What You Never Knew About the Mob Classic ‘Goodfellas’

To preserve the shock of Tommy DeVito’s execution, Scorsese kept key details under wraps—even from some of the cast and crew. Joe Pesci knew what was coming, of course, but others on set were left partially in the dark.

Scorsese wanted the reaction from Tommy’s “promotion” turning into a hit to feel raw and unsettling. That single gunshot, echoing in the bare room, had more power because no one could brace for it. The stunned silence in the scene extended beyond the screen—it was felt right there, in real time.