Hollywood is no stranger to the romanticization of the mafia. With the gangster genre producing some of the industry’s most well-liked movies, it’s not hard to see how audiences’ perceptions of criminals and mob bosses have been easily influenced. While many notable films are based on fictitious accounts, A Bronx Tale was born from a real-life mobster shooting.

Famed actor and writer Chazz Palminteri shares how he drew inspiration from his encounters with the mafia growing up in order to write the beloved film. He takes a look at Hollywood’s portrayal of the mob in movies and discusses what the industry gets wrong when it comes to the mafia. Later, Chazz examines the values held by the mafia and breaks down the mob in its current state.

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