediately put his expertise to the test by trying to sell him a diamond ring that he'd received in payment for a loan. Donnie told him it was a fake and then Lefty tested him once again. He took Donnie along to confront the debtor with the truth.
| When Donnie went to Lefty’s apartment to wish Lefty and his family Happy Holidays, he was invited to stay for Christmas dinner. Lefty was doing the cooking. What was he making for dinner? | A Friend of Yours - Part I, "Donnie Brasco"
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Coq au Vin.. As far as Lefty knew, Donnie Brasco was an orphan with a girlfriend in California. Lefty didn’t want anyone to be alone on Christmas. In reality there were a wife and three daughters waiting for him to come home in New Jersey, with Christmas dinner waiting. He didn’t get home for it. The stop at Lefty’s apartment, made that impossible - he was now Lefty’s guest for Christmas dinner. And so it went throughout Donnie’s involvement with these men; his wife and daughters were kept waiting and longing, as if they did not exist. In this new world in which he now lived, they didn’t. For their own protection and his, they couldn’t.
The big boss was killed.. This was how things worked. Sometimes, you were “sent for”. One minute you were here, and the next you were not. Your best friend was usually was the one who did it, and then sent the largest floral arrangement. The big boss was dead and Sonny B. got “upped”. Sonny B. sent for Lefty and gave him a gift of a live lion to celebrate his new position. Sonny B. knew Lefty loved animals. Lefty had 26 hits under his belt and he got a lion, while Sonny B. gets “upped”. He complained to Donnie, who listened as any friend would, to the aging wise guy who was fast becoming his probable source of promotion within the FBI. But he was also becoming a friend.
the wood. Lefty felt that Donnie was trying to make a good impression on Sonny “Black”, by bringing up business opportunities in Florida, because he said he'd originated from there. Donnie said he was just stating the facts way he saw them. They had friendly arguments about it, while driving around in the car. Lefty felt completely responsible for anything Donnie did. Now Lefty was his sponsor, because he brought Donnie into the fold. Accomplishments as well as mistakes, which Lefty was concerned about, would come down on him before on Donnie.
“This is a friend of ours”.. Donnie Brasco had to report to the Bureau, to tell them of his progress, and give them the tapes that he had recorded so far. He kept his recorder in his boot. The agent in charge of the operation, told Donnie that the Bureau requested he shave his mustache. They laughed together as Donnie told him that Lefty, requested he do the same.
Rusty.. Now that Sonny Black was under Rusty, he had to answer to him each week to the tune of $50,000, no excuses. The pressure was on for his boys to start earning heavy. Sonny Black was very eager to hear Donnie's suggestion about Florida, maybe it was a new frontier for them.
Remove their shoes.. Donnie’s kept his tape recorder in the top of his boot. Had he removed his shoes, at this restaurant, his cover would have been blown. He thought quickly and used the excuse of his father being killed by Japanese during the war. What followed was the terrible beating of the Maitre D’. He witnessed it and it made him sick but he could not intervene.
King’s Court.. Lefty went along with Donnie to investigate this club, and discovered himself dreaming out loud about finally being able to have a “warm piece of the sidewalk”, so he could reap the rewards of his past with the mob. He was always there, for everyone, but was realizing that he was never considered to be anything valuable to any of them. Donnie was his only true friend. He loved him. Maybe they could swing this, together, just the two of them.
Santo Trafficante.. Donnie was able to get a boat that was used by the FBI in a sting operation involving Middle Eastern criminals. During their party, on “The Left Hand”, Lefty realized that he was really cast on the side, not being invited to any of the meetings that were taking place with Trafficante and Sonny Black. He also suspected that Donnie turned on him and told Sonny B. about the King’s Court.
| What is the reason Donnie Brasco wants his wife, Maggie, to place the phone on her pillow? | Donnie Brasco
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He wants to hear her breathe.. This is the first time we hear from Maggie (Anne Heche) in the movie; she is obviously asleep. Joe Pistone is undercover in the mob as Donnie Brasco. Through a pay phone, in the middle of the night is one of the only ways that Joe can communicate with Maggie.
| Throughout the movie we see that Joe Pistone is wearing a tape recorder and microphone. Where did he wear the wire? | Donnie Brasco
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Right Calf. The wire is used to record all of Joe's conversations with the gang of criminals that he has infiltrated. We see Joe pull the microphone and tape recorder from his right boot after the incident in the restaurant bathroom. He then doctors the tape so that his involvement in the restaurant beating will not look bad to the FBI.
| Sonny Red, who is played by Robert Miano, has a son in the movie. What is his name? | Donnie Brasco
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Bruno. We hardly see Bruno in the movie, but he is talked about frequently. Towards the end of the movie Donnie and Lefty receive the contract to kill Bruno, due to his involvement with what is left of the Little Italy Crew. As they approach the house-boat, where Bruno is hiding out after his dad's murder, the FBI raids and places Donnie and Lefty under arrest.
washing dishes. We first hear from Maggie while she talks on the phone to Joe Pistone. We do not actually see Maggie until later, on Christmas Day. Maggie is upset because Joe was out of the house on Christmas day, and he did not play Santa Clause for the kids. For the better part of the operation, Joe spends Christmas with Lefty's family instead of his own.
| What does Nicky use to beat the Japanese man in the restaurant bathroom? | Donnie Brasco
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his shoe. The Japanese man is very adament that all of the men to take off their shoes. Donnie cannot take off his boot in the restaurant because that is where his tape recorder is hidden. In order not to break his cover, Joe finally convices the others not to remove their shoes. This really makes the Japanese man upset. The crew, including Donnie, drag the poor guy into the bathroom, at which point you can see the loafer in Nicky's hand. During the beating you can see Nicky hitting the man on the head with it.
| What are the three 'perks' offered by the Seven Seas Motel? | Donnie Brasco
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Kitchens, DD Phones, Kingbed. The sign can be seen as Donnie knocks on the FBI's motel room door. We also see Nicky pull in under the sign. He is drug trafficking in another room This activity ultimately leads to his death.
| What brand of beer are the FBI agents drinking while they are listening to Joe Pistone's audio reels in the motel room? | Donnie Brasco
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Budweiser. Joe Pistone uses his beer to cool his head down. One of the other agent's beer overflows on the floor. They discuss the meaning of the now famous "forget about it." In the movie the statement "forget about it" has many different meanings which Joe Pistone explains to the FBI agents.
"Sometimes it just means forget about it." - Joe Pistone
| Who is the first person we see handcuffed in the movie? | Donnie Brasco
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Donnie Brasco. The entire crew is arrested during the raid of the Kings Court. Donnie is thrown on the car and handcuffed next to the caged lion. The whole bust is a set up by Sonny Red and the boss of Florida, Santo Trafficante, played by Val Avery.
| Who is the first wiseguy out of the Brooklyn crew to get 'whacked' in front of us? | Donnie Brasco
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Nicky. After the Brooklyn crew takes care of Sonny Red and his Little Italy crew in the basement, Lefty shoots Nicky twice in the head. Nicky was involved in drugs while they were in Florida and he didn't share the wealth.
| According to the therapist what are Joe's intimacy days? | Donnie Brasco
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Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Maggie takes Joe to the therapist in an attempt to save their marriage. The intimacy days are set for both Joe and Maggie. They can make intimate requests on these days, for example, 'rub my back.' Joe is unimpressed by the therapist's ideas, and this drives Maggie even further from him.
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