"Amour Fou" is the 38th episode of the HBOoriginal seriesThe Sopranos and the 12th of the show's third season. Its teleplay was written by Frank Renzulli from a story idea by series creator, David Chase. It was directed by Tim Van Patten and originally aired on May 13, 2001.
and Meadow are visiting the Brooklyn Museum when Carmela has to go to the restroom to use a tampon. She has some alarming symptoms and fears ovarian cancer. When she comes back, she is brought to tears upon seeing Jusepe de Ribera's The Holy Family with Saints Anne and Catherine of Alexandria. Watching something sentimental on television, she begins to cry and is unnerved when she realizes it is only a commercial for dog food. She takes confession with a priest who tells her to learn to live only on what the "good part" of her husband earns, and to forgo the rest. On his advice she sees an OB-GYN, who tells her she has a thyroid problem. Tony continues to see Gloria, even as her erratic behavior continues. Dr. Melfi uses the term "amour fou". Gloria happens to meet Carmela. She gives her a lift home, eliciting information from her. When Tony discovers this, he furiously breaks up with her. Gloria phones him, sobbing wildly. He goes to her home, and gently explains again that he is breaking up with her. She threatens to tell Carmela and Meadow about their affair. When Tony, enraged, starts strangling her, she urges him to kill her. He is able to stop, and leaves her with a warning. Later, he sends Patsy to repeat the warning: he goes for an ostensible test drive with her, pulls the car over on a deserted rural road, holds her at gunpoint, and tells her that if she ever contacts Tony or his family again, he will kill her. Jackie Jr. and his friends Carlo and Dino decide to rob Eugene's poker game, after Ralphie tells them how Tony and Jackie's father gained recognition for a similar heist. The dealer, Sunshine, keeps heckling the would-be robbers and is fatally shot by a panicking Jackie. In the ensuing firefight, Furio is shot in the thigh and Carlo is killed. Jackie and Dino find that their wheelman, Matush, has fled and left them at the mercy of Christopher and Albert. Jackie flees in a carjacked vehicle, abandoning Dino, who is shot dead. The next morning, Ralphie meets Tony to discuss how to deal with Jackie. Tony enigmatically tells him to follow his instincts, and says that he is sure he will do the right thing. Ralphie wants to give him a "pass" but is full of doubt. He blames Jackie Sr. for "spoiling" his son, embraces Tony, and leaves. Outside, his internal conflict is apparent on his face. At home, he tries to comfort Rosalie, who is distraught.
Deceased
"Sunshine": a card dealer for the mob who was shot during the poker robbery by Jackie Jr.
Carlo Renzi: shot by Christopher in the face during the poker robbery.
Dino Zerilli: shot in the head outside of the Aprile hangout by Christopher, Ally Boy Barese.
Title reference
The translation from French is "crazy love", a term Dr. Melfi uses to describe the conflicted relationship between Tony and Gloria. Tony later mispronounces it "Our mofo."
Production
On the commentary on the season three DVD, David Chase affirms that this episode features "the biggest gunfight we ever shot."
The tiny shell casings which can be seen striking the pavement after Chris executes Dino outside the card game were added into the scene in post-production using CGI.
Other cultural references
Jackie and Dino are seen watching the famous "leg cross" scene from the film Basic Instinct on television.
Tony tells Dr. Melfi that Gloria reminds him of a princess in a Spanish painting, a "Goyim." He means to refer to Goya.
Tony calls Gloria's Buddha statue "a real Captain Marvel".
Jackie and Dino are also seen watching a documentary on Vanilla Ice.
Music
This episode opens with the same music that closes the previous episode, "Pine Barrens" – the aria "Sposa son disprezzata" from the opera Bajazet by Antonio Vivaldi, sung by Cecilia Bartoli.
"Return To Me " by Dean Martin is playing while Ralphie tells Jackie Jr. and Dino about when Tony and Jackie Sr. robbed Feech LaManna's card game.
The Bangles' song, "Walk Like an Egyptian", is playing in the Ooh-Fa Pizzeria, a regular hangout of Chris, when he sits down with Jackie and Dino.
The music played when Ralph returns home to comfort Rosalie is a Bob Dylan cover of a Dean Martin song, "Return To Me". It was recorded for this episode at Dylan's request, as he is an admitted fan of the series .
