In “Goodfellas” (1990), Tommy DeVito’s (Joe Pesci) Mom Is Portrayed by Martin Scorsese’s Mom

Did you know? Martin Scorsese’s mother, Catherine Scorsese was a constant and beloved figure on the sets of her son’s films. Her presence went beyond simple motherly support. She was an essential part of the production family, frequently appearing in her son’s movies, typically playing maternal characters or providing cameos. Her most famous role was as Tommy DeVito’s mother in Goodfellas (1990) where her performance in the famous late night dinner scene was largely improvised.

Catherine sits at her kitchen table in Goodfellas, serving a late-night meal to Tommy (Joe Pesci), Jimmy (Robert De Niro), and Henry (Ray Liotta). This scene is legendary because it was almost entirely unscripted; the director simply told his mother to feed the actors and let the conversation happen naturally. Catherine’s genuine concern for “her boys,” unaware that they had a body in the trunk of their car, provided the film with its most darkly comedic and humanizing chapter. The brilliance of the scene lies in her improvised dialogue about her painting of a man with two dogs, a detail that was based on a real painting she had in her own home.

The visual style of the kitchen sequence utilized warm, domestic lighting and tight, intimate framing to create a sanctuary that felt miles away from the street violence. The actors were encouraged to talk over each other and eat for real, which resulted in the “Sunday gravy” atmosphere that made the film feel so authentic to the Italian-American experience. De Niro’s genuine laughter during the painting discussion was kept in the final cut, as it showed a rare moment of relaxed camaraderie between the characters. The wardrobe department used simple, unglamorous aprons and housecoats for Catherine, grounding her in the reality of a neighborhood mother who lived for her family rituals.

Historical accounts of the production reveal that Catherine actually cooked the food seen on the screen, filling the set with the real aromas of a New York kitchen. This sensory realism helped the actors get into the mindset of the characters, showing the domestic side of the “wise guys.” When the film was released in 1990, critics praised this scene for its unique tone and its ability to blend horror with humor. Fans still quote the “one dog goes one way” line as a highlight of the movie. It remains a masterclass in using non-actors to achieve emotional truth. Catherine Scorsese gave the film its heart, reminding the audience that even monsters have mothers who worry about whether they’ve had enough to eat.

40 Vibrant Vintage Photos of the 1974 Oktoberfest in Munich

The 1974 Oktoberfest in Munich took place from September 21 to October 6, captivating millions of locals and international visitors during the vibrant golden era of the 1970s.

Held on the traditional Theresienwiese grounds, the festival showcased classic Bavarian culture with large beer tents, lively brass band performances, and folk dances. Attendees gathered to enjoy liters of local festbier served in traditional glass tankards alongside hearty dishes like grilled chicken, sausages, and giant pretzels.

Accompanied by iconic vintage poster designs, classic carnival rides, and a bustling festive atmosphere, the 1974 event stood out as a memorable celebration that further cemented Munich’s reputation as the world’s premiere beer festival destination.

These vibrant vintage photos, via smata2, capture the lively spirit and festive atmosphere of the 1974 Oktoberfest in Munich. From crowded beer tents filled with cheerful revelers in traditional dirndls and lederhosen to bustling fairgrounds, massive steins of beer, and joyful parades, the images perfectly reflect the energy, color, and tradition of one of the world’s largest folk festivals.

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Meet Jonathan the Tortoise, the World’s Oldest Reptile and Probably the Oldest Living Land Animal

Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa), a subspecies of the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea). His age is estimated to be 193 as of 2026, making him the oldest known living land animal as well as the oldest verified tortoise in recorded history. He was officially named in Guinness World Records “Icons” list. Jonathan lives on the grounds of the Plantation House on Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Jonathan, hatched circa 1832, was brought to Saint Helena from the Seychelles (then under the British Crown colony of Mauritius) in the Indian Ocean in 1882, along with three other tortoises at about 50 years of age. He was named in the 1930s by Governor of Saint Helena Sir Spencer Davis and has lived through 31 governors’ terms. He continues to live on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the governor, and is cared for by the government of Saint Helena. His exact age is unknown, but in November 2022 Nigel Phillips, Governor of Saint Helena, granted him an official birthday of December 4.

In December 2015, the Saint Helena veterinarian Joe Hollins said that Jonathan was “alive and well [...] He’s blind from cataracts, has lost his sense of smell, and so cannot detect food ... but he has retained excellent hearing.” In January 2016, the BBC reported that Jonathan was given a new diet intended to keep him healthy and extend his life. Due to his advanced age, Jonathan spends his days doing almost everything with his mate Frederik, another male tortoise he was introduced to in 1991.

To mark Jonathan’s supposed 190th birthday in February 2022, island officials planned to make a series of commemorative stamps and visitors received a certificate featuring a photograph of his first known footprint. On December 4, 2022, local residents arranged three days of Jonathan’s birthday celebration, presenting a cake made entirely from his favorite foods.

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30 Fascinating Photos of Everyday Life in Chattanooga From the 1890s

These fascinating photos, from Charles Gustavus Walline (March 30, 1874—July 14, 1943), offer a rare and captivating window into everyday life in Chattanooga, Tennessee, during the 1890s.

Captured in striking detail, the images showcase bustling street scenes, local residents in period clothing, horse-drawn carriages, early industrial landscapes, and the daily routines of a growing Southern city.

From lively markets and Victorian homes to workers and families going about their day, these vintage photos beautifully preserve the atmosphere, architecture, and spirit of Chattanooga at the end of the 19th century, a pivotal time of change and progress in American history.

A group with their bicycles

Charles Walline and a young woman lounge on the lawn near White Oak Cemetery

Charles Walline on a bicycle, riding on a dirt road

Chattanooga street scenes

Chattanooga street scenes

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36 Photographs of Robin Williams on the Set of “Good Morning, Vietnam” (1987)

When Barry Levinson’s Good Morning, Vietnam hit theaters in late 1987, it marked a watershed moment for Robin Williams. Up to that point, Hollywood had struggled to capture his electric, high-wire comedic energy on film without it feeling either overly constrained or scattered. Playing real-life Armed Forces Radio Service DJ Adrian Cronauer proved to be the perfect vessel, giving Williams the freedom to unspool brilliant, rapid-fire improvisations in front of the mic while anchoring the story in the stark, sobering realities of 1965 Saigon.

Because filming in Vietnam wasn’t possible in 1986, production took place in and around Bangkok, Thailand. The heat and humidity were relentless, but the location provided authentic Southeast Asian architecture and vibrant street life to recreate 1965 Saigon.

Levinson reportedly set up multiple cameras in the radio studio set, gave Williams a few basic bullet points, and simply let him riff. Almost all of Cronauer’s frantic, brilliant radio broadcasts were improvised on the spot by Williams in single, unbroken takes.

Outside the radio booth, the film explored the rising tension before full-scale military involvement. Williams struck a delicate balance between irreverent humor and empathetic connections with local Vietnamese civilians and GI soldiers.

The performance earned Williams his very first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and solidified his status as a major cinematic lead capable of blending top-tier comedy with deep dramatic resonance. In 2000, the film ranked number 100 on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years...100 Laughs” list, containing 100 movies considered the funniest movies in American cinema.

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Polish Prisoners in Dachau Toast Their Liberation From the Camp, 1945

This famous photograph of Polish prisoners in Dachau toasting their liberation captures a powerful moment of joy and survival following the arrival of American forces on April 29, 1945.

Dachau, located near Munich in Bavaria, Germany, was the first Nazi concentration camp, established in 1933. Initially intended for political prisoners, it later held people from many groups, including Jews, Roma, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, and others targeted by the regime. By the end of the war, it and its numerous sub-camps held tens of thousands of inmates under brutal conditions involving forced labor, medical experiments, starvation, disease, and executions. Poles formed one of the largest groups of prisoners there (many arrested for resistance activities or as part of the broader occupation of Poland).

On April 29, 1945, units of the U.S. Seventh Army (primarily the 45th Infantry Division, with elements of the 42nd and others) approached and liberated the main Dachau camp. They encountered horrific scenes: thousands of emaciated prisoners, piles of bodies, and evidence of mass murder. The camp was officially surrendered, though some SS guards resisted or tried to flee, leading to further violence. The liberation marked one of the final major camp liberations in the European theater as Allied forces closed in on Nazi Germany in the war’s last weeks.

Many survivors faced long roads to recovery, repatriation (complicated for Poles due to the Soviet occupation of their homeland), and rebuilding their lives. The camp was used briefly for displaced persons afterward. Dachau became a key site for war crimes trials and a memorial today.

The photo stands as powerful visual testimony to both the horrors of the Holocaust/concentration camp system and the resilience of those who endured it.

45 Amazing Photos of a Beautiful Charlotte Gainsbourg in the 1990s

Charlotte Gainsbourg, born in 1971, has long been a figure of fascination in both the music and film industries. Daughter of iconic French singer Serge Gainsbourg and English actress Jane Birkin, Charlotte’s life has been defined by both artistic inheritance and personal struggles.

One of her most significant challenges, as revealed in a 2014 interview with Psychologies, was overcoming the overwhelming anxiety and shyness that plagued her daily life. Gainsbourg confessed that simple tasks, such as making a phone call or walking through a restaurant, once seemed insurmountable for her. Her candid reflections, which she shared with humor and insight, give us a deeper understanding of the pressures of living in the public eye while struggling with personal insecurities.

In the 1990s, Gainsbourg’s career began to blossom, both as an actress and a singer. In 1993, she worked with renowned photographer Luc Roux, capturing some of the most intimate and revealing moments of her early adulthood. These photographs, full of introspective expression, are a visual testament to her evolution as an artist. During this time, Gainsbourg released her self-titled album, which marked her transition into music. Her vulnerability and emotional depth became apparent in her songs, reflecting the themes of struggle and self-awareness that she openly discussed. As she grew older, her confidence in both her personal and professional life began to flourish, helping her to overcome the anxiety that had once held her back.

Today, Charlotte Gainsbourg stands as an influential figure, not only for her artistic contributions but also for her courage in confronting her personal battles. Her honesty in interviews and her willingness to share her journey with the world have inspired countless people to embrace their own vulnerabilities. Whether through her acting in films like Antichrist (2009) or her music, Gainsbourg continues to captivate audiences, proving that even the most passive personalities can find their audacity to thrive in the world.

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