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Goodfellas Screenplay

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description Goodfellas Screenplay Overview

Written by Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese, this screenplay adapts Pileggi's nonfiction book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family. It follows Henry Hill from his youth in Brooklyn through his involvement with organized crime, drug trafficking, violence, and eventual cooperation with the authorities. The 1990 film uses voice-over, rapid shifts in perspective, and episodic scenes to depict the routines and consequences of a mob associate's life.

help Goodfellas Screenplay FAQ

What true story does the Goodfellas screenplay tell?

The screenplay follows Henry Hill, a real mob associate whose life is described in Nicholas Pileggi's nonfiction book Wiseguy. It covers his entry into the Lucchese crime world, his relationships with Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito, and his eventual cooperation with federal investigators.

What book was the Goodfellas screenplay adapted from?

Martin Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi adapted the screenplay from Pileggi's 1985 book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family. The screenplay uses Hill's perspective to move from neighborhood thefts and hijackings to cocaine trafficking and witness protection.

Why is Henry Hill's narration important in Goodfellas?

Henry's narration gives the audience direct access to the excitement, status, and fear of his criminal world. The voiceover also becomes less reliable as drug use and paranoia take over, especially during the frantic day when he tries to complete several criminal errands.

What happens to Henry Hill at the end of the Goodfellas screenplay?

Henry enters the witness protection program after his arrest and testimony against former associates. The screenplay ends with him living as an ordinary civilian, complaining that he now has to buy groceries instead of enjoying the life he once pursued.

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