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What’s Pittsburgh got that South Philly doesn’t?
That’s what residents are asking upon last week’s limited release of "10th & Wolf." The movie uses the local intersection in its title, but failed to use that – or any – South Philly locale during filming. Instead, it was shot in a town where football fanatics root for the Steelers, not the Eagles.
With many stars in its cast, the film is set against the backdrop of true events that occurred in the organized-crime realm during the late 1980s and early ’90s. FBI agent Joseph Pistone, also known as Donnie Brasco, pitched the idea, which stemmed from his partner’s real-life accounts.
In the film, Tommy (James Marsden), leaves his hometown for the military after learning about his family’s criminal roots. With pressure from the law, he returns to South Philly, this time undercover, to keep tabs on his brother, Joey (Giovanni Ribisi), and cousin Vincent (Brad Renfro). Dennis Hopper and Val Kilmer also make appearances. But, while many celebrities grace the screen, the real South Philly is nonexistent.
Suzanne DeLaurentiis, the movie’s executive producer, said there was talk of filming in the area. However, the movie’s investor and her business partner, Jeffrey Tott, opted for Pittsburgh since he’s from, and now resides, there. DeLaurentiis also shot a film in that city six years ago, so she was familiar with it.
"Our production designer did spend a lot of time in South Philly trying to create the look and feel," DeLaurentiis said.
Seeing the film over the weekend, Frank Barbato, owner of Bomb Bomb Bar-B-Q Grill & Italian Restaurant, 1026 Wolf St., does not feel the intersection’s charm was captured, even though it did include an eatery – the fictitious 10th and Wolf Diner.
"There was absolutely no Philadelphia connection except for a couple of street names," he said. "It looked like a slummy area in Pittsburgh. It really didn’t look like a nice area."
While he enjoyed the movie, which is playing at the Ritz 5, 214 Walnut St., Barbato would have liked to see some local landmarks on screen.
"It’s a story about family and relationships … not South Philly," said DeLaurentiis, adding the violent R-rated film is "very true to its subject matter."
"The intersection where family, honor and betrayal collide" is the movie’s tagline. Yet residents living at the actual location paint a different picture.
"It’s pretty quiet around here. There’s no shootings – not yet anyway," said a 10th-and-Wolf resident who wanted to remain anonymous. "[The film] doesn’t have anything to do with 10th and Wolf."
The resident made note of a former fruit store and corner bar, which is now Gavone’s, an eatery and bar established in 1995. Lou Monacello, Gavone’s owner, has a large painting with scenes from "The Godfather" hanging on one of its walls. He thinks filmmakers could accurately portray the area on screen without shooting here. "They can do a lot of things in Hollywood," he said. However, the owner would have liked the publicity – and increased business – that might have accompanied filming at the intersection.
Despite his objections, he gave his blessing. "I wish them luck," he said. "I hope the movie does well."
The Greater Philadelphia Film Office was contacted about possibly shooing in the city, but the plan was quashed. "Very disturbing" is how Sharon Pinkenson, the office’s executive director, described the movie being shot outside of Philly. She got the chance to see the film on DVD a few months ago.
"It looks like Pittsburgh. They don’t even try to make it look like Philadelphia," she said. "I think it hurts the film, the filmmakers and the city. If Pittsburgh had looked like Philadelphia, then I would have said, ‘Great!’”
A resident near the intersection since ’77, Sally Zappile didn’t like the idea of the film either, but not because it lacked accuracy. She’s just not a fan of mob movies. "I can’t even watch ‘Goodfellas,’" she said. "I have a different outlook towards violence."
The movie’s title alone, she guessed, might bring fans to her sedate neighborhood. "You have people that are going to be driving down here," she said. "We have a lot of traffic here already."
Quite possibly the only South Philly connection to the film is Tony Luke Jr., who plays Rocco, the underboss to Hopper’s character.
During editing, "my role wound up being a very good role to a very tiny role," Luke, who spent two weeks shooting his scenes, said.
If it was up to the food aficionado, the entire movie would have been filmed locally, but he hopes the actual shooting location won’t deter residents from heading to the theater.
"The mistake that people are going to make when they go see the film is they will be looking for South Philly," he said. "If you do that, you’re not going to like the film. If you can step away from that and watch the film for what it is, I think it’s a very enjoyable film."
