Mafia Quiz: Answer This Random Mafia Film & TV Trivia or You'll Be Swimming with the Fishes
Written by Jessica Holom
Last updated · 7 min play time
What random knowledge do you possess about mafia movies and television? Sink or swim with the fishes with this Random Mafia Quiz!
“Why can't we pick our own colors?” – Reservoir Dogs
Sometimes, life imitates art; sometimes art imitates life. And sometimes, they both become inextricably interwoven. That's what happened with mafia culture and media – and vice versa. Some of the little-known facts about mafia movies involve the direct involvement of the mafia, itself.
Do you know what went on behind the scenes of some of the biggest mafia movies of all time? Find out why Mr. Pink can't pick his own color – and more! – with this Random Mafia Quiz.
Test your Entertainment Knowledge
"Take your best shot, but make it your best. 'Cause I get up, I eat ya." – Black Mass
Don't let Whitey Bulger eat ya! Take your best shot with our Random Mafia Quiz!
This Random Mafia Quiz will test your mafioso memory about random mafia movie facts and trivia. Do you know what word was nixed from The Godfather by the mafia itself? What real-life hitman made it onscreen with Brando? Test your random mafia movie knowledge with our Random Mafia Quiz, and see if you could fill Tony Montana's shoes.
It's eat or be eaten with our Random Mafia Quiz. Don't find yourself on the wrong end of it.
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Quiz written by
Jessica HolomJessica Holom is a freelance writer and digital nomad with a background in literature, art, and writing. She believes curiosity never killed a single cat and enjoys learning, world-exploring, and writing about both.
Random Mafia Quiz Questions
15 Questions · 215 Plays · No comments
Question 1
Which entertainer acted as a liaison between the Chicago crime family and the Kennedys?
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ATom Cruise
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BJames Cagney
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CDean Martin
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DFrank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Ol' Blue Eyes notoriously had connections with the mob. In the '60s, Frank Sinatra worked as a liaison between the Kennedy family and the Chicago mob boss, mainly to push Union backing. Kennedy went back on his promise when elected, but luckily the mob didn't shoot the messenger and, instead, just forced Sinatra to perform for eight nights at the club.
Question 2
Which mafioso TV series shares 28 cast members with Goodfellas?
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ABoardwalk Empire
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BPeaky Blinders
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CFriends
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DThe Sopranos
The Sopranos
<i>Goodfellas</i> seems to have resulted in the mafia typecasting of a number of its actors, as 27 appear in both the Scorsese film and <i>The Sopranos</i>. This includes 11 one-time guest stars, ten recurring characters, and six regular cast members, including Lorraine Bracco and Michael Imperioli.
Question 3
Which actor put cotton balls in his mouth during the screen test for his mafia role?
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ARobert De Niro
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BAl Pacino
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CAl Capone
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DMarlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Method actor Marlon Brando wanted to "look like a bulldog" for his screentest as Vito Corleone, so he stuffed his cheeks with cotton balls. After winning the role, he had custom dental prosthetics made to maintain that saggy-jowled look.
Question 4
Which Eastern Promises actor was mistaken for a real gangster due to his fake Russian mafia tattoos?
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AAl Pacino
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BMarlon Brando
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CJoe Pesci
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DViggo Mortensen
Viggo Mortensen
When filming <i>Eastern Promises</i>, Viggo Mortensen dined at a Russian restaurant...only he forgot about his fake mobster tattoos. Mortensen said that patrons of the restaurant went quiet, likely assuming he was the real deal.
Question 5
What word did the mafia head, Joe Colombo, insist be struck from The Godfather?
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AGangster
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BMob
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CFishes
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DMafia
Mafia
The head of the Colombo Crime Family, Joe Colombo, put a hit out on <i>The Godfather</i> production. Meeting with producer Al Ruddy, Colombo forced the team to strike the word, "mafia," from the entire script. He also nixed "Cosa Nostra".
Question 6
Which mafia movie features the real detectives in the sting?
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ATouch of Evil
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BSherlock Holmes
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CThe French Connection
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DCity of God
The French Connection
NYPD detectives Sonny Grosso and Eddie Egan appear in <i>The French Connection</i>, a film about their very own drug bust, one of the largest in U.S. history. Although they didn't play themselves, Egan played his boss, Walt Simonson, while Grosso played federal agent Clyde Klein.
Question 7
For what movie was a mile-long set of the "Five Points" built in Rome?
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AMean Streets
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BGangs of New York
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CThe Godfather
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DHis Girl Friday
Gangs of New York
Scorsese went the extra mile for <i>Gangs of New York</i>...literally. He had a mile-long set built in Rome mimicking New York, with fully functional saloons, town squares, and even the harbor of the 1860 Five Points neighborhood.
Question 8
What song has appeared in three Scorsese mafia films?
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A"Danny Boy"
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B"You Are My Sunshine"
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C"Love on the Rocks"
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D"Gimme Shelter"
"Gimme Shelter"
Scorsese has a thing for "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones. The hit has been used in <i>Casino</i>, <i>Goodfellas</i>, and <i>The Departed</i>. Additionally, the <i>Exile on Main Street</i> album, in which the song appears, is used as the CD case DiCaprio's character mails to Sullivan in <i>The Departed</i>.
Question 9
In what movie was an onscreen mobster played by real-life hitman, Lenny Montana?
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ATaxi Driver
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BThe Sopranos
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CScarface
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DThe Godfather
The Godfather
Producer Al Ruddy approached Lenny Montana, a 320-pound bodyguard for the Colombo crime family, to play Luca Brasi in <i>The Godfather</i>. He was so nervous to play opposite Brando that he repeatedly messed up his lines. His nerves were eventually written into the script.
Question 10
Which movie featured a large cast of real gang members?
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ADude, Where's My Car?
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BGoodfellas
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CTraining Day
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DMean Streets
Training Day
For authenticity's sake, dangerous Los Angeles neighborhoods were the authentic settings for <i>Training Day</i>. This allowed for authentic extras as well, with nearly all the film's gang members being the real deal.
Question 11
Who led the Italian-American Civil Rights League to protest the depiction of Italians as Mafia in entertainment?
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ANicky Santoro
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BJoseph Colombo
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CWhitey Bulger
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DJohnny Depp
Joseph Colombo
Crime boss Colombo went so far as to create the Italian-American Civil Rights League in 1970, claiming the FBI harassed Italian-Americans, after his son, Joseph Colombo Jr., was charged in a crime. He would later use the League to put pressure on Paramount Pictures in the making of <i>The Godfather</i>, which eventually led to full cooperation from the Mafia.
Question 12
What song is playing in the final scene of The Sopranos?
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A"Don't Stop Believin'"
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B"My Way"
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C"The Sound of Silence"
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D"Mad World"
"Don't Stop Believin'"
Love it or hate it, the final scene of <i>The Sopranos</i> is one of the most memorable in television history. And that's partially due to the 1981 Journey song, "Don't Stop Believin'," which plays in the background, as audiences are shut in the dark.
Question 13
Who did Robert de Niro have on speed-dial during the filming of Goodfellas?
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AFrank Cosgrove
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BHenry Hill
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CJimmy Cacuzza
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DJohn Wayne
Henry Hill
Robert De Niro wanted to get his role in <i>Goodfellas</i> right. Playing mobster Jimmy Conway, he would often ring up Henry Hill (Ray Liotta's character) to nail down the mobster's idiosyncrasies, from his walk to his talk.
Question 14
For what film did Scorsese win his only Oscar?
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AGoodfellas
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BThe Departed
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CHugo
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DThe Irishman
The Departed
Scorsese is one of the most revered directors in Hollywood but is also one of the most frequently Oscar-snubbed. With nine nominations throughout his career, he finally won the golden statue for his work in <i>The Departed</i>.
Question 15
What movie features a stray cat found on the film lot where it was shot?
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AThe Godfather
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BThe Departed
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CDonnie Darko
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DScarface
The Godfather
In the iconic opening scene of <i>The Godfather</i>, Marlon Brando as Don Corleone holds a grey cat, who is purring away as Brando pets it. The cat was a spontaneous addition to the scene, as Francis Ford Coppola had discovered the stray on the Paramount lot.
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