Robert De Niro’s directorial debut, “A Bronx Tale,” was honored at the Tribeca Festival as the closing gala. The film’s box office performance was disappointing, with an opening gross of $3.7 million in over 1,000 theaters. This led to De Niro not being asked to direct again. However, the film continued to grow in popularity and eventually grossed $17 million on a $21 million budget. In an interview with New Yorker editor David Remnick after a screening of the newly remastered film, De Niro acknowledged the uphill battle he faced during the making of the film. Despite the initial disappointment, De Niro was lucky to make the movie the way he wanted to without compromise. He also directed “The Good Shepherd” in 2006, but faced similar challenges.
A Bronx Tale’s Origin and Success
“A Bronx Tale” is based on an autobiographical one-man play written by Chazz Palminteri, who also stars in the film as a local mob boss. De Niro plays a devoted father who battles Palminteri’s character for the life of his son in racially divided 1960s New York. Palminteri had many offers for a film version of his play but chose to work with De Niro, who had his heart set on the project for his directorial debut. De Niro agreed to let Palminteri write the screenplay and play the gangster, Sonny. De Niro had always wanted to direct but had trouble finding a project he could develop. When he saw Palminteri’s one-man show, he knew he could add to it and contribute to its success.
The Tribeca Festival, founded by De Niro and Jane Rosenthal after 9/11, continues to grow in popularity and has become a great tradition in New York City. This year’s festival features over 100 films, as well as musical performances, games, virtual reality, and audio competitions. Despite the initial box office disappointment of “A Bronx Tale,” the film’s longevity and success have made it a memorable part of De Niro’s career and the festival’s closing gala.