Giancarlo Parretti: The Italian Job | 152

Scamfluencers

Wondery

Society & Culture

4.1 • 7K Ratings

🗓️ 31 March 2025

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When Thelma and Louise was being made in the early 1990s, production was in and out of financial trouble. Behind this shortage of cash was an Italian businessman and epic scammer named Giancarlo Parretti, who managed to buy multiple movie studios on two continents through falsified loans from a corrupt bank. Still at large in Italy, Giancarlo seems to be a scammer with nine lives.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, scam influencers fans, Sachi here.
0:02.2	If you live for the outrageous stories and unbelievable cons that we cover, you need Wendry Plus.
0:07.2	It's like sitting in the room with us as we unravel every twist.
0:10.5	Add free a week ahead of everyone else and packed with exclusive content you won't hear anywhere else.
0:16.1	Start your free trial in the Wendry app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify now.
0:27.8	Sachi, I know you love power.
0:32.2	What would you do if you were suddenly in charge of a movie studio?
0:36.8	Every movie would be a sequel to Robocop.
0:41.6	Robocop would be 50 cent. I would be Robocop's love interest.
0:51.8	The movies are seven to ten hours long. No cuts. Okay. As you know, I never want to be in charge of anything ever.
0:54.6	I am a proud follower.
0:57.4	But I think I would maybe reboot Mr. Bean.
1:00.3	Like, he kind of united the world if you think about it.
1:01.2	Oh, yeah.
1:06.1	What if Mr. Bean and Robocop had a crossover and then they fell in love?
1:12.6	Oh, Mr. Bean doesn't have those feelings, but maybe he could teach Robocop the ways of the world.
1:14.1	No, they have to kiss.
1:21.4	Okay, well, Sachi, I think you'll be pleased to know I am bringing you yet another Hollywood scam story.
1:29.1	Today's story is about a guy who claims to have started from nothing and yet managed to scam his way to the top of Hollywood's most iconic studios. You are going to love this. It's March 1990 and Hollywood's Dorothy
1:40.2	Chandler Pavilion is crackling with excitement. That's right, Sachi.
1:44.7	It's the 62nd Annual Academy Awards, and the show is just about to start.
1:49.9	The enormous theater is packed with gorgeous A-listers and Hollywood bigwigs.
	...

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