One of the things I appreciate most about The Sopranos is the fact that its writers have obviously done their New Jersey research. Allowing for the occasional slip-up, like that boneheaded "Pine Barrens" episode, the show's writers are so diligent that I can sometimes spot their research footprints. Thus, when a mobster gets a freaky scare while digging up a body beneath the Newark Bay Extension, I know somebody on the staff spent some quality time with Robert Rudolph's excellent book The Boys from New Jersey.
In that vein, this Star-Ledger news story reminds us that fictional gunsel Christopher Moltisanti and his dreams of making it in Hollywood have a real-life parallel in Danny Provenzano, now serving a 10-year sentence on racketeering charges. Provenzano, whose great-uncle "Tony Pro" Provenzano was one of the leading suspects in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, is the fledgling auteur behind This Thing of Ours (featuring Sopranos alumni Vincent Pastore and Frank Vincent). He also has acting credits in such epics as Vampire Vixens from Venus and The Regenerated Man. I don't know if This Thing of Ours is any good, but even if it's a masterpiece we'll have to wait a bit for the follow-up — Provenzano was just denied parole and won't get another shot for another 14 months. But I'm sure he's putting the time to good use and banking lots of material for his next flick.
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Originally posted at The Opinion Mill.
![The Regenerated Man [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21R0E6D4CEL._SL120_.jpg)
Article comments
1 - Aaman
A number of mafiosi have had Hollywood dreams, methinks
2 - Bliffle
Your article would be better if you (and all other etymological sinners) would avoid improper use of the word 'gunsel'. Dashiell Hammet first used this underground word in "Maltese Falcon" to properly describe Homer as a homosexual, which is indeed what 'gunsel' means. Ever since, dumb writers have inappropriately used 'gunsel' to mean gangster, which gave Hammet many laughs as he saw other tyro crime writers efforts when they only knew what they had read in his fiction. It became the stamp of the plagiarizer.
3 - Aaman
Interesting point, B - thanks for the info. You should be a blogcritic.
4 - Steven Hart
To Biffle:
The Henry Holt Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins defines "gunsel" as: "a cheap thief or criminal. The word derives from either the German 'ganzel' or the Yiddish 'gantzel,' both meaning a gosling. At the beginning of [the 20th century], prisoners and hoboes called youn inexperienced boys, especially homosexuals, 'gunsels.' From constant underworld use, where it later meant a sly, sneaky person, it was adopted generally as a term for a 'run-of-the-mob,' usually second-rate criminal."
5 - Michael De Luca
Danny Provenzano is a personal friend of mine. Side by side we have fought the same battle, and we have won the the war!! He is a good man. This I confirm!
6 - Michael De Luca
Anyone who will deny this FACT, please enlighten me.
7 - Danny
Mike is that you, Northern State Prison. B-unit. I got my date July 31.
8 - Mathew
I grew up in Fort Lee with Danny he was the nephew of Mob royality and milked iy dry until it finally landed him in jail for attacking the elderly. He was more of a joke than someone to be respected. Danny did not work his way up the ranks as an enforcer or tough guy. He was a 1/2 ass shaked down man and suffered from serious little mans disease. Come on he was arrested for attcking the 70 year old publisher of Parenting Magazine.
Not exactly Danny "The Bull". I hope he drops this sad act and sticks around to raise him family.
God forbid one of these 70 year old jews is carrying a gun......
Google it yourself
''Danny Provenzano is where he belongs," Valenzano says today. ''He is not a mobster. He is a wannabee. He is an outrageous punk.
9 - Al Collins
Yes to that I grew up in Fort Lee at that time also 80-84. Danny was a joke a little runt that played on his unmemtionable Mafia connections.
I laughed when I read that Parenting Magazine article a 70 year old man ? Parenting Magazine?
Ewwwwwwwww what a tough guy ..
What a joke. Ad to doing time for this is hilarious justification. It says it all..
10 - tough guy
If you disrespect my friend we find your family
11 - GAGOOTZ
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12 - GAGOOTZ
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13 - billy
Beating up old people ??? Joe the punk Valenzano and his little fag sons ran to the police then didn't stand up to him ask joe how he did in court, he got crushed and provenzano didn't even use a lawyer he did it himself. and by the way Joe was in his 50's not seventy and he coaches college baseball. he did time for racketeering and you to fake fort lee tough guys why dont we set up a lunch with you and Danny!!!
14 - dafkg
I grew up in Fort Lee and went to school with Danny. He looks the same and has not changed at all. Maybe acting is good for him...he seems to be good at it...he perfected it in real life I guess!
15 - brian anderson
what prison is danny in please
16 - Anthony
In case anyone is interested comment number 8 is Matt Valenzano Joe's son. he's been hiding behind his keyboard for years. [personal attack deleted] he never grew up in Fort Lee with Danny
17 - Andrew
I'm coming to this rather late, I realize - but this is in reference to Bliffle, who mentioned that gunsel means homosexual. You're right - that's originally what Dashiell Hammett meant by the term. But since then, it actually has gone on to also mean gunman, due to - as you point out - the people who misused it. Many online and slang dictionaries define it as a gunman. So over time, it has come to mean that. It's sort of like when Warren G. Harding coined the term "normalcy." It was not a real word and English language experts balked at him. But over the years, it was used so often (instead of normality) that it became an accepted word. Go figure...