Paulie Walnuts’ Iconic Line: A 61-Year-Old Hollywood Heist!

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Among all the TV shows that have graced our screens, especially those diving into the underworld of gangsters, it’s hard to argue against The Sopranos being one of the absolute best. What truly makes this series a timeless classic isn’t just its complex storylines and interwoven subplots, but the characters that have left an indelible mark on viewers. One such character who continues to resonate with fans is none other than Paulie Walnuts, brilliantly portrayed by the late Tony Sirico. With his stylish silver quiff, signature tracksuit-and-white-shoes attire, and a repertoire of unique one-liners, Paulie Walnuts remains one of The Sopranos’ most indelible and, at times, inadvertently humorous figures.

Paulie portrayed a specific type of vintage, sometimes superstitious, wise guy whose statements encompassed both practical wisdom and outlandish nonsense. His phrases were distinctive, like “I don’t write anything down, so I’ll keep this brief and charming” which became his trademark. However, to the disappointment of fans, one of Paulie’s most memorable lines from The Sopranos was actually borrowed from a classic Hollywood film produced during the golden age, a highly-rated gangster movie that was released more than six decades prior to its incorporation into modern TV folklore. His concise, streetwise salutation, “What’s the news? What do you think?” is an homage to 1938’s Angels With Dirty Faces, a top-tier gangster film from cinema’s golden era.

Paulie’s Signature Line Has Golden Age Hollywood Roots

The Gangster Film’s Grip on the Soprano Psyche

In The Sopranos, I found Silvio Dante to be quite an intriguing character. He’s fiercely loyal to Tony (mostly), capable of sudden violence, deeply superstitious, and has a knack for being comically insightful. Despite his tough exterior, there’s a surprising vulnerability hidden beneath, as his words, like his lament, “I’m not as young as I used to be. I don’t want to die on you and leave you in a worse position than before,” reveal.

The phrase “What’s up? What’s the word?” serves as a versatile greeting in his conversational toolkit – it can function as a casual opener, a means to swiftly learn about street gossip, or a hint of his knowledgeable demeanor. This phrase is frequently used throughout Season 4, Episode 7 (“Watching Too Much Television”), when Paulie, having just been released from jail, confidently returns to the Bada Bing, using it to assert his return and gather information about the changes that occurred during his absence. However, this popular line is not original to him.

To fully grasp the significance of Paulie’s borrowed phrase, one needs to acknowledge its historical source first. This memorable quote originates from Michael Curtiz’s classic film, “Angels with Dirty Faces,” a significant milestone in Hollywood’s Golden Age crime cinema. In this movie, James Cagney delivers an outstanding performance as Rocky Sullivan, a captivating career criminal whose life becomes intertwined with his childhood friend, Jerry Connolly (Pat O’Brien), who has become a neighborhood priest. The film tackles themes such as loyalty, the impact of surroundings on characters, the glorification of outlaw figures by young admirers (the “Dead End Kids”), and the challenging journey towards potential redemption.

In the movie titled “Cagney’s Rocky,” James Cagney’s character frequently employed the phrase “What do you hear? What do you say?” as a signature street greeting, a practice that was later echoed by Paulie in The Sopranos. However, this wasn’t a mere coincidence or casual borrowing of the line. Instead, Tony Sirico, who played Paulie, drew inspiration from his deep admiration for James Cagney and the movie itself. During an awards ceremony, Tony openly expressed his fondness for Cagney.

Tony shared an emotionally charged retelling of the story, highlighting the distinct journeys taken by characters Rocky and Father Jerry, which were set in motion by a childhood incident where one boy (Rocky, played by Cagney) was apprehended by the police while the other escaped. In conclusion, Sirico poignantly mused: “…all my life I’ve felt that wherever there’s a Rocky Sullivan, there should always be a Father Jerry… it’s an interesting observation how often life mirrors art, isn’t it?” This poignant statement from Sirico himself elevates the use of this line from just a script decision to a heartfelt tribute filled with the actor’s lifelong admiration for Cagney’s artistry and his impact on the gangster genre.

Paulie Walnuts Holds Onto a Bygone Era of Gangster Genre

In the TV series The Sopranos, Paulie Walnuts often serves as a channel for an older, possibly more theatrical, depiction of gangster masculinity. His superstitions, his unique (and at times confusing) moral compass (“I don’t write anything down, so I’ll keep this short and sweet…”), all contribute to portraying a man heavily immersed in the traditions and legends of “our thing.” The adoption of Rocky Sullivan’s catchphrase by Paulie seems less like an unconscious repetition and more like a deliberate element of his self-crafted identity.

In Season 4, Episode 7, upon entering Bada Bing following his prison term, he declares his return with a confident “Whattaya hear? Whattaya say?” This display of traditional gangster bravado, however, frequently underscores Paulie’s detachment from the intricate, psychologically deep, and frequently less glamorous aspects of Tony Soprano’s group.

In the 1930s, James Cagney’s Rocky exuded a raw, risky charm that captivated audiences. Yet, when it comes to Paulie in “The Sopranos,” set in the 2000s, his adherence to the classic gangster archetype can seem out of place, like a character stuck in a bygone era. However, this is precisely what makes him stand out in the series – each character brings something distinctive, and they often draw inspiration from cinematic depictions, a means to navigate roles in a life that seldom follows conventional storylines. Paulie embodies the timeless gangster persona.

The Sopranos’ Meta-Commentary on Genre & Masculinity

Paulie’s nod to Angels With Dirty Faces is an example of The Sopranos delving into its cinematic roots, a key element that sets the show apart from ordinary crime dramas. Throughout the series, it demonstrates a profound understanding of the gangster genre, often incorporating references to classic films not just as Easter eggs, but to delve into how media influences identity, morality, and masculinity within organized crime.

In a similar vein, various characters in the series frequently reference “The Godfather” as a touchstone (sometimes humorously). Silvio Dante even mimics Al Pacino’s portrayal, and the main character, Tony, often contemplates his worries using movies he watches late at night as a filter. The extensive influence of early gangster films on the show’s originator, David Chase, is likely why “The Godfather” is so deeply woven into the fabric of the show.

As a young boy, Chase had a strong affection for the film genre. He was especially captivated by Cagney’s vigor in movies like “The Public Enemy.” He used to study these films meticulously when he was a child. In many of his interviews, Chase has expressed his deep-seated admiration for Cagney, often reminiscing about the classic 1931 film “The Public Enemy“. He even admitted to watching it frequently as a kid on “Million Dollar Movie.

The influence of early on-screen gangsters is evident in the development of characters like Paulie, shaping the unique blend of respect and critique that The Sopranos displayed towards these characters. When Paulie repeats a line originally said by Rocky Sullivan, it’s not just Paulie echoing Cagney; instead, it signifies The Sopranos recognizing the enduring impact of this archetype while also hinting at its relevance and potential limitations within the more skeptical, post-modern context of the series.

The way Paulie speaks subtly illustrates the divide between the idealized cinematic gangsters who follow a somewhat clearer (though still illegal) system, as suggested in Angels With Dirty Faces and its contrasting Rocky and Father Jerry characters – and the ordinary, morally questionable, and psychologically complex figures in The Sopranos. Through such references, the series doesn’t merely narrate a story; it encourages viewers to recognize that each detail, each conversation, within its world resonates with rich layers of cultural and personal history.

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2025-05-21 08:04