Goodfellas Secretly Left a Continuity Error in the Film

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Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker are considered one of the greatest director-editor partnerships in film history. They’ve collaborated for almost 60 years on over 22 films, forming an exceptionally powerful team. Together, they famously created the groundbreaking film Goodfellas, which redefined its genre.

Schoonmaker frequently contributed her own ideas to help shots and scenes work as well as possible. This happened deliberately during the editing of Goodfellas. A perceived mistake in continuity actually enhanced the impact of one of the film’s most memorable characters in a key scene.

There Is a Continuity Error in an Iconic Goodfellas Scene

The opening of Goodfellas is packed with some of the film’s most famous and often-quoted scenes. Moments like Henry showing off his shoes, the argument over wasted aprons, and the introduction of all the characters are instantly recognizable. These scenes perfectly capture Henry’s transformation from a local kid into a full-fledged member of the mafia.

Most fans love the scene where Tommy DeVito is at the restaurant, full of chaotic and funny moments. But the scene right after, featuring Paul Sorvino as Paulie, is just as memorable. By this point in the movie, Tommy has become a real headache for Sonny, the restaurant owner – he’s causing trouble, making a scene, and racking up bills. Fed up with Tommy constantly being around, Sonny is asked by Henry to talk to Paulie about it.

The scene following Tommy’s famous “funny how” moment brilliantly showcases how gangsters control and exploit circumstances. Sonny explains to Paulie that Tommy is becoming difficult, but Paulie casually dismisses the issue, implying nothing can be done to change Tommy’s behavior. Paulie accepts Tommy for who he is, and that’s that. Henry attempts to mediate, offering support to Sonny and suggesting a solution.

Sonny asks Paulie to become a partner at the restaurant, hoping Paulie will control Tommy. Paulie initially resists, but eventually agrees. This scene is brilliantly subtle, as both Paulie and Henry are fully aware of their plan. Henry suggests the partnership knowing exactly what will happen: Paulie and his associates will slowly steal everything from the restaurant, leaving it bankrupt. It’s a scheme to enrich Paulie and Henry, and they expertly manipulate Sonny into participating. The actor playing Paulie delivers a memorable performance, perfectly capturing the character’s role in this deceptive plan.

The scene contains a noticeable mistake related to Paulie’s cigar. He’s seen smoking it throughout the conversation with Sonny, subtly trying to convince Sonny to let him help manage things. Paulie repeatedly switches the cigar between his left and right hand. But at one moment, the cigar disappears from his hand and appears hanging from his mouth, creating an obvious continuity error.

There’s a quick continuity error involving Paulie’s cigar. It’s visible in his mouth during a shot of Sonny, but disappears instantly when the camera cuts back to Paulie delivering his last line. This mistake wasn’t accidental, though. Paul Sorvino gave his strongest performance of the line without the cigar, and editor Thelma Schoonmaker decided to use that take to create the most impactful moment, even with the visual jump.

Thelma Schoonmaker Explained Why Her Intentional Mistake Was Needed

In a “Film Comment” interview with Nick Pinkerton, editor Thelma Schoonmaker discussed a continuity error in Goodfellas and whether she was aware of it. She described the experience after the film’s release, when it was receiving a lot of attention from the Academy Awards. Schoonmaker had been nominated for the Best Editing Oscar but lost to Neil Travis. She remembered Travis approaching her after the ceremony and asking, “Why did you make that bad continuity cut?” Schoonmaker responded by saying, “Which cut? Which continuity error? There are many of them.”

According to editor Schoonmaker, the decision came down to the acting of Paul Sorvino and Tony Darrow. Darrow was new to film and accidentally made a mistake with Sorvino’s cigar. However, Schoonmaker prioritized strong performances over technical perfection. She believed a good laugh was more important than a flawless shot, stating they’d ‘always go for the laugh’ over a ‘beautiful, clean line’.

Sorvino delivers a strong performance, but Tony Darrow as Sonny is equally impressive. Throughout the scene, Sonny is deeply connected to the restaurant, visibly anxious and suspicious as he pleads his case. Paulie expertly manipulates Sonny’s emotional state to get what he wants, shifting between disinterest, intimidation, and even compassion – all within a short time – ultimately benefiting financially. Considering Darrow was new to acting and performing opposite Sorvino, the scene was likely challenging. Remembering both his lines and movements would typically take years to master. That’s why the editors, Schoonmaker and Scorsese, chose a take with a noticeable continuity error: it allowed them to keep the best performances from both Darrow and Sorvino in the final film.

When people point out small mistakes in her films, Schoonmaker’s explanation is spot-on. She prioritizes getting the best possible performances from her actors and delivering a great experience for the audience. In a recent interview, she strongly reaffirmed her approach, further justifying her choices.

She emphasized that capturing the best performance is the most important thing, and she doesn’t understand why people focus so much on minor details. She pointed out that continuity errors have always existed in films throughout history. Even in highly acclaimed movies like The Red Shoes, there are imperfections, but they don’t detract from the overall experience. She believes this is because a compelling film sweeps the audience away, making small errors unimportant.

When it came to Goodfellas, editor Thelma Schoonmaker understood, just like director Martin Scorsese, what the film needed most. She strongly believed in prioritizing strong acting, even if it meant sacrificing strict continuity – and that’s generally the right approach. Editors rarely choose to fix continuity errors if it compromises a good performance, because that would ultimately harm the movie.

Thelma Schoonmaker’s Decisions Don’t Need to Be in Question

Thelma Schoonmaker is a legendary film editor who has earned the right to let her work speak for itself. For nearly six decades, she’s been the main editor for Martin Scorsese, starting with his 1967 film, Who’s That Knocking at My Door. That film marked an early success for both of them, and Scorsese has clearly relied on and valued Schoonmaker’s creative choices ever since.

Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker have collaborated on films since 1967, throughout their entire careers. Schoonmaker has edited nearly every movie Scorsese has directed, including classics like Raging Bull, Cape Fear, The Departed, and The Wolf of Wall Street, as well as his most recent work. Audiences owe both Scorsese’s vision and Schoonmaker’s editing skills for some of cinema’s most beloved films.

Though she didn’t win an Oscar for Goodfellas, she did receive a nomination. Over her career, she’s been nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won 3 times for The Aviator, The Departed, and another film. Her nominated work also includes the 1971 documentary Woodstock, as well as Gangs of New York, Hugo, The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon.

Thelma Schoonmaker is a remarkably influential film editor, and her work has been incredibly inspiring. Martin Scorsese often speaks about their strong working relationship, emphasizing how she consistently guides him to the best choices, especially when he’s unsure. She’s not simply a ‘yes’ person; she actively contributes her own ideas to elevate each project. Thanks to Schoonmaker, audiences have experienced exceptional performances in iconic scenes across some of cinema’s greatest films. Her pivotal decision in Goodfellas is just one illustration of her brilliant judgment.

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2026-05-07 17:39