Chazz Palminteri Actor, Writer, Director By John Rizzo
“I coulda been a contender,” laments Terry, played by Marlon Brando, to Charlie, played by Rod Steiger, in Elia Kazan’s 1954 film classic, On the Waterfront. In this, the most poignant moment of the drama, we might well believe that “the saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” Now where have we heard that before? This bit of wisdom, of course, comes to us in the screenplay of A Bronx Tale (1993), by Chazz Palminteri, who got it from his father, who once trained fighters, maybe some like Terry Malloy. In a frank conversation with Amici Journal, Chazz Paliminteri reveals that it was On the Waterfront, more than any other movie, which inspired him to pursue an acting career. It certainly dramatized his father’s admonition about “wasted talent.” Chazz Palminteri definitely hasn’t wasted any talent. A professional singer for many years, he has been a successful stage, television and screen actor, a writer and director, and in so doing he has become a household name for anyone halfway familiar with the contemporary drama scene. A third generation Sicilian, Chazz’ grandparents emigrated to the States in the 1920s from the town of Menfi, near Agrigento. Artistically inclined at a young age Chazz (born with that ultra-Sicilian name, Calogero) “was blessed with incredible parents,” who fully supported their son’s theatrical aspirations. Making a living as a singer, he “studied acting at the same time. Sometimes,” he recalls, “I’d have to break off my studies when I had to go on the road.” Despite studying with Lee Strasburg at the legendary Actors Studio, he was unable to get that special break in the virtually unassailable New York theater scene. So in 1980 Chazz headed to California to make his fortune – as millions who have never been heard of, did before him. There he managed to land a couple of TV roles, one in Hill Street Blues, and a few bit parts in movies, including one in Sylvester Stallone’s insipid film, Oscar. And he probably could have gone on this way, at least carving out a small slice of a life that many would die for. But Chazz Palminteri was not satisfied. What he had inside him burned with such intensity that it could not be extinguished with a few minor roles, even if it were fairly steady work. Then what to do? How could he prove that he had what it took for the kind of recognition that all real creative artists crave? Chazz’ solution was to bare his naked soul to the scrutiny of everyone and make them see the genius that had been driving him for so long. Thus was conceived the one-man, 35-character play that was based on his early life called A Bronx Tale. The play, starring Chazz, was successful, first in L.A. and then in New York, and it was not long before offers from big time Hollywood studios for its film rights came rolling in. But it was not enough for Chazz to simply sell the rights, even if it made him rich and he would never have to work again. A true artist is just not motivated by money alone – he needs to create over and over again. So Chazz refused to sell the rights to his play to make a film unless he could write the screenplay and star in it. Sound familiar? This is almost the same situation as with Stallone and Rocky in the 70s. As a matter of fact, Stallone, who Chazz thinks “is one of the brightest and most savvy guys around,” was very encouraging. “He told me to stick to my guns,” remembers Chazz. But who knows what would have happened if Robert De Niro hadn’t seen the play and embraced the whole idea, especially with Chazz involved? He liked the play, he liked Chazz and he was just then looking for a suitable film to direct. “De Niro made me a better writer,” swears Chazz. “He’d make me write certain scenes over and over again until I got it just the way he wanted. Sometimes he’d go back to a version that was initially directed. He told me, ‘It takes just as much talent to pick out the right idea as it does to come up with it in the first place.’” A Bronx Tale (1993) was a huge success, both critically and at the box office, and Chazz Palminteri was established as a screenwriter and a film star. He applied the same formula, that is writing a play and then a screenplay, with his Faithful (1996), in which he co-starred with Cher. After the huge success of A Bronx Tale, he has appeared in many films, including Analyze This (1999), Mulholland Falls (1996), and Bullets Over Broadway (1994), in which, as the unexpectedly gifted writer and hit man, Cheech, he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Interestingly, Chazz also acted in Poolhall Junkies (2002), the last film of the great Rod Steiger, who figured so prominently in Chazz’ boyhood inspiration. Winter 2006/2007 AMICI 2
NOEL -Directed by Chazz Palminteri Drama about five New Yorkers coming together on Christmas Eve, seeking a miracle. Chazz likes working in more than just films and is currently doing another original one-man play called My Life With Music, which he just might do in Chicago (a town he “really loves”) if the situation is right. For Chazz (and probably anyone else, for that matter) live stage acting is far more emotionally draining than film acting. “Your highs are higher and your lows lower” with stage acting says Chazz. But it’s clearly in his blood and we can only hope to get to see him in person. Now there’s no doubt that many of his most successful film roles have been, shall we say, “Mafia” types. Doesn’t this hurt the image of Italian Americans like so many claim. “Not at all,” says Chazz, “the gangster film has replaced the Western as the great American morality story. Without a dark side, there is no conflict and without conflict, there is no drama. I think that James Gandolfini is great in The Sopranos. I think that Edie Falco is fantastic in The Sopranos. And in this new favorite American morality icon you have plenty of ItalianAmerican actors making good money.” With these thoughts Chazz Palminteri shows that he’s not only artistically gifted, but philosophically profound. God bless him! A man all Italian-Americans can be proud of!
Winter 2006/2007 AMICI 3