Why Did Russell Take Frank's Glasses? | The Irishman Explained
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Martin Scorsese’s star studded The Irishman follows Robert De Niro’s hitman Frank Sheeran and his life working under Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa, played by Al Pacino, whilst simultaneously working under his mentor, the mob boss Russell Bufalino played by Joe Pesci.
The job of killing Hoffa is given to Frank Sheeran, one of the many reasons being that he’s one of the few men who can get close enough to Hoffa to taken him out, seeing as though the two are so close.
When Russell Bufalino tells Frank what it is, you can see that the usually stoic and hard Sheeran is close to breaking, there’s a hint of tears but he holds them back. Bufalino knows how close Sheeran is to Hoffa, he knows what effect this is having, but the only other option would be to send both Hoffa and Sheeran to Australia.
After the diner scene where Russell tells Frank he’ll be the one to kill Hoffa, there are no words spoken in the film throughout Frank boarding the plane, landing in Detroit, driving to the house where the hit is about to be carried out, until he meets and greets Sally Buggs. The only words spoken is a short simple instruction given by Russell to Frank while the duo are sitting in their car next to the plane. Frank parks up, Russell takes a look at him and says “gimmie your glasses” and Frank obliges without question, takes a final look at Russell, and gets out of the car to proceed with his mission.
So why exactly did Russell take Frank’s glasses? It’s not something that’s ever referenced again, aside from when Frank returns from the hit, and incomplete silence is handed back the glasses by his boss. No explanation is ever given for this slightly unorthodox scene, so lets take a look at it and see if we can come up with a reason.
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The glasses were a symbol of them being on a vacation, traveling to Philadelphia to see the wedding of Russell's niece, taking the glasses was symbolic of Russell saying let me hold these, your vacation is cut short and it's time for you to do what you do. When frank returns, he once again puts the sunglasses back on and resumes his little vacation. The sunglasses are the symbol of that vacation, taking them represents the interruption of that vacation because Russell has a job for frank, and after the job the vacation can resume
Good perception, but I’d say that by taking the glasses, it allowed Frank’s eyes to be seen and lower Jimmy’s walls.
"The wedding was a peace mission". They were calling Hoffa since the beginning. No vacation.
Nah,he thought the glasses had a device/wire on it,that's probably it
@@gersonlinares2307 correct
Weren't they going to Detroit for the wedding?
Russ sold the glasses for $220. The market took a nose dive and Russ bought the same style glasses back for $75, handed them back to Frank making a $145 profit.
I don’t know why I laughed more than I should’ve at your comment, but I did.
In addition to what the video says, I think Russell wanted to see if Frank was still taking orders from him. If he had hesitated at all or questioned why he needed to give his sunglasses up, Russell would have probably put the green light on Frank too. Since Frank didn’t question him, Russell knew he was still his man.
Good insight…I agree🤙🏼
But Russell loved Frank to death. I dont think he'd okay the hit on Frank.
@@user-rc2uc1kv6w In the mob the ones who love you are the ones who end up killing you the mob world is a fucked place
@@user-rc2uc1kv6wat the end of the day Russ was an old school mobster and if it had to be done he might fight it or do whatever he can to stop it but if it’s already set then he wouldn’t intervene
I never thought of that but I always say it as Russ seeing frank being worried and not just about having to kill Hoffa. I think Russ knew frank was thinking there’s a good chance he’s not being sent to kill jimmy that jimmy’s already dead and he’s being sent to join him so I think this was Russ’ way of telling him that you’re coming back to me and you’re ok I’m taking care of u like always.
I think he wanted to look into his eyes, but also give him a concrete message saying "I'll be here waiting".
Makes perfect sense. My dad is old school and you dont talk to man in sunglasses
Yes, I agree. He wanted to see franks eyes and gauge his emotions. I think it wasn't completely off the table to whack Frank.
The glasses never had the makings of a varsity athlete
Their house looked like shit
Well some called the interior designer
@@finncullen WHERE’D YOU GET THOSE KETCHUP PACKETS?!?
Carmine Lupertazzi : A Hitman doesn't wear glasses
@@attackhelicopterjr4481 That’s meta & clever. If you’re the late J. Gandolfini, you HAVE TO be realllllly uncomfortable knowing “someone” got his personal number.
He was gonna get his shinebox out and clean them while Frank was gone.
🤣...only one Irishman here...
"You been away a long time, maybe they didn't go up there and tell ya, I don't shine shoes anymore..... I shine sunglasses now."
Wow. A shinebox joke. So original.
@@glenbellefonte9620 OK, Morrie.
I like your first interpretation of the scene. I remember watching an interview with Scorsese talking about this scene. As far as I can remember he and Pesci figured something out on set for Russel to do in that scene instead of having him say a corny line like "goodbye" or something.
I think the latter is correct. No shades, no tip-off to Hoffa.
Frank's life was on the line. Just as much as Jimmy's had he not gone through with it. One of the reasons Pesci's character had given Frank the ring was to emotionally cling him to doing something he wanted done. Especially as the scene comes directly after Jimmy is adamant as to not stepping away from trying to regain the union. Even if it was against the mob's orders.
I would also say, its more of a symbol of marriage, Frank wears the ring on his wedding finger (even tho hes married). Its a bond for life.
Russell didn't need to cling anyone to him. More as a token of friendship, so that others would see that Frank was "Russell's kid". Probably to keep Tony Pro from doing something impulsive or stupid, like shooting Frank too.
"Russell gave him one of those rings? He gave one to Angelo too".
I always assumed that after Frank was giving his acceptance speech and acknowledging total support and loyalty to Hoffa, Pro and Tony were talking to Russ about possibly killing Frank as well... the "ring" scene was going to happen regardless that night, (unless Russ carries that large ring around everyday) but it had a very dramatic, significant feel because Russ had just heard his people consider killing Frank and it broke his heart. He obviously made sure that wasn't going to happen but still he was hurt. I also believe Jimmy could have survived up until that second to last phone call when he hung up on Frank. Love this film... finishing it now, again... for the hundredth time.
Frank didn't kill him anyways that's absolutely false no matter if he admitted it or not. But with the movie I agree his life was on the line also yes
I think Russ wanted Frank to make sure Jimmy could see his eyes. And if he had his sunglasses - he could've started acting suspiciously thinking he had the cover of sunglasses to not show in the eyes, and tip Jimmy off to what was about to go down.
So many powerful scenes in this movie without words being spoken.. great acting
It was the whole being able to look Frank in the eyes. Frank looked very serious and almost downright mean in those sunglasses. Could not have Hoffa getting overly suspicious than he already naturally was of people to begin with. They wanted to make sure nothing went wrong with this hit because Jimmy had to “go”.
Did you do it Frankie??? 🤣👍🏻
I thought maybe with him not wearing glasses Hoffa could see his eyes and have more trust in frank. But if he saw the sunglasses he may think that he was on a hit and therefore not go with him once they got there.
Scorsese talked about this in an interview somewhere, If I remember correctly I think he said that there was originally dialogue, but Scorsese didn't think it was right that they would talk after something like that so they came up with this gesture
He wants to see if there is any hesitation in following the command given to him.
Good video with intriguing question. I think you nailed it with, "Not wanting to look like it was going to be a hit."
It’s in the book. Russel used them to keep the sun out of his eyes while he napped. When Frank came back he gave them back.
LMFAO NO WAY. LMFAOO RUSSEL WAS A FUCKIN PIMP FOR THAT 😂😂😂😂
I read that book. Don’t remember that from the book.
@@studinthemaking read it again
I have the book "I heard you paint houses" sitting in my lap. I went over pages 248 to 249. Only mention of anything eye related was Russell's eyepiece that he used to examine jewelry. Sheeran doesn't even mention sitting in the car with Russel at the airport until page 258. He does mention the trip up and watching "Russell nod off to sleep".
This is from page 258, quoted under Fair Use terms and Conditions - "Russell woke up and winked his good eye at me and said softly in his raspy voice "Anyway, I hope you had a pleasant flight, my Irish friend".
No mention of Russell taking off the sunglasses. He woke up while Frank looked at him. Did Frank see his eyes through or around the sunglasses? No mention of it.
I would have let this pass except you had to pop off about "read it again".
So... what is it Kent? Page number of the sunglasses scene in the original book. I got it right here to follow along.
@@jamallabarge2665 Same results here.
“I almost had him, Frankie was he shakin’?!”
It's part of the control that pesci's character has over him. This is a carry on from the breakfast scene where he humiliatingly talks about the hit in the most casual way initially. By taking the sunglasses he is taking Franks only refuge from what he is about to do. As with all of Scorcese's movies, it's about betrayal.
I think you're right on. Russ had the foresight to know Jimmy might be put off about getting in the car, which he did until he noticed Frank. I don't think it necessarily would've mattered if he had the glasses on but Russ trusted Frank to be professional enough to keep his cool which he knew Jimmy would notice and feel better about getting in the car, so he took them just in case. Remember, even with Frank and his son driving, Jimmy still was suspicious enough to ask Frank if he had his gun with him.
I love how Russ said to Frank "I had to put you in this because you would never let it happen." In other words, if you're there, Jimmy can relax because he knows you'd never let anyone hurt him, let alone be the one to kill him. Though I don't personally believe Frank Sheerans story, I do like how Scorsese handled it.
Sheehan’s story actually checks out. People like Michael Fransceze like to spread that it’s fiction, despite not being in that family or era. The watch jimmy gave frank is seen in a real picture of frank sheerhan, as well as the ring he received from russel. There are many pictures with frank sheerhan with Jimmy. There’s also the fact that frank would’ve been whacked with Jimmy if Russel did not give him a pass. Frank and Tony pro were in serious beef at the time, and if russel and frank weren’t so close, they 100 percent both would’ve been killed off. The man wanted to be at peace on his death bed, and began to finally tell his story in a last attempt at his own salvation, but people want to doubt it to keep the mystery going.
The cat Frank sheerhan was in in Jimmy’s death scene had Jimmy’s hair in it which was found. The house Frank sheerhan told the book writer was investigated by police, where traces of blood was found.
After researching this for a while (being the mob fanatic I am) I’m going to conclude frank sheerhan a story was not fiction, just exaggerated at times.
It is a fiction. A very well writen one, underrated imo but a fiction nonetheless
@@josesmith87 I'm sorry but I can't believe Frank. He already told a lie in his book, and that was the Gallo shooting. All of those are facts, but that don't mean he killed Jimmy. I watch Michael Franzese regularly and I can't tell you: that man doesn't lie. He ommits a lot of facts for security purposes, but he doesn't lie. In 70's 80's NY families workes together, so he knows a lot of other guys beside Colombos.
Yeah also Franzese always says "what I have heard". He never states definitively on events unless he has first hand knowledge. Obviously he does not have first hand knowledge on the Hoffa murder. Btw, as we all know, Hoffa's ego got him killed by the mob. Knowing which hired killer did it will not change our lives one iota.
@@knowsmebyname You're right, but I don't think it was Frank who did that. That's my opinion, and as you say we might never know, as it wont change anything
From a filmmaking perspective - During Frank's trip to meet Hoffa, De Niro was acting with his eyes. It might be the most subtle and significant acting De Niro does in the whole film. If he had been wearing glasses, this expression would not have been possible.
Excellent analysis, my man. Really enjoyed this video
Subscribed. Keep em coming!
I was wondering about this earlier today and look - one of my favorite CZcamsrs has a video dedicated to the question!
It's a sign of ownership. Those were Frank's sunglasses. Russell said "Let me have your sunglasses," and he does without questions
Awesome; i always pondered the same question about that scene and your observations make great sense.
I think that holding on to the glasses symbolizes the subliminal message to Frank by Russell that he also was going to hold on to Frank's wife who was back at the hotel...meaning that if everything went the way it was supposed to that Frank would also get his wife back safely 😉
Since many people say that this wasn’t a real account on how Hoffa died. Maybe it was Scorsese telling the audience ok this part of the movie isn’t real and taking off the glasses symbolized a blurred reality in order to make an entertaining movie. Then when the job is done he gives him back the glasses stating ok now back on course with reality?
I thought the first thing as well.. "I'll give them to you when you are back"
He was holding them hostage until the job was done because he knew Frank wouldn't fail if it meant losing his favorite sun glasses. 😎
LOL
My understanding was he was flying from sunny Philadelphia to Detroit which wouldn't be as sunny, a dead Giveaway if he had sunglasses on.
I thought it was just to ensure Irish hed be coming back
In the film, every time Frank kills someone he's never wearing glasses. Maybe it was so that he didn't look suspicious. That's just my takeaway.
Very Captivating movie and video analysis. After the movie I spent hours and hours researching and learning about this period in time.
Excellent observation and well put. I say yes to all this.
One of my first thoughts when I saw him ask for the glasses was if he was as if he was trying to prevent is vent Frank from giving Jimmy any kind of heads up or indication with his eyes to let him know that there was danger. There are a few other reasons I thought of as well. Very cool video though it presents some good ideas.
A combination of things... without glasses, Frank looks less threatening. If an on-guard Hoffa has to look in Frank's eyes before getting into the car, he'll feel more reassured and willing to go.
Russell took the glasses to say I'm your master
Funny how no one in the movie was actually Irish
Maybe Russell figured Frank was gonna get whacked and he liked his shades lol
I had a few thoughts about that moment myself but yours are definitely more interesting and make more sense. Great insight again!
I took it this way. I thought maybe they were prescription sunglasses. Russell knew Frank was friends with Hoffa and was trying to make it easier for him to be able to kill him because everything would be a bit "blurry" and thus less "real" for him 🤷♂️ Maybe I'm totally off but that's what popped into my head
I think that glasses in this film in general represent honesty-lies difference. When characters are wearing glasses they are having something to protect their eyes, and therefore the truth
My interpretation is that he took the sunglasses to help him sleep in the car because it's daylight
i dont know if this was said...reading thru comments is a pain lol but it was russell making sure he was still 100% committed to following orders
But you could also look at taking the glasses as dropping a hint: "You're not going to need these much longer"
I think Russell wanted to see Frank got the killer instinct. The eyes are the window of the soul. Frank could hide behind the shades making as if. I hadn't seen the movie,yet. So,this is purely off the top of my head.
I didn't know you already said what I already wrote.
You haven’t seen the movie yet?!?
@@nickbologna7121 I'm in my 50s and I stopped mostly watching new movies. Plus I don't do live streaming. I might go a theatre for the sopranos prequels. But, since my movie friend died 7 yrs ago im
Picky.
@@sakblabbath3715 I’m very sorry to hear that. May they Rest In Peace.
I forget that not everyone I confer with here is a teenager and that a majority of the adult population do not spend all of their free time streaming shows/ movies.
It was not as good as the book (few are) but it was a very good movie. I do highly recommend it.
Have a great day and sorry again for your loss.
@@nickbologna7121 it's definitely on my list. It's adult subject matter, the director,cast and such makes it interesting. I might even read the book.
I agree with a lot but I think the most accurate was so Deniro didnt embrace how sad the situation was and didn’t have a change of heart.
You can feel the tension and urgency in the meal at the hotel. And the sincerity of the situation from Pesci.
You can see the pain Deniro is allowing himself to express;
“Give me those glasses” means you’re going to dial this remorse down. with sunglasses off, you’re kind of forced to keep it together with your facial expressions in check around others,
Like twins or life long friends, they have this unspoken language.
Deniro hands them off showing he agrees; it’s show time and he better shape up.
Why take a thing you may leave behind in a place you can’t afford to leave it? Leaving glasses -that little sign of who was where …it’s a way of saying Pay attention to what you are doing and leave no trace what you will do.
He took the glasses, as a form of, so he can see the task at hand clearly. Offing Hoffa. That's the way I interrupted it anyway
I initially thought it was so that he could be identified getting on the plane, Ray assuming that the Feds might be spying taking photos of them all the time. Either as an alibi or as incrimination, depending on how the flight plan was lodged/doctored.
It’s easier to cry when you’re wearing shades.
Russ thought to himself I don’t want Frank giving it away by subtlety crying.
He purposely took the shads from Frank . It was almost a “man up” you’ve got a job to do type of thing.
When Frank came back and got into the car , Russ gives the shades back.
At this point Russ is like , cry all you want now if you want.
I'm going with the later explanation. Going without glasses made him look less disarming
The glasses were hiding franks feelings. Russ takes them. Gives them back when it’s time to hide his feelings again
If Hoffa and Frank were good friends, then maybe Russell wanted to see if he was tearing up over it, imagine someone ordering you to take out a friend.
He wanted to see if he was ready and really going to do it. He wanted to see if frank was going through turmoil about the deed. Remember this is the mob and if frank doesn’t go through it then they need to know. He also wanted frank to prepare himself so He’s got a mask on for jimmy. Also in a way it forces frank to be transparent or fake being transparent.
I assumed Russ took the glasses because he was concerned that Frank might lose them, leaving compromising evidence (with fingerprints). But the video's final explanation makes more sense.
I don't think it was an accident. Sunglasses are there to put protection from the environment, I mean in a social sense. No one can see your eye, you can hide your emotion better. They say for someone with glasses "he/she is looking cool", as cool as not disturbed, chill, relaxed, not carrying. Taking away those glasses means "I need to you accept this as necessary, without any emotions. I need to know you are on board with me and you are part of this thing, and we can trust you". So it is dominance, not coming out of ego, but rather a code they follow. Cold-bloodedness is what he is showing with this command to take off glasses.
It’s a lot more simple. Russell took his glasses just incase Frank dropped them on the hit and would have been easily linked to the crime
The reason he took his glasses was Russell thought the glasses would alert the hit. Looking shady didn't look natural. The glasses looked out of place to Russell.
Russell loved Frank...like a brother-in-law
This is common sense folks. You touch ur glasses and leave prints all over them. U take them off and put them on with ur fingers. If he would have left his glasses the FBI would have prints.
I thought it was a nod to the double life Frank was living by working with Hafa and Russ. When Frank returns and gets in Russ's car, he looks like he does when he kills Hafa and then he puts the glasses on and returns to what he looked like with Russ.
I thought no further than it was sunny and Russel forgot his own sunglasses. Shrug.
I saw it as making him look Jimmy in the eyes so Jimmy doesn’t get suspicious.
actually the glasses thing is much more cynical and cruel. It's so that Hoffa will see the eyes of a friend and not get suspicious
Hoffa would have looked deep into his friends eyes to gauge the safety of the situation, the glasses would have tipped a very cautious Hoffa . That’s my opinion
Great video again!
If have a random ?/suggestion….who the fuck is Turnbull in godfather 2? Is he like a Ben Stone from “casino” type guy or just some random “buffer” lol?
I always thought it was yes the first thing you said. It's his way of saying get these when you come back your definitely coming back.
I was thinking about this when I watched it, I thought that's why Frank insisted on sitting in the back seat too, so it wouldn't look odd if he didn't have the glasses on also
glasses are a really easy thing to leave somewhere and forget.. the last thing you need is a whole crew going down for murder because somebody left a pair of glasses at the murder scene
I already had the eye theory.
I thought he left the glasses on to hopefully let Hoffa know what was happening without actually telling him. By taking his glasses, he might have been making sure nothing tipped Hoffa off. although the "you are no longer on vacation" idea I've heard also seems to hold some water.
SILENT KILL...I think it was Russell's "unsaid command" on what Frank was supposed to do for his "job." All he said before was he had something for him to do, should only take a few hours, tops. By taking his sunglasses, he pretty much said what he was being sent to do.
I think Russell saw Frank start to break when he told him what it is. In addition to the interpretation presented, I think Russell wanted to see if Frank was moved emotionally before sending him out, because that could compromise his ability to get the job done.
i just wanted to know the brand of glasses
My thought was always so Hoffa didn't get tipped off
My interpretation is Russ took the glasses, so Frank wouldn't leave it behind anywhere....evidence.
I think he just wanted to look Frank in the eyes to see if he had any reservations about murdering his close friend that's all.
Could be to see Frank's soul if he's willing to do the hit sometimes we can see hesitation in people's eyes or fear also the eyes are the window to our souls and to see our true intentions.
He wanted to see his eyes
he ask frank for glasses to see if he still follow orders as their relation ship is just an exchange. a favor for favor bruh. thats why russle hired him anyways, he a soldier and just follow orders his whole life to the end
Lets face it: Flying to kill Hoffa is a huge plot hole. More likely non of this ever happened... mulling over the glasses seems like a red herring.
Maybe all of the above. But when I first saw this, thought he did it so he wouldn't look so suspicious.
I always thought that he asked for them so that he could sleep in the car and not have the sun in his eyes
When I first watched the movie, I immediately thought of reason #1, but yeah, the latter absolutely makes sense, come to think of it.
Of course it was simply good thinking on Frank's part. Wearing the glasses would put out red flags. I know Jimmy was a professional by now but Frank was just being cautious. However it is a scene that can be argued.
Up until frank got off of the plane killed jimmy and got back on the plane he thought he was a deadman too thats why he was so jumpy and didnt want to sit in the front seat with sally behind him he was scared to death he wasnt gonna return
Great vid
As someone whose dad was basically run out of Canada for being involved with trying to make workers lives clearer and healthier (no, not a union THEN) in a economic crap hole similar to the mines, labor, and areas of the USA where Hoffa started in the 1920's (100 years ago) and was one of the few that LIVED and wasn't MURDERED by state sponsored corporations and robber barons, and THEN went through the dirty thirties, the film needs a PROLOGUE: How did Hoffa GET to where he got, along with the timeline of the Kennedy's, whose FATHER Joseph ALSO thrived along that same time line, albeit as a "Member of Structure". Hoffa HAD to run: his Teamsters' Pension was forfeit (I'm googling but no sure how THAT happened). It was the only JOB he knew. Watch his interview after release from prison. Jury tampering?? Please. That's the only thing you could get him on?? Where's the money?? He didn't stash it like so many "Members of Structure". !! Too many friends I respect think this is the real history of Hoffa. It does him and the Union movement a disservice.
I don’t think it’s near as complicated as explained. It could have been so no accidental evidence would be left. He might’ve had to take off the glasses inside to see better and after the crime was committed, there was a slim but possible chance of forgetting them. No matter how good you are or how experienced you may be, there’s always room for error and that’s why so many are caught.
Joe peci's character was a stark contrast from playing other mobsters in casino and goodfellas. Any other mob boss would order a hit on frank after he whacks Jimmy to clean up loose ends. Russell was a good friend to Frank, and he really tried to save Jimmy but couldn't in the end. Russell was a likable guy to the audience, not like Tommy or Nicky. It's a good character to end on for Joe peci.
To see if Sheeran was still emotionally compromised!
I think it was a multilayered reason. It was to assert dominance and to also be able to see what’s in his eyes and to put Hoffa at ease. The reason it’s something to come back to is a crock of shit because if they were going to knock him they would, and besides his wife was there to come back to.
NO,
god !
If Frank didnt do it, someone else would and theyd leave his glasses at the scene.
In otherwords if Frank doesnt do it, hes involved one way of the other.
Its similar to the Iceman. When Ray Liotta hired the iceman, he gets him to shoot the "bum" and then takes the gun with his prints ,as a guarantee.
So if Frank doesnt do it, they can frame him for it. (and he knows it)
And the last explanation; if hes not resolute , Hoffa would sense it and not get into the car, which also means Frank might turn.
Both guarantee that he,ll do it
He took the glasses simply because otherwise it would be very obvious to Hoffa that it was a hit.
Could Russell have held the glasses to help Frank in case of an alibi?
Dont hide your sadness behinde those shades rn go do the job then you can hide your sadness wich is what deniro dose forever morns
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