California Doubling: Though the movie was filmed in New York City, it wasn't entirely filmed in the Bronx. In fact, the only time the Bronx appears proper is a scene set and filmed on City Island. The rest of the time, the Astoria neighborhood in Queens and the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood in Brooklyn are doubling for the Bronx. Chazz Palminteri said that the reason for this was because he didn't want to anger his friends who still lived in the real neighborhood by shutting down the streets for weeks.
When the major studios were trying to buy the film rights, Robert De Niro was the actor they had in mind to play Sonny. Chazz Palminteri refused to give it to them because he wanted to play the role himself. DeNiro agreed with Palmintieri and offered to play Lorenzo instead.
The young man who shoots Sonny was the original actor that they had in mind to play Calogero, but ultimately they decided to go with the younger Lillo Brancato.
Friendship on the Set: Or in this case, "Friendship During Pre-Production". Robert De Niro had been made aware of the project by studios when they were trying to buy the rights to the one man play from Chazz Palminteri, as well as the latter's desire to write the screenplay and play Sonny in the film. After De Niro saw the play himself, he approached Palminteri afterwards and proposed that they enter a partnership to get the film made with Palminteri getting his wishes as long as De Niro could direct and play Lorenzo. Palminteri agreed and they settled the agreement on a handshake. The two have been friends since.
In Memoriam: This film was dedicated to Robert De Niro's father Robert De Niro, Sr. who died shortly before the film's release.
Method Acting: Robert De Niro got a commercial drivers license so he could actually drive the bus his character does.
Spared by the Cut: The studio wanted the ending changed so that Sonny would live, but De Niro and Palminteri refused to do it.
What Could Have Been: Dozens if not hundreds of youngsters auditioned for the roles of C and Jane. For the role of C, it ultimately came down to two candidates, one of whom was ultimately cast in a minor role. Lillo Brancato mentioned that he knew he was the favorite for the part when the black girls he screen-tested with got closer and closer to his age (Brancato was 16, while the other hopeful was 21).
Write Who You Know: A large portion of the story comes from Chazz Palminteri's own childhood in the Bronx and experiences growing up. Also, Palminteri's full name is Calogero Lorenzo Palminteri.
Written by Cast Member: Chazz Palminteri wrote the original stage play and the screenplay. In fact, getting to play Sonny was one of his conditions for the film rights and turned down a $1 million offer from a studio who wanted to cast another actor.
, but, feeling that he already did his homage to that era of music with An Innocent Man, turned the offer down.