# Are there any movies about Italian-Americans that don't involve the Mafia or "guido" stereotypes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947 "2014-04-12T18:00:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/21 "2014-04-12T19:42:05Z")
[Marty](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048356/) starring Ernest Borgnine? I can’t remember where it takes place, but I am guessing Brooklyn. It has one of my all-time favorite movie quotes: Mrs. Piletti (to Aunt Catherine): Wherever you go, rain goes. Someday you’re gonna smile - and we’re all gonna have a big party. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/22 "2014-04-12T20:19:11Z")
[Top 10 Movies About Italian Americans That Don’t Involve the Mafia.](http://listverse.com/2008/10/30/top-10-movies-about-italians-that-dont-involve-the-mafia/) Ones set in New York include: _Kiss Me Guido Mac True Love Marty Moonstruck_ _My Cousin Vinny_ involves Italian-Americans from New York but isn’t set there. _Big Night_ is set in New Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/23 "2014-04-12T20:31:14Z")
_Raging Bull_ doesn’t involve the Mafia, but I wouldn’t regard it as a positive portrayal. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/24 "2014-04-12T20:38:34Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > _Raging Bull_ doesn’t involve the Mafia, but I wouldn’t regard it as a positive portrayal. I was going to suggest _Raging Bull_, but then remembered there was a lot of organized crime stuff in the fixing of the fights. Or am I remembering that wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/25 "2014-04-12T20:46:40Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > The title is incomplete. Sorry! > > I meant to ask if there are any movies about Italian Americans that don’t involve the Mafia and/or don’t truck in “guido/goombah” stereotypes. I fixed it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/26 "2014-04-12T20:50:41Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I was going to suggest _Raging Bull_, but then remembered there was a lot of organized crime stuff in the fixing of the fights. Or am I remembering that wrong? There is, but I think the mob stuff is peripheral to the main story. Jake, however, is definitely a “violent, misogynistic, foul-mouthed greaseball.” ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/27 "2014-04-12T20:59:14Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I fixed it. Thanks, **Marley**! ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/28 "2014-04-12T21:04:44Z")
Well, that’s really hard to find. Without the stereotype, the only way to find out their in-film nationality is if they announce it. Just because the actor is italian-american (Deniro) doesn’t mean the character in the film is as well. I’m thinking of the scene from Crash where the female cop says “I’m Cuban” (or Puerto-rican or something) as the only way to find out, and those films will be few and far between. For example, films about black people where they aren’t black in the film would leave only a single historical example, Othello, who has been portrayed customarily by a black person since time immemorial. Conversely, the Japanese production of Wicked would feature a Japanese actor as the Wizard from Kansas. In story, he’s a caucasian american. In The Shawshank Redemption, Morgan Freeman says he’s Irish. This is in fact true, as in the original story he was a red-haired Caucasian. It just so happens he is portrayed by a black person. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/29 "2014-04-12T21:23:32Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Well, that’s really hard to find. Without the stereotype, the only way to find out their in-film nationality is if they announce it. Just because the actor is italian-american (Deniro) doesn’t mean the character in the film is as well. I’m thinking of the scene from Crash where the female cop says “I’m Cuban” (or Puerto-rican or something) as the only way to find out, and those films will be few and far between. > > For example, films about black people where they aren’t black in the film would leave only a single historical example, Othello, who has been portrayed customarily by a black person since time immemorial. > > Conversely, the Japanese production of Wicked would feature a Japanese actor as the Wizard from Kansas. In story, he’s a caucasian american. > > In The Shawshank Redemption, Morgan Freeman says he’s Irish. This is in fact true, as in the original story he was a red-haired Caucasian. It just so happens he is portrayed by a black person. I’m not sure I’m following you. I’m not asking about films featuring Italian Americans that don’t show Italian American culture. Italian American culture is fine. I doubt the posters in this thread who have posted suggestions stumbled across them by searching for movies that were marketed in a special way. If someone wanted to watch a movie about black people that doesn’t involve gangstas or urban poverty, I wouldn’t have any problem doing this. If you watch enough movies, particular movies that are targeted to _your_ demographic, you will eventually find some that don’t truck in stereotypes. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/30 "2014-04-12T21:36:24Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Without the stereotype, the only way to find out their in-film nationality is if they announce it. There’s the character’s name as well; Italian-American names are generally pretty obvious (although someone can be Italian-American without having an Italian last name). Stereotypes are often based on real cultural elements, even if exaggerated. My Bronx neighbors do talk like the people in _Summer of Sam_, and some of them dress and act like guidos too. And there is a Mafia presence in the neighborhood as well. But you can show Italian-American culture without making everyone out to be a goombah. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/31 "2014-04-12T21:47:34Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I’m not sure I’m following you. > > I’m not asking about films featuring Italian Americans that don’t show Italian American culture. Italian American culture is fine. I doubt the posters in this thread who have posted suggestions stumbled across them by searching for movies that were marketed in a special way. > > If someone wanted to watch a movie about black people that doesn’t involve gangstas or urban poverty, I wouldn’t have any problem doing this. If you watch enough movies, particular movies that are targeted to _your_ demographic, you will eventually find some that don’t truck in stereotypes. What I’m saying is the only way to figure out if the character is Italian-American without the stereotypes is if they announce they are Italian-american or the source material says they are Italian-american. Unless there are Italian-american stereotypes that guidos/gumbahs don’t use that only non-guido/gumbah Italian-Americans do. The best example above is Saturday Night Fever, but I also remember the Mafia eating a metric ton of spaghetti in Goodfellas. On top of these, Mafia films feature a ton of non-stereotypical guido/gumbah behavior, e.g. Donnie Brasco. So now, when an Italian-american family gives a cash gift to each other, would that also count? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/32 "2014-04-12T21:56:51Z")
Come to think of it, you’ll have better luck finding mafia movies without mafia stereotypes. Casino springs to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/33 "2014-04-12T22:35:53Z")
> [@](#): > > What I’m saying is the only way to figure out if the character is Italian-American without the stereotypes is if they announce they are Italian-american or the source material says they are Italian-american. Unless there are Italian-american stereotypes that guidos/gumbahs don’t use that only non-guido/gumbah Italian-Americans do. Give the characters last names like “DiFazio” or “Rizzo”. Set the movie in Little Italy. Have the characters’ grandmother speak in Italian, or with an Italian accent. There are plenty of options. And another one, I don’t think _Super Mario Bros._ has any Mafia connections, though it does have a few goombas. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/34 "2014-04-12T22:39:55Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Well, that’s really hard to find. Without the stereotype, the only way to find out their in-film nationality is if they announce it. Just because the actor is italian-american (Deniro) doesn’t mean the character in the film is as well. > [@Colibri](#): > > There’s the character’s name as well; Italian-American names are generally pretty obvious (although someone can be Italian-American without having an Italian last name). Robert DeNiro is an example of the opposite. People assume he’s Italian-American because of his name. But he’s actually more Irish-American than Italian-American. But I’ll admit I thought the characters in Mystic Pizza were Italian-American until I checked and saw they’re actually Portuguese-American. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/35 "2014-04-12T22:43:41Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Little Nemo, John Leguizamo wasn’t in **Do The Right Thing**. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/36 "2014-04-12T23:03:04Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Wouldn’t My cousin Vinnie count? > It included Marisa Tomei (swoon.) I vote for this. A great movie featuring Italian Americans as the protagonists, no mafia or guidos to be found. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/37 "2014-04-13T00:42:34Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I was going to suggest _Raging Bull_, but then remembered there was a lot of organized crime stuff in the fixing of the fights. Or am I remembering that wrong? He had to throw a fight, to appease the mob to get a title shot. There was a documentary about Italian American films I saw maybe 10 or 15 years ago; there were some really good films portrayed, but I don’t remember the name of the documentary - and I could not find it a few weeks ago even though I spent a half hour doing an internet search. Does anyone know what documentary that was? ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/38 "2014-04-13T01:23:20Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [Top 10 Movies About Italian Americans That Don’t Involve the Mafia.](http://listverse.com/2008/10/30/top-10-movies-about-italians-that-dont-involve-the-mafia/) > > Ones set in New York include: > > _Kiss Me Guido > Mac > True Love > Marty > Moonstruck_ > > _My Cousin Vinny_ involves Italian-Americans from New York but isn’t set there. > _Big Night_ is set in New Jersey. I absolutely loved _Kiss Me Guido_ and for years afterward, every time I saw GWM in the newspaper I immediately thought “Guy With Money!” but a movie with “Guido” in the title pretty clearly does have the “Guido” stereotype. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/39 "2014-04-13T01:38:06Z")
As others have mentioned, Big Night doesn’t have any of the usual stereotypes. And it is a truly excellent movie. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947/40 "2014-04-13T01:38:27Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > He had to throw a fight, to appease the mob to get a title shot. > > There was a documentary about Italian American films I saw maybe 10 or 15 years ago; there were some really good films portrayed, but I don’t remember the name of the documentary - and I could not find it a few weeks ago even though I spent a half hour doing an internet search. Does anyone know what documentary that was? Is this what you’re thinking of? [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892437/?ref\_=nm\_flmg\_slf\_13](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892437/?ref_=nm_flmg_slf_13) _Beyond Wiseguys: Italian-Americans and the Movies_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-movies-about-italian-americans-that-dont-involve-the-mafia-or-guido-stereotypes/685947.md?page=3)