Karen Hill's True Story Goodfellas Leaves Out (But With Subtle References)

Good companions tells the story of Henry Hill and parts of the story of his wife, Karen Friedman Hill, but there is an important aspect of Karen's story that the film left out. Good companions follows Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), an associate of the Lucchese family who worked for Paul Cicero and also alongside some notable gangsters of the time such as Jimmy “The Gent” Conway and Tommy DeVito. Good companions it also covered Henry's marriage to Karen (Lorraine Bracco) and the various ups and downs of their relationship.

Although Karen was initially disturbed by Henry's criminal activities, she eventually became drawn into the glamorous lifestyle that came with being a mobster's wife and even became involved in some of Henry's shady drug deals at the end of Good companions. However, there is an important part of Karen Hill's real story that wasn't included. Good companions: Her affair with Paul Vario (Cicero in the film). While it's surprising that the film avoids addressing such a dramatic aspect of the story, Good companions subtly hints at the truth.

Why Goodfellas Left Out Parts of Karen Hill's True Story

Henry Hill revealed the truth and his connection to Tommy's death

According to Henry Hill himself in your memoir Gangsters and GoodfellasWhile in prison after being convicted of racketeering in 1974, Tommy DeSimone (DeVito in Good companions) beat and tried to rape Karen, but at the time Karen was having an affair with Paul Vario. After learning what Tommy tried to do to Karen, Paul allegedly killed Tommy, telling the Gambino crime family that Tommy was the one who killed Billy Batts..

Although Karen and Paulie's case was not included or mentioned in Good companionswas subtly referenced in the scene where Paulie and Jimmy confront Henry about him cheating on Karen after she told them about it. Paulie told Henry he would talk to her, saying he knows “how to talk to her, especially her”, which is seen as a subtle reference to the real-life affair between them.

The reason this part of Karen Hill's story was left out Good companions It could simply be because this is Henry's story, not hers, and if it was given prominence at certain points, it was more to contextualize the crew's lifestyle and how they are gradually seduced by it, and also as a complement to the crew's style. Henry's life story.

Karen's affair with Paulie wouldn't have really helped or added to the plot of Good companionsand would have eliminated the mystery and speculation surrounding Tommy's death, which remains an unsolved case in real life. Karen Hill filed for divorce in 1990 and it was finalized in 2002, and since then she has lived her life as far away from the spotlight as possible, while Henry Hill passed away in 2012.

What else does Goodfellas leave out of the true story?

Another important gangster was omitted from the film

While Good companions is a gripping account of the real-life activities of these mob figures, as with any film based on a true story, it makes some changes to the facts and leaves out some key elements. In many cases, these changes are intended to make the story more streamlined and effective. However, like Karen's affair with Paulie, some details were left out of the film that seem like they would be interesting to include.

The film brings to life several real-life crime figures who were involved in the story, but Good companions leaves out John Gotti's part in the story. Gotti followed a similar path to Henry Hill in the film, starting out doing chores for some of the bosses before working his way up. He was in the same circles as Hill and the others, but shares a close connection to the story, as some have suggested he was responsible for Tommy DeSimone's death.

There's another interesting detail left out about what happens after the movie ends. Good companions ends with Hill reluctantly accepting his new life in witness protection. However, in reality, this didn't last, as he ended up being kicked off the show for telling too many people who he was and his connection to the mob. This could have been an interesting way to end the story, as it makes it clear that Hill couldn't let go of the gangster life, even when it put him in danger.