Martin Scorsese’s 1973 epic “Mean Streets” would have been very different if Robert De Niro had made a wrong decision

The partnership between Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese produced some of the most acclaimed films in Hollywood history, earning them both widespread critical acclaim. But do you know which film marked the start of a groundbreaking collaboration that ultimately led to their success in the entertainment industry?

Well, it was none other than the 1973 crime drama Mean streets which has been considered culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant to this day. De Niro’s portrayal of Johnny Boy Civello earned him praise and accolades. However, all of this might not have been possible and this movie would have been very different if De Niro had made a different decision.

Robert De Niro was offered numerous roles in Mean Streets

Robert De Niro recently honored The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to celebrate 23 years of the Tribeca Festival which he founded with Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001. During the conversation, the host revealed that Mean streets will soon be 50 in October.

On this subject, the two-time Oscar winner recalled the time he met Martin Scorsese at a Christmas dinner which led to him starring in the film. De Niro also revealed that not only was he offered the role of Johnny Boy, but there were even more choices.

Fortunately, he opted for this character which made the film legendary and won him awards including the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Supporting Actor. If the actor had made a bad decision and chosen a different role, the film would not have been the same.

Everything you need to know about Mean Streets

Directed by Martin Scorsese, Mean streets tells the story of Charlie Cappa, a young Italian-American living in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York. Charlie struggles with the burden of caring for his irresponsible friend John “Johnny Boy” Civello, a compulsive gambler who avoids work and finds himself in debt to numerous loan sharks.

Charlie also has a secret relationship with Johnny’s cousin Teresa, who suffers from epilepsy and is avoided due to her condition, particularly Charlie’s uncle Giovanni, a powerful mobster, who asks her to stay away from She. Giovanni is adamant that Charlie should distance himself from Johnny, pointing out that “Honorable men choose to associate with other honorable men.”

Charlie therefore remains torn between two worlds: life on the street, where he tries to protect his friend Johnny Boy from trouble, and the life that his uncle can offer him. He is deeply religious and draws inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi, testing his faith and seeking repentance for his sins in the streets. This test of his faith takes the form of his interactions with Johnny Boy played by Robert De Niro and his sister Teresa played by Amy Robinson.

Mean streets is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.