I just watched A Bronx Tale, I liked it! It made me sad at the end when Sonny died. That was so sad!

JIMMY WHISPERS COMPLETE

Although set in Little Italy, the bulk of the film was shot here on Staten Island
By MIKE AZZARA
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

Staten Islanders who see the soon-to-be-released "Jimmy Whispers Returns to Mulberry Street" are certain to see familiar faces and places on the screen.

Clem Caserta, the actor who became a filmmaker to fulfill a dream, loaded the cast with Islanders and shot most of the film in the borough. One non-Islander among the leading players is Ricky Aiello, son of actor Danny Aiello who recently became part of the effort to create film studios at the former Stapleton home port.

Among the Islanders in the cast are Bob Adamo, who also served as associate producer, as Lenny the Limp; Vito Picone, who doubled as music supervisor, as Sally Baba; and the renowned martial arts instructor, Grandmaster Jhong Uhk Kim, as Lom Cheng.

Caserta took type-casting to new heights when he handed the role of a New York City detective to Mike Dacey, a New York City detective.

Caserta, who completed shooting on the low-budget independent film in a matter of weeks, is fast-tracking the post-production process too. He estimates that the film will have its premiere within six months, maybe a lot less.

The Eltingville actor began envisioning this movie even as he was playing Jimmy Whispers in the 1993 Robert De Niro-Chazz Palminteri film, "A Bronx Tale." But Caserta emphasizes that his film is not a sequel to "A Bronx Tale," which was directed by De Niro and written by Palminteri, based on his own childhood experiences.

While there are references to the earlier film, the only strong connection is the Jimmy Whispers character. "Jimmy Whispers Returns to Mulberry Street" picks up the story after Caserta's character has taken over the Palminteri (Sonny) character's illegal operations and moved to Staten Island.

Although most of the locations are on the Island -- Angelina's Restaurant, Annadale, perhaps the most prominent -- the plot focuses on Jimmy's ties to his native Little Italy. Incidentally, Angela Malerba, owner of Angelina's, makes an appearance in the picture.

In addition to his favorite restaurant, Caserta used Vincenzo's Pork Store, Rossville, which, he said, makes his favorite sandwich -- prosciutto and mozzarella with roasted peppers.

"The sandwich," Caserta said, "is one of the stars of the film." In the scene in the pork store, Caserta's 5-year-old son, "Little Jimmy," and the owner's twin sons make their screen debuts.

The actor, who wrote, produced and directed, also used his favorite Chinese restaurant, the Yes Buffet, Travis, in the film. "So many people and businesses of Staten Island helped to make this dream a reality," Caserta said.

Sunset Pizzeria, Rossville, is the location for a big fight scene and Canlon's Restaurant, Oakwood, is a family restaurant in another scene. The Lion's Lair, Stapleton, became a teen disco and a headquarters for a Chinese gang. When the tavern was damaged by fire, Caserta wrote it into the script and the Lion's Lair is seen before and after the blaze.

If you frequent the South Shore Country Club, Huguenot, you may recognize one of the bouncers in Jimmy Whispers' after-hours joint. He's played by big George Abel, banquet manager-turned-actor for the occasion.

Caserta said he received the cooperation of the Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting, the borough president's office and the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility in the film's production.

He said the film has been nine years in the making and acknowledges influences from several other films. He is not shy about mentioning them: "Mean Streets," "The Untouchables," "Analyze This," "The Godfather," and, of course, "A Bronx Tale."

Caserta said he expects audiences will find it "funny, tough and dramatic." And in a complete departure for films of this genre, there is absolutely no profanity in the dialogue, nobody gets killed and Italian-Americans are portrayed in a far more positive way than they are in most mobster films and TV shows such as "The Sopranos."

Although shot on Staten Island, much of the action focuses on Little Italy, where Caserta -- and Jimmy Whispers -- grew up. In the film, Jimmy, a man with a conscience despite the fact that he makes his living off illegal gambling, doesn't like what's happening in his old neighborhood and he is determined to do something about it.

What doesn't he like and what does he do about it?

For the answers, you'll have to see the film.

Jade, I know that you're relatively new to this board, so I'm just gonna let you know that you should give a SPOILER WARNING whenever you're gonna give away the ending to a movie like that, just in case someone hasn't seen the movie yet. Luckily I have already seen Bronx Tale, but if I was someone who was thinking about seeing it and I saw a subject heading of "Bronx Tale," I would check it out. Then the very first thing you write is who dies at the end. I'd probably be pretty upset with whoever posted that.

Your heading should have read something like:
Bronx Tale SPOILER WARNING!

OK!

fuck I havent seen the movie yet and Im not kidding...

I thought it was a pretty good flick, right up there with Donnie Brasco, but not quite up to Goodfellas/Scarface/Godfather status. However, I did think DeNiro's first attempt at director via this movie was noteworthy.

I changed the name of the post.

I thought it was a really good movie. Definately worth watching. Spoiler:
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I liked Joe Pesci's cameo at the end.

No profanity in a mob movie? What the f*ck?

question is.... why spoil at all tho?