Question: I don't understand what Henry is hiding from Paulie when gets out of jail? And also, why is Henry cheating, and does Karen know? (01:00:00 - 02:00:00)
zendaddy621
29th Jul 2019
Goodfellas (1990)
18th Nov 2016
Goodfellas (1990)
Question: Tommy was executed for killing Billy Batts - but Jimmy and Henry tried to help cover the killing up. How come they'd didn't get punished for that?
Answer: Tommy was the only one who actively participated in Billy Batts' murder, so although Henry and Jimmy were accessories to the murder, they were probably overlooked given Tommy's reputation and because Tommy was "above" them within the hierarchy of their family. It's also implied within Henry's voiceover that Tommy was basically handed over by his family to Batts' family because Batts was a made man, ie. untouchable, and Tommy was not "made" to avoid further violence between the families and possible full-blown gang war; Jimmy and Henry's involvement was either unknown to or overlooked by Batts' people.
He was killed by a hit man for trying to rape Karen while Henry was in prison. The whole time she was sleeping with Paulie to pay the bills. Paulie was keeping him away from Gotti's crew as long as possible. The attempted rape was the end. Real life.
9th Jan 2015
Goodfellas (1990)
Question: Why does Henry ask the taxi driver to take him to jail? Aren't the police supposed to take you immediately after the sentencing hearing? Why could he make his own way to jail when he wanted, and why didn't he just run away?
Chosen answer: Convicted criminals aren't always taken immediately to prison upon their sentencing, especially when they're free on bail pending their trial and sentencing hearings. As is often the case in such instances, he was probably given a short time (usually a week) to get his affairs in order before reporting for his incarceration voluntarily; had he not reported on time, police would have been sent to procure him.
Answer: He didn't mean to take him directly to prison, he meant to be taken to the court house or police station to be taken into official custody.
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Answer: Henry is hiding because he's become addicted to cocaine, which he knows will cause Paulie to consider him to be too great of a liability to the mob. Henry cheated on his wife simply because he was afforded the opportunity, and Karen was indeed aware of Henry's infidelity throughout most of their marriage, but she mostly overlooked it because she'd become too accustomed to the cushy lifestyle of a mob wife to risk giving it up by divorcing Henry; it's possible she also didn't want their kids to suffer through their parents' breakup.
zendaddy621