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The Sopranos Scriptbook by David Chase
Bada-bing! A selection of the finest scripts from The Sopranos, including the first ever episode and the opening part of the eagerly awaited third series. The Sopranos - just your average, everyday New Jersey mafia family. Tony Soprano has a long-suffering wife, two children, a beautiful home and some major headaches...His mother wants him dead, his psychiatrist can't leave him alone and the FBI are taking an unhealthy interest in his business. What's a guy to do? Featuring five crackling scripts taken from all three series (including scenes that never made it to transmission), colour photographs and an exclusive introduction by series creator, writer and director David Chase, The Sopranos Scriptbook is a must-have companion to this compelling show.
Hardcover
First published October 26, 2001
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About the author
David Chase
40 books14 followersDavid Chase is an American screenwriter, director, and television producer. Chase has worked in television for more than 30 years; he has produced and written for shows as The Rockford Files, I'll Fly Away, and Northern Exposure. He has created two original series; the first, Almost Grown, aired for 10 episodes in 1988 and 1989. Chase is best known for his second original series, the influential and critically acclaimed HBO drama The Sopranos, which aired for six seasons between 1999 and 2007. A prominent figure in American television, Chase has won seven Emmy Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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June 12, 2025“Leave ✋ the fuckin’ cheese 🧀 there👇! I love ❤️🫶fuckin’ cheese 🧀 at 👉 my feet🦶. I stick motherfuckin’ provolone 🤌🧀 in my socks ➡️🧦 at night 🌃😴 so they smell👃 like your sister’s🧍♀️crotch 🩲💨 in the morning 🌇🌞! Leave ✋the fuckin’🗣️, cocksuckin’ 🍆👅 cheese 🧀 where it is👇👊!”
February 16, 2016
The challenge with reading these now is that the scenes from the show run in my head and I hear the dialog through those actors voices. Great scripts, but that acting! Still the dialog on the page is incredibly sharp at times, the lines gifts to the actors. Some weak stuff, too, of course. The real strength of these scripts is the interweaving of crime-life and family-life and the lesson is to not be in one-track story mode. In life, shit is always happening, always getting in the way, and you need to make the story just as messy. On that these scripts deliver. Small moments, though abound. A look, a comment, a glimpse. Those are some of the strongest moments on the page. Even stronger than the big violent scenes.
May 16, 2019
Loved reading these. My whole family read them as w ell. We were such huge fans of The Sopranos that it was really tough when the series ended.
So it was fun to read the collection of selected script. Not as fun as watching it on television but we did have a blast reading all the scripts. I think any Soprano fan may want to read these. Am very surprised there are not more reviews.
So it was fun to read the collection of selected script. Not as fun as watching it on television but we did have a blast reading all the scripts. I think any Soprano fan may want to read these. Am very surprised there are not more reviews.
July 18, 2023
Just exceptional writing.
August 29, 2011
5 scripts from the first three seasons of sopranos, each a masterpiece of tv writing.
The pilot episode establishes the amazingly rich and variable character of Toni Soprano. violent, vulnerable, and complete with a greek tragedy mom.
the College episode is David Chase's favorite episode. three stories that revolve around the issue of trust. this is indeed a standalone chapter - it could stand by itself as a 1 hour drama, which is always a good sign when talking series.
the last episode kept me laughing throughout: Paulie and Christopher get lost in the woods of south Jersey trying to kill an already dead Russian "internal designer" (security.. internal security). they survive on bags of ketchup and tic tacs (no joke)
and interrupt Tony's juggling between lover and wife
The pilot episode establishes the amazingly rich and variable character of Toni Soprano. violent, vulnerable, and complete with a greek tragedy mom.
the College episode is David Chase's favorite episode. three stories that revolve around the issue of trust. this is indeed a standalone chapter - it could stand by itself as a 1 hour drama, which is always a good sign when talking series.
the last episode kept me laughing throughout: Paulie and Christopher get lost in the woods of south Jersey trying to kill an already dead Russian "internal designer" (security.. internal security). they survive on bags of ketchup and tic tacs (no joke)
and interrupt Tony's juggling between lover and wife
December 14, 2011
Read this for university this semester. The writing of each episode is complex and the characters layered. However, I still believe The Wire is the better programme out of the two HBO headliners.
The Sopranos broke a lot of ground, and many crime shows since (like our show Underbelly) have this to be thankful for. Of course, The Sopranos walks all over Underbelly.
My favourite episode that I've read would have to be the pilot episode with "Pine Barrens" coming in a close second. The latter had a mysterious atmosphere that was both cool and a little creepy.
The Sopranos broke a lot of ground, and many crime shows since (like our show Underbelly) have this to be thankful for. Of course, The Sopranos walks all over Underbelly.
My favourite episode that I've read would have to be the pilot episode with "Pine Barrens" coming in a close second. The latter had a mysterious atmosphere that was both cool and a little creepy.
December 16, 2010
Great writing in itself, and interesting to see how the written words evolved to the final production.
June 2, 2024
"So what, no fucking ziti⁉️" - AJ Soprano
February 25, 2017
Read for personal research. I found this work of immense interest.
Great format for reading each script along with the corresponding episodes and adding notes.
This work is one of my resource sources for ghost authoring for E.MH. Ratterman.
I found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.
Overall, this work is also a good resource for the researcher, enthusiast and scriptwriter.
Great format for reading each script along with the corresponding episodes and adding notes.
This work is one of my resource sources for ghost authoring for E.MH. Ratterman.
I found this book's contents helpful and inspiring - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.
Overall, this work is also a good resource for the researcher, enthusiast and scriptwriter.
April 4, 2007
5 scripts from the first three seasons of sopranos, each a masterpiece of tv writing.
The pilot episode establishes the amazingly rich and variable character of Toni Soprano. violent, vulnerable, and complete with a greek tragedy mom.
the College episode is David Chase's favorite episode. three stories that revolve around the issue of trust. this is indeed a standalone chapter - it could stand by itself as a 1 hour drama, which is always a good sign when talking series.
the last episode kept me laughing throughout: Paulie and Christopher get lost in the woods of south Jersey trying to kill an already dead Russian "internal designer" (security.. internal security). they survive on bags of ketchup and tic tacs (no joke)
and interrupt Tony's juggling between lover and wife
The pilot episode establishes the amazingly rich and variable character of Toni Soprano. violent, vulnerable, and complete with a greek tragedy mom.
the College episode is David Chase's favorite episode. three stories that revolve around the issue of trust. this is indeed a standalone chapter - it could stand by itself as a 1 hour drama, which is always a good sign when talking series.
the last episode kept me laughing throughout: Paulie and Christopher get lost in the woods of south Jersey trying to kill an already dead Russian "internal designer" (security.. internal security). they survive on bags of ketchup and tic tacs (no joke)
and interrupt Tony's juggling between lover and wife
January 1, 2014
It's hard to find Sopranos screenplays online, and this book collects a few good ones from early seasons. I loved the show and think it had some of the best writing in tv or film that I've seen. The Pine Barrens episode is a masterpiece, in my opinion. I plan to return to these scripts in the future.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews