Chazz Palminteri | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
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What is the story behind A Bronx Tale?
I produced it and the place went crazy. I did it and people were screaming and clapping and the crowds just kept getting bigger.
When you first were standing there going, oh my God, what's happening? What was your first thought of life? What was it that they were connecting so deeply with?
You can make them laugh, you can make them cry, or you can scare them. That's it. Can't do anything else to it. And in Bronze Tale, I make you laugh, I make you cry, and I scare you.
In the case of Swifty Lazar, he gets you fired, you make a decision, and it changes your life.
My son used to say, nobody cares. Nobody cares. Don't worry about it.
Nobody cares.
Thank you for being on my show. Billy, it's good to be here. So maybe I got to be on your show, but today you're on my show.
Yes, one day. I'd love to have you on the show.
I hope I got the year right. 1988, you're working as a bouncer in Hollywood. Is that a true story?
Yes. Yeah. I ran out of money when I first got there in 86. I hit it. I hit what I hit it, whatever you want to call that. I got guest star roles. I got on Hill Street Blues and Matlock and Dallas and And I was like, wow. You know, I started really cranking, you know. I mean, I was an actor in L.A. I mean, in New York. I was on Broadway understudy. That was my first big break where I got an agent. But then I went out to L.A. And I started, you know, working as a guest star on some of these shows. And then after about a year and a half, I ran out of that money that I did. And I used to balance in New York at the Limelight in New York. In Manhattan. So then I said, well, I might as well, I better start doing that again.
And I got a job as a doorman, doorman bouncer.
More of a doorman, okay.
But a doorman bouncer. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. At this club in Beverly Hills.
You certainly have the presence for that. You know what I mean?
How did Chazz Palminteri's childhood shape his storytelling?
You know, I'm tall and big and I could, you know, I use the box and work out a lot. You know, I'm okay. I can handle myself.
You know who you always reminded me of? And I mean, this is a compliment. I always think it's George Raft.
Oh, I love George Raft.
Your presence has a George Raft. It's like I buy that you, like if you were the bouncer, you know what I mean? I buy it without you having to open your mouth, you know?
Well, that's the idea. You don't want to be able to have to open your mouth. You just want to be able to talk to somebody. I guess after years, I mean, I grew up in a very tough neighborhood in the Bronx. A lot of tough guys. And I always say, if you put me on the scale of those tough guys there, I'm way on the bottom. There were guys in my neighborhood that were just, my God, you know, they were just stone cold.
But if you grew up around tough guys. I grew up around tough guys, too.
I grew up around mafia guys.
Me too.
Yes.
Or the grandkids.
The grandkids, yeah.
Yeah, like I went to school with, you know, Tony Ocardo Jr.
Right, yeah.
I grew up like around those kids, the Chicago version.
Yeah, I'm older than you, so I went to the fathers. Yeah. Yeah, so.
So I grew up around a lot of those wise guys and their families, so I know the vibe, you know.
You know the vibe, yeah. So I grew up, and anyway, I had this job. What was the name of the place? Sorry. Yes. It was called 2020. Okay. And that was because it was in the Beverly Center, and the address was 2020. Okay. and I worked there, and it was a French guy, great guy too, Fernault, and he was a really nice guy, and I worked there for like two or three months, and after about the third month, you know, everything was great, and one night, this is how the whole thing started, Billy. One night, I'm standing over there, and all of a sudden, there's three rules of a doorman that you don't break, right? You never say, do you know who I am? Ever. If you say those words... It's over. It's over. You're not getting it.
Can I curse? Yeah, of course. You're not getting it.
What pivotal moment led to Chazz's handshake deal with Robert De Niro?
The second thing is you never touch the rope, the rope that goes across. Oh, okay. I didn't know that. Never.
I knew not to say, do you know who I am?
You put your hands on that rope...
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the story behind A Bronx Tale?
0:00–2:01
2
How did Chazz Palminteri's childhood shape his storytelling?
2:01–4:14
3
What pivotal moment led to Chazz's handshake deal with Robert De Niro?
4:14–5:54
4
How does Chazz Palminteri define wasted talent?
5:54–7:48
5
What themes are explored in A Bronx Tale regarding fathers and sons?
7:48–10:39
6
How did poverty influence Chazz's journey as a storyteller?
10:39–13:27
7
What lessons does Chazz impart about handling success and fame?
13:27–15:38
8
What reflections does Chazz have on his past experiences with violence?
15:38–1:04:18
Speakers
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