MOONSTRUCK

Rest In Peace Norman Jewison

By Roger Paradiso

The New York Times recently described Moonstruck as “perhaps Jewison’s best loved film.” I had the privilege of working with this prolific director on Moonstruck which was shot in some of New York’s most iconic locations.

Our friendship began when Norman said, “You must help me make this movie. They only gave me $10.7 million and I got to use Cher and she’s about 10 percent of budget.” I said, “Can there be anything else that is impossible?” He said, “Yeah, we got seven weeks to prep and seven weeks to shoot and we start in Christmas Season.” I could see he was really desperate. I shook his hand and it was a bond for life. 

“By the way,” he said, “the company wasn’t sure about the script. Thought it was weird.” Well, Moonstruck became one of Norman’s big hits.

Norman loved New York. He came here from his home in Toronto looking to get into the TV game. He started working in New York–the capital of early TV–in the 50s. He became known for making dramatic specials about entertainers like Judy Garland and Harry Belafonte. His best-known film might have been In the Heat of the Night. Norman said you had to make films about something important and then make it entertaining. Some of his films that were made or conceived in New York included The Thomas Crown Affair (the original with Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway), Fiddler on the Roof and The Dogs of War (my second film with him as producer).

Norman was a realistic director. He told great stories. And he loved great locations. This all came together on a small story called Moonstruck. Norman said it was about family and real people. That’s how he cast the film–with good New York actors and Cher. The studio said she was the only actress who would greenlight the movie. Cher went on to win the Academy Award as Best Actress for Moonstruck.

Norman loved the Village where we shot many street scenes. We shot at the Nucciarone Funeral Home at 177 Sullivan Street and the exterior of the Grand Ticino restaurant located at 284 West 12th Street. We located a small Italian food store at 113 Mulberry Street where we hung the neon “Sweetheart Wines and Liquors” sign in the window. New Yorkers Julie Bovasso and Louis Guss played business owners, Rita and Raymond Cappomagi. 

We tried to find the Castorini family home in the Village but there was nothing large enough. Phil Rosenberg, our production designer, found a perfect home at 19 Cranberry Street in Brooklyn Heights. We filmed scenes of Rose Castorini and Perry (played by Olympia Dukakis and John Mahoney) walking home in the streets nearby. In 2022, the New York Post reported that Amy Schumer purchased the house for $12.5 million.

Steve Schottenfeld, our location manager, found the Cammareri Bakery in Carrol Gardens on Sackett and Henry Streets, also in Brooklyn. The great night scene with the dogs barking at Feodor Chaliapan, the grandfather, was shot in the park near the Brooklyn Bridge. This was the same place where we shot the iconic moon which appeared throughout the movie and on the poster. 

And of course, the opera scene was shot at Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera House. My name was on the poster as the conductor thanks to Norman and Phil. 

As the years go by, Moonstruck still remains in the memories of many around the world thanks to the brilliance and perseverance of Norman Jewison. Norman died in peace at his Los Angeles home on January 20th, 2024, at the age of 97.