MovieChat Forums > Gangs of New York (2002) Discussion > Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

posted 12 years ago by mk_k6-326-626621
5 replies | jump to latest

I was constantly reminded of Robert De Niro every time Day Lewis's character Bill the Butcher was on screen - the accent, the facial expressions. Im curious to know if Lewis based the character partly on De Niro?..Its interesting that De Niro was originally lined up to play the role, so maybe Day Lewis saw this as clue as to how Scorcese saw the character?

Anyone else see the resemblance?

[–] Alison_Watts 12 years ago

Hi there :)

If you read "did you know" it will say that this movie was indented to be filmed in 1972 and De Niro was meant to be the butcher :)

[–] worldserieschamps1997 10 years ago

That's odd...I thought one piece of trivia stated Dan Akyroyd was supposed to be Amsterdam and John Belushi was supposed to be the Butcher.

[–] BulletHeadedSaxonMothersSon 9 years ago

I was constantly reminded of Robert De Niro every time Day Lewis's character Bill the Butcher was on screen - the accent...

Are you SERIOUS!!!
De Niro doesn't speak with a 19th century accent!

If anything, Day-Lewis' accent in this flick reminded me of the wax cylinder recording of Walt Whitman(from 1892) of him reciting one of his poems, which, I later found out, was actually partly the basis for Bill's accent in this movie.

[–] mario_023 8 years ago

I really like De Niro but I'm glad Marty didn't get him to play the part. DDL killed it and De Niro's acting just hasn't been the same for many years.

"The saddest thing in life is wasted talent." ~ A Bronx Tale (1993)

[–] mikeyg24 8 years ago

I don't know if somebody so well known for playing Italian Americans would have encapsulated the attitude in the Butcher's character.

Hey! You're not old enough to drink! Now go and die for your country!!!