Amour Fou (The Sopranos)

"Amour Fou" is the 38th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the 12th of the show's third season. Its teleplay was written by Frank Renzulli from a story idea by series creator, David Chase. It was directed by Tim Van Patten and originally aired on May 13, 2001.

"Amour Fou"
The Sopranos episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 12
Directed byTim Van Patten
Story byDavid Chase
Teleplay byFrank Renzulli
Cinematography byAlik Sakharov
Production code312
Original air dateMay 13, 2001 (2001-05-13)
Running time60 minutes
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Pine Barrens"
Next →
"Army of One"
The Sopranos season 3
List of episodes

Starring

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* = credit only

Guest starring

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Synopsis

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Carmela and Meadow are visiting the Brooklyn Museum when Carmela has to go to the restroom to use a tampon. She has some alarming symptoms and fears she has ovarian cancer or is pregnant. When she comes back, she is brought to tears upon seeing Jusepe de Ribera's painting The Holy Family with Saints Anne and Catherine of Alexandria. Watching something sentimental on television, she begins to cry and is unnerved when she realizes it is only a commercial for dog food. She takes confession with a priest who tells her to learn to live only on what the "good part" of her husband earns and to forgo the rest. On his advice, she sees an OB-GYN, who tells her she has a thyroid problem.

Tony continues to see Gloria, even as her erratic behavior continues. Dr. Melfi uses the term "amour fou" (crazy love). Gloria happens to meet Carmela at the Mercedes dealership. She gives her a drive home, eliciting information from her. When Tony discovers this, he furiously breaks up with her. Gloria phones him, sobbing uncontrollably. He goes to her home and gently explains again that he is breaking up with her. She threatens to tell Carmela and Meadow about their affair. When Tony, enraged, starts strangling her, she urges him to kill her. He stops, and threatens her as he leaves. Later, he sends Patsy to repeat the warning: he goes for an ostensible test drive with her, pulls the car over on a deserted rural road, holds her at gunpoint, and tells her that if she ever contacts Tony or his family again, he will kill her.

Jackie Jr. and his friends Carlo and Dino decide to rob Eugene's poker game, after Ralphie tells them how Tony and Jackie's father gained recognition for a similar heist. The dealer, Sunshine, keeps heckling the would-be robbers and is fatally shot by a panicking Jackie. In the ensuing firefight, Furio is shot in the thigh and Carlo is killed. Jackie and Dino find that their wheelman, Matush, has fled and left them at the mercy of Christopher and Albert. Jackie flees in a carjacked vehicle, abandoning Dino, who is shot dead.

Christopher furiously expresses his desire to kill Jackie Jr. Tony forbids it. The next morning, Ralphie meets Tony to discuss how to deal with Jackie. Tony says Ralphie is responsible, but his advice is ambiguous. Ralphie is full of doubt: he blames Jackie Sr. for "spoiling" his son and wants to give Jackie a "pass". Tony gives Ralphie back the pistol he confiscated from Jackie. Ralph embraces Tony and leaves. Outside, he pauses, perplexed. At home, he tries to comfort Rosalie, who is distraught.

Deceased

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  • "Sunshine": a card dealer for the mob who was shot during the poker robbery by Jackie Jr.
  • Carlo Renzi: shot by Christopher in the head during the poker robbery.
  • Dino Zerilli: shot in the head outside of the Aprile hangout by Christopher and Albert Barese.

Final appearances

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Title reference

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  • The translation from French is "crazy love", a term Dr. Melfi uses to describe the conflicted relationship between Tony and Gloria. Tony later mispronounces it "Our mofo."

Production

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  • On the commentary on the season three DVD, David Chase affirms that this episode features "the biggest gunfight we ever shot."[1]
  • The tiny shell casings which can be seen striking the pavement after Chris executes Dino outside the card game were added into the scene in post-production using CGI.[1]

Other cultural references

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  • Jackie and Dino are seen watching the famous "leg cross" scene from the film Basic Instinct on television.
  • Tony tells Dr. Melfi that Gloria reminds him of a princess in a Spanish painting, a "Goyim." He means to refer to Goya.
  • Tony calls Gloria's Buddha statue "a regular Captain Marvel".
  • Jackie and Dino are also seen watching a documentary on Vanilla Ice.
  • Gloria brandishing a corkscrew as a weapon against Tony could be a reference to Gandolfini's role in True Romance, where a female character similarly uses a corkscrew against Gandolfini.
  • During dinner with Gabriella, Carmela, and Angie, Rosalie mentioned the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal while discussing Meadow and Jackie's breakup

Music

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Awards

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James Gandolfini won his second Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode. Annabella Sciorra was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance.

References

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  1. ^ a b c The Sopranos: The Complete Third Season — DVD commentary
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