Befriending lefty ruggiero al pacino, pistone under the name donnie brasco is able to embed himself in a mafia faction lead by sonny black michael madsen. Donnie brasco by paul attanasio based on the book, donnie brasco, by joseph d. Donnie brasco his undercover alias was an undercover fbi agent who infiltrated new yorks powerful bonnano mafia family from 19761981. On july 26, 1981, he and his fellow wise guys learned that donnie brascowho they knew as a smalltime jewelry thief and burglar, who they thought was their partner and even their friend, who they were about to officially induct into the bonnano crime familywas actually fbi agent joe pistone. That made room for johnny depp as brasco, portraying the real fbi undercover agent upon whom the story is based in the 1988 autobiographical crime book, donnie brasco. Whether in the mob you know where or undercover serpico, he has been here before as the brash young man, and now he graduates to the kind of senior status that is a character actors field day. The academy awardnominated movie donnie brasco and the television series falcone are based on his life as an undercover fbi agent. The bestselling author of donnie brasco continues the work of his alter ego in this fictional story set in the steamy underworld of florida. Donnie brasco by mike newell johnny depp, al pacino. He gradually wins leftys trust, and it becomes clear that lefty badly needs someone to trust. My undercover life in the mafia new ed by d pistone, joseph isbn. Pistone served in the fbi for 28 years, including six years of undercover life in the new york bonanno crime family, where he operated as a.
Pistone told his story in the 1988 book donnie brasco. The film proves noteworthy, however, by providing the audience with an indepth view of characters who are typically portrayed as. The book was the basis for the 1997 film donnie brasco, for which pistone worked as a technical adviser, starring johnny depp as pistone and al pacino as lefty ruggiero. The book was the basis for the 1997 film donnie brasco starring johnny depp as joe pistone and al pacino as lefty ruggiero and its because of the movie that pistone is better. Johnny depp as donnie brasco, special agent joe pistone al pacino as lefty michael madsen as sonny black bruno kirby as nicky robert miano as sonny red anne heche as maggie pistone this movie is really great and i have watched it quite a few times and never get tired of watching it. The man who went undercover as donnie brasco acts as tour guide to the downfall of the new york mafia. With al pacino, johnny depp, michael madsen, bruno kirby. Pistone johnny depp is granted entrance into the violent mob family of aging hit man lefty ruggiero al. Most hated fbi agent in the mafia joe pistone aka donnie brasco.
My undercover life in the mafia by woodley, richard, pistone, joseph d. Pistone, benjamin lefty ruggerio, dominick sonny black napolitano at ctf. This drama about an undercover cop who learns the hidden dangers of working his way inside the mob was based on a true story. Joe pistone, under the alias donnie brasco gathered enough evidence to put over a hundred members of the mafia behind bars with sentences ranging between 20 and 100 years. Pistone, find out just how real donnie brasco the movie is starring johnny depp and al pacino. The fbi helped pistone stage the hits and usually just arrested those people and kept their names out of the papers so that it looked as though pistone had killed them. As an associate of the bonanno family, donnie brasco pistone was ordered to carry out four hits for lefty. Donnie brasco was the alias of joseph pistone, an undercover fbi agent. Now his eyewitness account brings to pulsing life the code of honor, loyalties, treacheries, and dirty dealings of unforgettable characters.
The film, written by paul attanasio, is based on the 1988 nonfiction book donnie brasco. Pistone would later write a book titled donnie brasco. The new release is lackluster in terms of special features, but it the posing as jewel broker donnie brasco, fbi agent joseph d. Donnie brasco 1997 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Pistone worked undercover for six years to infiltrate the flamboyant and deadly community of mafia wise guys, captains, and bosses. Pistone detailed his undercover experience in his 1988 book donnie brasco. Posing as jewel thief donnie brasco, pistone spent the next six years undercover in the family, witnessingand sometimes participating inthe mafias gruesome activities while gathering enough evidence to send over 200 gangsters to jail. Agent pistones undercover role as donnie brasco fools even the top bosses of the new york mafia. My undercover life in the mafiaa new york times bestseller and later a feature film starring johnny depp and al pacino. Donnie brasco 1997 this true story follows fbi agent joe pistone as he infiltrates the mafia of new york. Join facebook to connect with donnie brasco and others you may know. Arsenio hall joseph pistone interview arsenio hall interviews joseph pistone at the time of the release of his book donnie brasco. Donnie brasco is the true story of agent joseph pistones six years undercover in the mafia. Pistone assisted by richard woodley about his story as an fbi agent going undercover and infiltrating the mafia. My undercover life in the mafia about his exploits, which was then turned into the film donnie brasco that starred johnny depp as the undercover agent. Something that the book donnie brasco written by fbi agent joseph d. Joe pistone johnny depp is an fbi agent who is given an assignment to infiltrate the mafia. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
An fbi undercover agent infilitrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the mafia life to the expense of his regular one. Several mafia members the ones who joe pistone spent 6 years as an undercover agent for the fbi, working to gather intelligence on the mafia. Donnie meets lefty in november 1978 by posing as a gem specialist, don. My undercover life in the mafia, the basis of the 1997 film about his life donnie. He is the new york times bestselling author of donnie brasco. In 1976, fbi agent pistone leaves the life he has known as an agent to begin his new life as don brasco, jewel thief. Isbn 0340666374 is a 1988 autobiographical crime book written by joseph d. This book brings the reader into the menacing life of an fbi undercover agent, who has to infiltrate himself in the mafia. Pistone was an fbi agent for seventeen years before retiring from active duty in 1996. Soon lefty made donnie brasco his new business associate. Because any small detail could blow his cover, pistone adjusted his personality and habits to earn the. Befriending lefty ruggiero al pacino, pistone under the name donnie brasco is able to embed himself in a mafia faction lead by sonny black. An fbi undercover agent infiltrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the mafia life, at the expense of his regular one.
My undercover life in the mafia the way of the wiseguy the good guys deep cover snake eyes mobbed up also by charles brandt i heard you paint houses the right to remain silent this book is dedicated to the men and women in law enforcement and the u. Donnie brasco this film deserved a spot on this list because of its solid performances by johnny depp and al pacino. Pistone tells the story of working so deep undercover in the mafia that the truth of his identity became blurry even for him. Pistone carried out the most audacious sting operation ever, working undercover for six years.
The book donnie brasco is based on the undercover life of the author, joseph d. For six years, pistone posed as jewel thief donnie brasco in order to pull off one of the most audacious sting operations ever. Michael madsen, bruno kirby, james russo, and anne heche appeared in supporting roles. My undercover life in the mafia a new york times bestseller and later a feature film starring johnny depp and al pacino. The bonnano family at the time was headed by carmine galante, who through the pizza connection, became the single largest importer of heroin into the united states in the. Agent pistone slowly and methodically gains the respect and trust of several high ranking wise guys in the bonanno family and quickly finds himself up for membership in the bonanno family. Dominick sonny black napolitano just couldnt believe it. Pistone was an undercover fbi agent in the mafia from 1976 to 1981 in nyc. Posing as jewel broker donnie brasco, fbi agent joseph d. Pistone is granted entrance into the violent mob family of aging hitman lefty ruggiero. He also explains how he was given contracts by the mafia to kill certain individuals.
The true story of donnie brasco and joe pistones mafia. Armed forces who risk their lives every day to make the world a safer. He spends six years of his life undercover inside the mafia world to help bring to justice several heads of the mafia families. Unwittingly, a mobster al pacino helps an undercover fbi agent johnny depp. Pistone with richard woodley revised draft july 27, 1992. The movie is based on a true story that follows fbi agent joe pistone johnny depp as he infiltrates the mafia of new york.
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