The Sopranos (SM): Selected Scripts from Three Seasons

A truly GREAT dramatic or comedy program requires great writing and great performing. If one ingredient is missing, it falls short. This has been evident when great performers leave superbly written dramas or comedies and get into a mere star vehicle...and fail. Just look at the hapless Seinfeld cast: highly talented performers were cursed with poor or fair material. They simply could not "go home" again. David Chase's book of Sopranos scripts is an example of superlative writing -- writing so GREAT that these scripts read like a novel. Even if you've never watched the Sopranos, these scripts will make it hard for you to put this big-sized paperback book down (and not read it AGAIN). And, most interestingly, these scripts show you how multi-layered this program is -- and leave some tantalizing questions open for YOU to decide in a more informed and satisfying way than if you only quickly viewed the final filmed product. It's just as compelling reading these shows as watching them -- except that here you get the compete stage directions, directions to actors about their characters' motivations,emotions and expressions. You catch every single hilarious zinger (many of which can't be posted here since it's a family site!) and every single foreshadow or callback symbol (the ducks, symbolic in the pilot, fly overhead in a V formation during the College episode) that you may have missed. This is a SUPERB book for Sopranos fans and non-Sopranos fans alike since it starts with the pilot episode, introducing the characters and the premise of a family man Mafia boss from a dysfunctional family who is in psychiatric analysis. This book also includes four other all-time most fascinating and gripping Sopranos episodes: College (Tony takes his daughter on a college interview, sees a mob informant and strangles him); The Happy Warrior (Tony tries to keep childhood pal David Scatino away from his gambling operations but his friend insists on sneaking in, gets in debt, and his FIRST payment is his son's SUV, which Tony unsuccessfully gifts to his horrified daughter); The Knight In White Satin Armor (Tony's mistress tries to do herself in while Tony's sister Janice shows a genetic lack of impulse control by murdering her abusive newlywed mob husband); and Pine Barrens (the famous tour de farce with Christopher and Paulie getting stranded out in a cold forest after a botched attempt to kill an agile Russian gangster). In his introduction, Chase notes how his ideal is that each episode stands alone as a separate film, a goal not always achieved but achieved in each of these selections, especially College. The writing's quality shines through with each line, each description -- even built-in directions on dialogue's timing. Some other highlights:--PACING: When sister Janet angrily shoots her new hubby the script aims for something fast and furious. It comes across much more jarring on film.--THE SHOW'S CREATION: Chase explains how each episode has at least three separately written strands that are literally cut and scotch taped into the script so plotlines go back and forth. Noting that The Sopranos was rejected by all four networks, Chase calls its exile to HBO "the best thing that could have happened because there's no way that the show we now see could have wound up on the screen of network television."--NUANCES: Judge for yourself exactly how even at an early juncture Tony's not-so-Mom-of-the-year Livia wanted to see him bumped off. The scripts also bring out the lust and final-restraint in Tony's wife Carmela's wannabe affair with "schnorer" family priest Father Phil and Tony's suspicions. "What did the two of you do for 12 hours? Play name that Pope?" Tony asks her. Like a great symphony, the final page of this book's final script (Pine Barrens) has a theme bringing this book full circle when a frustrated Tony asks his psychiatrist: "Why does everything have to be so hard? I'm not sayin' I'm perfect but I do the right...thing for my family. Doesn't that count for anything?" Read the Sopranos book of scripts...then YOU decide...

I got this as a gift for someone who is obsessed with the Sopranos and they were so excited. It’s such an impressive looking book and the script looks so cool

I teach screenwriting at the University of New Hampshire. Most of the screenplays I use in my class I receive from the agent of an acquaintance who is a TV producer; without that direct link, my students might not have access to the vast array of great teleplays being produced today.I am thrilled to see this book, which has published the scripts in proper teleplay format. Now any student of teleplay writing can pick it up and see proper font (Courier New, point size 12) and layout. Whether or not you're a fan of the show, this is a must-have book for any aspiring student of the teleplay.

For me, four of these five scripts represent the gold standard in the new golden age of television writing. For anyone who has a notion they'd like to write a TV script, these are a wonderful reference to see how it's supposed to be done. I particularly loved "Pine Barrens," which when you read it, is unexpectedly spare and economical, yet packs a ton into every sentence. The five scripts are introduced by a very articulate and informative essay by David Chase; an insider's view on how they made one of the great TV shows of all time.

Any fan of The Sopranos who is also pursuing the craft of screen writing would appreciate this book. Its one thing to see the performances of its characters but to witness the text behind it and the process ( as described by David Chase himself) is wonderful.

Great scripts from one the best TV shows of all time. Bought as gift for my writer friend but had to read through two entire episodes before wrapping as a present. Such great writing. Contains pilot, three other episodes, and our favorite, Pine Barrens. If you're a fan you'll know how funny that episode is.

Some of the dialogue was much different from the series that finally appeared just like other descriptions of the characters. I enjoyed this very much.

If you are a fan of the show and a fan of writing, you should waste no time and purchase this collection. The WGA recently voted on the Best Written Television shows of all time and The Sopranos was ranked #1. I've never been more pleased with an investment.

I have a huge sopranos fan in my life & they loved it!

Meisterhafte Dialoge, unter anderem aus der Feder von "Christopher"!

Excellent

Must have for real Sopranos fans