1.
Joe Mantegna
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Joseph Anthony Joe Mantegna, Jr. is an American actor, producer, writer, director, and voice actor. Mantegna began his career on the stage in 1969 with the musical Hair, expanding to film and television, Mantegna is best known for his roles in box office hits including Three Amigos, The Godfather Part III, Forget Paris and Up Close & Personal. As of the 2015–2016 TV season, he stars in the CBS television series Criminal Minds as FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi. Since the 1991 episode Bart the Murderer, Mantegna has had a role on the animated series The Simpsons as mob boss Fat Tony. Mantegna has starred in the series First Monday and Joan of Arcadia and he earned Emmy Award nominations for his roles in three different miniseries, The Last Don, The Rat Pack, and The Starter Wife. He has also served as producer for various movies and television movies, including Corduroy, Hoods. Parkers fictional detective Spenser in three movies between 1999 and 2001, and has narrated several audiobook readings of the Spenser novels. An avid firearm enthusiast, he is the host of MidwayUSAs Gun Stories on the cable television Outdoor Channel and his daughter Gia Mantegna is also an actor. Mantegna was raised Catholic and attended J. Sterling Morton High School East in Cicero and he studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University from 1967 to 1969. While still a man in Chicago, he played bass in a band called The Apocryphals, which later played with another local group, The Missing Links. Mantegna is still close to the original members of Chicago. Mantegna made his debut in the 1969 stage production of Hair. He co-wrote Bleacher Bums, a play which was first performed at Chicagos Organic Theater Company. In the movie Xanadu, he had a role which was cut, although since his name is in the films credits. Mantegna won a Tony award for his portrayal of Richard Roma in David Mamets play Glengarry Glen Ross and he has had a long and successful association with Mamet, appearing in a number of his works. Mantegna made his film debut in Medusa Challenger. He played womanizing dentist Bruce Fleckstein in Compromising Positions and he starred in an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1985 called Shelter Skelter. His other early roles were supporting performances in The Money Pit, Weeds
2.
The Godfather Part III
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The Godfather Part III is a 1990 American crime film written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, and directed by Coppola. A sequel to The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, it completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia kingpin who attempts to legitimize his criminal empire. The film also includes fictionalized accounts of two events, the 1978 death of Pope John Paul I and the Papal banking scandal of 1981–82. The film stars Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, and Andy García, and features Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, George Hamilton, Bridget Fonda, Coppola and Puzo preferred the title, The Death of Michael Corleone, but Paramount Pictures found that unacceptable. Coppola subsequently stated that The Godfather series is two films and that Part III is the epilogue, Part III received mixed reviews compared to the critical acclaim that the first two films received. It grossed $136,766,062 and was nominated for seven Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture, in 1979, as Michael Corleone is approaching 60, he regrets his ruthless rise to power and is especially guilt-ridden for having his brother Fredo murdered. He has semi-retired from the Mafia, leaving management of the business to Joey Zasa. Michael uses his tremendous wealth and power in an attempt to rehabilitate his reputation via numerous charitable acts, Michael and Kay are divorced, their children, Anthony and Mary, live with Kay. At a ceremony in St. Patricks Old Cathedral, Michael is named a Commander of the Order of Saint Sebastian, at the reception, Anthony tells his father that he is leaving law school to become an opera singer. Kay supports his decision, but Michael asks Anthony to complete his law degree, Anthony refuses to adhere to his fathers wishes. Michael and Kay have a reunion, in which Kay reveals that she. Vincent Mancini, Sonny Corleones illegitimate son with Lucy Mancini, arrives at the reception and he is embroiled in a feud with Zasa, who has involved the Corleone family in drug trafficking and turned Little Italy into a slum. Michaels sister, Connie, arranges a meeting between Vincent and Zasa, when Zasa calls Vincent a bastard, Vincent bites Zasas ear. Vincent overpowers two hitmen sent to him and learns that Zasa was responsible. Michael, troubled by Vincents fiery temper but impressed by his family loyalty and he makes a tender offer to buy the Vaticans 25% share in the company, which will give him controlling interest. Immobiliares board quickly approve the offer, pending ratification by the Pope, Don Altobello, an elderly New York Mafia boss and Connies godfather, visits Michael, telling him that his old partners on the Commission want in on the Immobiliare deal. Michael wants the deal untainted by Mafia involvement and pays off the mob bosses from the sale of his Las Vegas holdings, Zasa receives nothing and, declaring Michael his enemy, storms out. Altobello follows Zasa, saying he will reason with him, minutes later, a helicopter hovers outside the conference room and opens fire
3.
Mario Puzo
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Mario Gianluigi Puzo was an American author, screenwriter and journalist of Italian descent. He is known for his novels about the Mafia, most notably The Godfather. He received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the first film in 1972, Puzo also wrote the original screenplay for the 1978 Superman film. His last novel, The Family, was released posthumously in 2001, Puzo was born in the Hells Kitchen neighborhood of New York City, into a poor family from Pietradefusi, Province of Avellino, Campania, Italy. Many of his books draw heavily on this heritage, after graduating from the City College of New York, he joined the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. Due to his eyesight, the military did not let him undertake combat duties. In 1950, his first short story, The Last Christmas, was published in American Vanguard, after the war, he wrote his first book, The Dark Arena, which was published in 1955. At periods in the 1950s and early 1960s, Puzo worked as a writer/editor for publisher Martin Goodmans Magazine Management Company. Puzo, along other writers like Bruce Jay Friedman, worked for the company line of mens magazines, pulp titles like Male, True Action. Under the pseudonym Mario Cleri, Puzo wrote World War II adventure features for True Action. Puzos most famous work, The Godfather, was encouraged by a suggestion of the publisher of his The Fortunate Pilgrim who thought that if there was more mafia that it would have more successful. A story outline was prepared and presented to the publisher, who rejected it, after several publishers were approached, Putnam editors met with him without having read the outline. He told them a few stories and the project was approved, with the advance, he got on with the project. He had heard anecdotes about Mafia organizations during his time in pulp journalism and he was looking to write something that would appeal to the masses. He found his audience with the novel, a bestseller for months on the New York Times Best Seller List. The book was developed into the film The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie received 3 awards of the 11 Academy Award category nominations, Coppola and Puzo then collaborated on sequels to the original film, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III. Puzo wrote the first draft of the script for the 1974 disaster film Earthquake, Puzo also wrote the original screenplay for Richard Donners Superman which, at the time, also included the plot for Superman II, as they were originally written as one film
4.
Francis Ford Coppola
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Francis Ford Coppola, also credited as Francis Coppola, is a semi-retired American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is considered to have been a figure of the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking. After directing The Rain People, he co-wrote the 1970 film Patton and he followed with The Godfather Part II in 1974, which became the first sequel to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. The Conversation, which he directed, produced and wrote, was released same year. He next directed 1979s Apocalypse Now, while notorious for its lengthy and strenuous production, the film was widely acclaimed for its vivid and stark depiction of the Vietnam War, winning the Palme dOr at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival. Coppola is one of only eight filmmakers to win two Palme dOr awards, while a number of Coppolas ventures in the 1980s and 1990s were critically lauded, he has never quite achieved the same commercial success with films as in the 1970s. His most well-known films released since the start of the 1980s are the dramas The Outsiders and Rumble Fish, the crime-drama The Cotton Club, and his movies The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and Apocalypse Now are often ranked among the greatest films of all time. Coppola was born in Detroit, Michigan, to father Carmine Coppola, a flautist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Coppola is the second of three children, his older brother was August Coppola, his younger sister is actress Talia Shire. Born into a family of Italian immigrant ancestry, his grandparents came to the United States from Bernalda. His maternal grandfather, popular Italian composer Francesco Pennino, immigrated from Naples, Coppola received his middle name in honor of Henry Ford, not only because he was born in the Henry Ford Hospital but also because of his musician-fathers association with the automobile manufacturer. Contracting polio as a boy, Coppola was bedridden for periods of his childhood. Reading A Streetcar Named Desire at age 15 was instrumental in developing his interest in theater, eager to be involved in film-craft, he created 8mm features edited from home movies with such titles as The Rich Millionaire and The Lost Wallet. As a child, Coppola was a student, but he was so interested in technology. Trained initially for a career in music, he became proficient on the tuba, overall, Coppola attended 23 other schools before he eventually graduated from the Great Neck North High School. He entered Hofstra College in 1955 with a major in theater arts, there he was awarded a scholarship in playwriting. This furthered his interest in directing theater despite the disapproval of his father, Coppola was profoundly impressed after seeing Sergei Eisensteins October, Ten Days That Shook the World, especially with the movies quality of editing. It was at this time Coppola decided he would go into cinema rather than theater, Coppola also gives credit to the work of Elia Kazan and for its influence on him as a director. Amongst Coppolas classmates at Hofstra were James Caan, Lainie Kazan and he later cast Lainie Kazan in One from the Heart and Caan in The Rain People and The Godfather
5.
Gangster
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A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime, gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster. Gangs provide a level of organization and resources that support much larger, gangsters have been active for many years in countries around the world. Some gangsters, such as Al Capone have become infamous, gangsters are the subject of many novels and films, particularly from the period between 1920 and 1990. Some contemporary criminals refer to themselves as gangsta in reference to non-rhotic Black American pronunciation, in todays usage, the term gang is generally used for a criminal organization, and the term gangster invariably describes a criminal. Much has been written on the subject of gangs, although there is no consensus about what constitutes a gang or what situations lead to gang formation and evolution. For example, the view that illegal drug distribution in the United States is largely controlled by gangs has been questioned. A gang may be a small group of people who cooperate in criminal acts, as with the Jesse James gang. But a gang may be a group with a formal organization that survives the death of its leader. The Chicago Outfit created by Al Capone outlasted its founders imprisonment and death, the term organized crime is associated with gangs and gangsters, but is not synonymous. A small street gang that engages in sporadic low-level crime would not be seen as organized, an organization that coordinates gangs in different countries involved in the international trade in drugs or prostitutes may not be considered a gang. The Sicilian Mafia, or Cosa Nostra is a syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is an association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure. The origins lie in the upheaval of Sicilys transition out of feudalism in 1812, under feudalism, the nobility owned most of the land and enforced law and order through their private armies. After 1812, the feudal barons steadily sold off or rented their lands to private citizens, primogeniture was abolished, land could no longer be seized to settle debts, and one fifth of the land was to become private property of the peasants. Organized crime has existed in Russia since the days of Imperial Russia in the form of banditry and thievery, in the Soviet period Vory v Zakone emerged, a class of criminals that had to abide by certain rules in the prison system. One such rule was that cooperation with the authorities of any kind was forbidden, in 1988 the Soviet Union legalized private enterprise but did not provide regulations to ensure the security of market economy. Crude markets emerged, the most notorious being the Rizhsky market where prostitution rings were run next to the Rizhsky Railway Station in Moscow, as the Soviet Union headed for collapse many former government workers turned to crime, while others moved overseas
6.
American Mafia
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The American Mafia, also referred to as the Italian Mafia or the Italian-American Mafia, is a highly organized Italian-American criminal society. The organization is referred to by members as Cosa Nostra or La Cosa Nostra. The Mafia in the United States emerged in impoverished Italian immigrant neighborhoods in New Yorks East Harlem, Lower East Side and it has its roots in the Sicilian Mafia but is a separate organization in the United States. Today, the American Mafia cooperates in various activities with Italian organized crime groups, such as the Sicilian Mafia, Camorra in Naples. The most important unit of the American Mafia is that of a family, despite the name of family to describe the various units, they are not familial groupings. The Mafia is currently most active in the Northeastern U. S. especially in New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New England while also being active in Chicago and Florida. At the Mafias peak, there were at least 26 cities around the United States with Cosa Nostra families, with many more offshoots and associates in other cities. There are five main New York City Mafia families, known as the Five Families, the Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese, Bonanno, at its peak, the Mafia dominated organized crime in the U. S. Each crime family has its own territory and operates independently, while nationwide coordination is overseen by the Commission, the term Mafia was originally used in Italy by the media and law enforcement to describe criminal groups in Sicily. The origins of the term are debatable though most agree the term is derived from the word Maafir a term rooted in Arabic, like the Sicilian Mafia, the American Mafia did not use the term Mafia to describe itself. Neither group has a name and instead used the term cosa nostra when referring to themselves. Mafia properly refers to either the Sicilian or Italian-American Mafia, kennedys political team, referred to as the Irish Mafia. The press also coined the name National Crime Syndicate to refer to the network of U. S. organized crime, which includes the Jewish Mafia elements. The first published account of what became the Mafia in the United States dates to the spring of 1869, emigration from southern Italy to the Americas was primarily to Brazil and Argentina, and New Orleans had a heavy volume of port traffic to and from both locales. The Black Hand was a given to an extortion method used in Italian neighborhoods at the turn of the 20th century. It has been mistaken for the Mafia itself, which it is not. The Black Hand was a society, but there were many small Black Hand gangs. Black Hand extortion was often viewed as the activity of a single organization because Black Hand criminals in Italian communities throughout the United States used the methods of extortion
7.
Joseph Colombo
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Joseph Anthony Joe Colombo, Sr. was the boss of the Colombo crime family, one of the Five Families of the Cosa Nostra in New York. Joseph Colombo, Sr. was born into an Italian American family and his father, Anthony Colombo, was an early member of the Profaci crime family, forerunner of the Colombo family. In 1938, he was strangled in a car with his mistress. Joe Colombo attended New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn for two years, then dropped out to join the U. S. Coast Guard, in 1945, he was diagnosed with neurosis and discharged from the service. His legitimate jobs included ten years as a longshoreman and six years as a salesman for a meat company and his final job was that of a real estate salesman. Colombo owned a modest home in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn and an estate in Blooming Grove. His five children include sons Christopher Colombo, Joseph Colombo Jr. Colombo followed his father into the Profaci family. He became one of the familys top enforcers, and soon became a capo, in 1961, Joe Gallo and his crew kidnapped Colombo and other members of the Profaci leadership. Gallo was demanding a more equitable split of income from Profaci, after several weeks of negotiation, Profaci and the Gallo brothers reached a deal. Colombo and the hostages were released. Later in 1961, Profaci reneged on the deal and the First Colombo War started, on June 6,1962, Profaci died and Joseph Magliocco succeeded him as boss. Magliocco was soon drawn into a plot with Bonanno crime family boss Joseph Bonanno to murder Lucchese crime family boss Tommy Lucchese and Gambino crime family boss, Carlo Gambino. Magliocco wanted to retaliate against the two bosses for their support of the Gallos, and supported Bonannos bid to take over Mafia Commission, Magliocco gave the contract to Colombo, who promptly revealed the plot to Lucchese and Gambino. The Commission forced Magliocco to retire and named Colombo as the new boss, at the age of 41, Colombo was one of the youngest crime bosses in the country. He was also the first American-born boss of a New York crime family, unlike his fellow bosses, he wasnt shy about confronting law enforcement. For instance, when he was called in for questioning about the murder of one of his soldiers, Colombo appeared without a lawyer and dressed down the detective who called him in, I am an American citizen, first class, he snapped. I dont have a badge that makes me a good guy like you. On May 9,1966, Colombo was sentenced to 30 days in jail for refusing to answer questions from a jury about his financial affairs
8.
John Gotti
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John Joseph Gotti Jr. was an Italian-American gangster who became boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti and his brothers grew up in poverty and turned to a life of crime at an early age, the FBI indicted members of Gottis crew for selling narcotics, and Gotti took advantage of growing dissent over the leadership of the crime family. Gotti was one of the most powerful and dangerous crime bosses in America, during his era he became widely known for his outspoken personality and flamboyant style, which gained him favor with much of the general public. His peers avoided attracting attention, especially from the media, but Gotti became known as The Dapper Don for his expensive clothes, law enforcement authorities continued gathering evidence against Gotti that helped lead to his downfall. Gottis underboss Salvatore Sammy the Bull Gravano is credited with the FBIs success in finally convicting Gotti, in 1992, Gotti was convicted of five murders, conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling, extortion, tax evasion, and loansharking. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole and was transferred to United States Penitentiary, Gotti died of throat cancer on June 10,2002, at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. According to former Lucchese crime family boss Anthony Gaspipe Casso, What John Gotti did was the beginning of the end of Cosa Nostra, John Gotti was born in the Bronx, New York on October 27,1940. While his parents were born in the US, his ancestors came from San Giuseppe Vesuviano, in the province of Naples. He was the fifth of the thirteen children of John Joseph Gotti, Sr. the fifth, Vincent, was initiated in 2002. His father worked irregularly as a day laborer and indulged in gambling, as an adult, John Gotti came to resent his father for being unable to provide for his family. In school, Gotti had a history of truancy and bullying other students, Gotti was involved in street gangs associated with New York City mafiosi from the age of 12. When he was 14, he was attempting to steal a cement mixer from a site when it fell, crushing his toes. Gotti met his future wife Victoria DiGiorgio, a Russian-Jew in 1958, the couple were married on March 6,1962. They had four children, daughter and three sons, Gotti attempted to work legitimately in 1962 as a presser in a coat factory and as an assistant truck driver. However, he could not stay crime-free and, by 1966, had been jailed twice, as early as his teens, Gotti was running errands for Cositakins Carmine Fatico, a capo in the Anastasia crime family which became the Gambino family following the murder of boss Albert Anastasia. Gotti carried out truck hijackings at Idlewild Airport together with his brother Gene, during this time, Gotti befriended fellow mob hijacker and future Bonanno family boss Joseph Massino, and he was given the nicknames Black John and Crazy Horse. It was around this time that Gotti met his mentor and Gambino underboss Aniello Neil Dellacroce, Dellacroce regaled Gotti with tales of past Mafia glories under Albert Anastasia, leading Gotti to adopt Anastasia as his role model. In February 1968, United Airlines employees identified Gotti as the man who had signed for stolen merchandise, the FBI arrested him for the United hijacking soon after
9.
Caporegime
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Caporegime is an Italian word, which is used to signify the head of a family in Sicily, but has now come to mean a ranking member, similar to captain or senior sergeant in a military unit. In general, the indicates the head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate who commands a crew of soldiers. The Mafia, particularly the American Mafia, is divided into distinct. Individual crew members report to the capo, the crew collects protection and other money for the capo, who at regular intervals gives a share of the collected money to the underboss and/or the boss. Estimates of average income of a capo varies and is difficult to quantify, income is dependent on the success and size of a capos crew and the state of the economy at the time. Mafia crews are usually independent from other, with members typically operating strictly within their own crew. Asking Mafia members how many crews and how individuals are in a family is prohibited because of the Mafias oath of secrecy. Sometimes a crew might specialize in areas like gambling, while other crews might be more involved in legitimate interests like construction. A crew might also operate in certain geographical areas, the number of caporegimes/crews depends on the size of a family. The Gambino crime family has had more than 20 capos whereas the St. Louis crime family has had fewer, in the Mafia, when a boss makes a decision, he passes instructions down through the chain of command. Whenever he issues orders, in most cases he gives them to the capo, in some cases, he gives orders to the consigliere, who in turn passes them to the capo. In either case, it is the capo who passes them to the soldiers in his crew, for years, this made it extremely difficult to indict a boss for illegal acts, since the soldiers almost never receive orders directly from him. A caporegime acts as a buffer between the soldiers and the boss, effectively, a caporegime operates his own small family within the framework of a larger family. Each capo is in charge of a mini-gang or a crew of soldiers and these men may or may not be based in close proximity. For example, Bonanno crime family capo Joey Gambino had crew members spread throughout New Yorks five boroughs, capos have varying degrees of power. Some are relatives or close friends of the boss, which gives them more influence, a capo with an active crew that generates a lot of profits is always respected. For example, when he was a capo, John Gotti was widely respected and tolerated due to the profits his crew generated for the Gambino crime family, despite their various blunders and mistakes, they successfully avoided getting killed by their superiors and were tolerated due to this fact. On the other hand, capo Joe Sferra of the DeCavalcante crime family was demoted to soldier, in 1984, a more severe loss of power occurred to Salvatore Salvie Testa, a once rising Philadelphia crime family capo
10.
Peter Clemenza
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Peter Clemenza is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzos novel The Godfather and two of the three films based on it. He is played by Academy Award-nominee Richard Castellano in Francis Ford Coppolas film adaptation of the novel, born near Trapani, Sicily, Peter Clemenza is one of Don Vito Corleones caporegimes and oldest friends, as well as the godfather of his eldest son, Sonny. He has a reputation as a judge of talent, his regime produced no fewer than five future capos—Sonny, Frank Pentangeli, Rocco Lampone, Al Neri. He is a character in the story, but several of his actions are key to the plot. Vitos wife, Mrs. Corleone, is the girls god-mother, Clemenza assigns the job to his button man Paulie Gatto, who recruits two former professional boxers turned Corleone Family loan enforcers to assist. A deleted scene from the film depicts Gatto delivering the beating, when the family discovers that Gatto helped Virgil Sollozzo and the Tattaglia Family set up Vito to be assassinated, Sonny orders Clemenza to execute him. Clemenza considers Gattos actions a personal insult, having recruited and personally groomed him, according to the novel, Sonny Corleone initially suspects Clemenza was involved in the conspiracy, but Clemenza is eventually cleared. Clemenza chooses Rocco Lampone, then an associate, to do the hit on Gatto so Lampone can make his bones. Clemenza has Gatto drive him and Lampone around for hours on the pretext of locating housing for Corleone soldiers in the event war breaks out with the other crime families. After Lampone shoots Gatto, Clemenza—upon returning to the car after relieving himself—utters his most famous line in the film, the plan succeeds, and while Michael hides in Sicily, Clemenza prepares for an all-out war against the remaining four families. The war ultimately claims Sonnys life, and Vito resumes his leadership role, upon returning to New York, Michael succeeds his father as the familys operating head. Michael agrees, but insists they wait a short while longer, when Michael is targeted for assassination by Don Emilio Barzini, who was behind Sonnys murder, Clemenza is initially suspected of being the Corleone family traitor. Tessio is the traitor, and he is killed, Clemenza, on Michaels orders, personally murders both Don Victor Stracci and Carlo Rizzi, Michaels brother-in-law, who conspired with Barzini to murder Sonny. In the book, Clemenza is last seen greeting Michael as Don Corleone, Clemenza appears briefly in Puzos second Godfather installment, The Sicilian. He meets with Michael during his exile in Sicily, at his brother Domenico Clemenzas home in Trapani and they discuss what the fate of Turi Giuliano is to be, following the orders of a recovering Vito Corleone. Clemenza tells Michael that he should report to him after a week, with or without Giuliano, Clemenza then leaves on a boat to Tunis, telling Michael that he would be back the following day to bring him back to date with the Dons orders. Clemenzas gradual takeover of the Corleone empire in New York is briefly covered in The Godfather Returns and it also tells of Clemenzas involvement during Michaels return from exile and eventual, official initiation into the Corleone crime family. Most noteworthy, the novel depicts Clemenzas fatal heart attack, the Pentangeli character was created to play the role intended for Clemenza
11.
Frank Pentangeli
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Frank Frankie Five Angels Pentangeli is a fictional character from the film The Godfather Part II. In the film, he was portrayed by Michael V. Gazzo, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance and he gets his nickname from his last name, which is Greco-Italian for five angels. Born as Francesco Pentangeli in Partinico, Sicily, Pentangeli has a brother named Vincenzo who remains in the country. He was a top soldier in the regime of Peter Clemenza and he also moved into Vitos former estate in Long Beach, Long Island. His bodyguard is longtime soldier Willi Cicci, in The Godfather, Part II, Frank Pentangeli is portrayed as a very old associate and family friend who has been with the family since the early days of the Corleone olive oil business. Pentangelis character was conceived in The Godfather, Part II by Coppola, the Pentangeli character took the part in the plot which was originally intended for Clemenza. Michael refuses, however, and orders Pentangeli to do nothing, as he not want a war to interfere with an upcoming deal with Hyman Roth. Pentangeli takes this as an insult and leaves in anger, later that night, Michael narrowly escapes an assassination attempt at his home. Michael concludes on his own that Roth was behind the assassination attempt, after visiting Florida to seal the deal with Roth, Michael pays an unannounced visit to Pentangeli on Long Island and asks him to help take his revenge. As part of his plan, he insists that Pentangeli capitulate to the Rosato brothers so that Roth will not suspect that Michael is on to him. Pentangeli, preferring open warfare against Roth and the Rosatos, is again very aggravated by Michaels demand that Pentangeli give in to them, however, he reluctantly obeys Michaels order. Following Michaels orders, Pentangeli arranges a meeting with the Rosato brothers, arriving at the meeting place, Pentangeli leaves his bodyguard outside and enters the bar alone. Once inside, Tony Rosato ambushes Pentangeli with a garotte, telling him, a policeman, curious that the bar is occupied during the daytime, steps inside and the attack degenerates into a shootout in the street. Pentangeli disappears and is believed to be dead, both Pentangeli and Cicci have been in the protective custody of the FBI since the apparent attempt upon his life. Cicci has also disclosed this to the FBI, however, he is unable to directly implicate Michael in any criminal activities, due to buffers in the Corleone organization he never received orders directly from Michael. In contrast, since Pentangeli was a capo, there is no insulation between Michael and himself, the Senate subcommittee and the FBI thus consider Pentangeli very credible, and are certain that he can corroborate Ciccis testimony and charge Michael with perjury. While the Committee is in recess, Michael and others look for a way to avoid the perjury charges, Michael knows that Pentangelis protective custody is too secure to make an attempt on his life before he testifies. Instead, Michael flies Pentangelis brother, Vincenzo, in from Sicily, Vincenzo and Frank exchange a silent glance before the hearing
12.
Michael V. Gazzo
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Michael Vincenzo Gazzo was an American playwright who later in life became a film and television actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Godfather Part II, Gazzo was born on April 5,1923. He was a member of the Actors Studio and would go on to train such actors as Debra Winger, Henry Silva. He authored the gritty Broadway play about drug addiction A Hatful of Rain and it starred Ben Gazzara and Shelley Winters in the two lead roles, and subsequently was adapted into a film by Oscar-winning director Fred Zinnemann in 1957. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, a 1968 made-for-television version starred Peter Falk, Sandy Dennis and Michael Parks. Gazzos other screen writing credits include the Elvis Presley American musical drama King Creole in 1958 and he also authored the Broadway play The Night Circus starring Ben Gazzara. As an actor, Gazzo was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Frank Pentangeli in The Godfather Part II and he lost to Robert De Niro, who played Vito Corleone in the same film. Gazzo died in 1995 due to complications from a stroke and he was buried in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles
13.
The Godfather Part II
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The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a screenplay co-written with Mario Puzo, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. The Godfather Part II opened to mixed reviews critics, many of whom praised its cinematography while finding its nonlinear narrative disorganized. It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, however, and became the first sequel to win for Best Picture and its six Oscar wins included Best Director for Coppola, Best Supporting Actor for De Niro and Best Adapted Screenplay for Coppola and Puzo. Pacino won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, both The Godfather Part II and its predecessor remain highly influential films in the gangster genre, and the former has been reevaluated. In 1997, the American Film Institute ranked it as the 32nd-greatest film in American film history, some have deemed it superior to the 1972 original. It was selected for preservation in the U. S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1993, being deemed culturally, historically, the Godfather Part III, a later sequel, was released in 1990. In 1901, the family of nine-year-old Vito Andolini is killed in Corleone, Sicily, Vito escapes to New York City and is registered as Vito Corleone on Ellis Island. In 1958, during his sons First Communion party at Lake Tahoe, Corleone caporegime Frank Pentangeli is dismayed that Michael will not help him defend his Brooklyn territory against the Rosato brothers, who work for Michaels business partner Hyman Roth. That night, Michael leaves Nevada after surviving an assassination attempt at his home, in 1917, Vito Corleone lives in New York with his wife Carmela and son Sonny. He loses his job due to the nepotism of local extortionist Don Fanucci, Michael suspects Roth of planning the assassination, but meets with him in Miami and feigns ignorance. In New York, Pentangeli attempts to maintain Michaels façade by making peace with the Rosato family, on New Years Eve, he tries to have Roth and Roths right-hand man Johnny Ola killed, but Roth survives when Michaels bodyguard is discovered and shot by police. Michael accuses his brother Fredo of betrayal after Fredo inadvertently reveals that hed met with Ola previously, batista abruptly abdicates due to rebel advances, during the ensuing chaos, Michael, Fredo, and Roth separately escape to the United States. Back home, Michael learns that his wife Kay has miscarried, three years later, Vito and Carmela have had two more sons, Fredo and Michael. Vitos criminal conduct attracts the attention of Fanucci, who extorts him and his partners, Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio, wish to avoid trouble by paying in full, but Vito insists that he can convince Fanucci to accept a smaller payment by making him an offer he wont refuse. During a neighborhood festa, he stalks Fanucci to his apartment, in Washington, D. C. a Senate committee on organized crime is investigating the Corleone family. Having survived the attempt on his life, Pentangeli agrees to testify against Michael, who he believes had double-crossed him. Now a respected figure in his community, Vito is approached for help by a widow who is being evicted. After an unsuccessful negotiation with Vito, the landlord asks around, learns of Vitos reputation
14.
New York City
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The City of New York, often called New York City or simply New York, is the most populous city in the United States. With an estimated 2015 population of 8,550,405 distributed over an area of about 302.6 square miles. Located at the tip of the state of New York. Home to the headquarters of the United Nations, New York is an important center for international diplomacy and has described as the cultural and financial capital of the world. Situated on one of the worlds largest natural harbors, New York City consists of five boroughs, the five boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx, and Staten Island – were consolidated into a single city in 1898. In 2013, the MSA produced a gross metropolitan product of nearly US$1.39 trillion, in 2012, the CSA generated a GMP of over US$1.55 trillion. NYCs MSA and CSA GDP are higher than all but 11 and 12 countries, New York City traces its origin to its 1624 founding in Lower Manhattan as a trading post by colonists of the Dutch Republic and was named New Amsterdam in 1626. The city and its surroundings came under English control in 1664 and were renamed New York after King Charles II of England granted the lands to his brother, New York served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790. It has been the countrys largest city since 1790, the Statue of Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they came to the Americas by ship in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is a symbol of the United States and its democracy. In the 21st century, New York has emerged as a node of creativity and entrepreneurship, social tolerance. Several sources have ranked New York the most photographed city in the world, the names of many of the citys bridges, tapered skyscrapers, and parks are known around the world. Manhattans real estate market is among the most expensive in the world, Manhattans Chinatown incorporates the highest concentration of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere, with multiple signature Chinatowns developing across the city. Providing continuous 24/7 service, the New York City Subway is one of the most extensive metro systems worldwide, with 472 stations in operation. Over 120 colleges and universities are located in New York City, including Columbia University, New York University, and Rockefeller University, during the Wisconsinan glaciation, the New York City region was situated at the edge of a large ice sheet over 1,000 feet in depth. The ice sheet scraped away large amounts of soil, leaving the bedrock that serves as the foundation for much of New York City today. Later on, movement of the ice sheet would contribute to the separation of what are now Long Island and Staten Island. The first documented visit by a European was in 1524 by Giovanni da Verrazzano, a Florentine explorer in the service of the French crown and he claimed the area for France and named it Nouvelle Angoulême. Heavy ice kept him from further exploration, and he returned to Spain in August and he proceeded to sail up what the Dutch would name the North River, named first by Hudson as the Mauritius after Maurice, Prince of Orange
15.
The Commission (mafia)
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The Commission is the governing body of the American Mafia, formed in 1931. The Commission replaced the Boss of all Bosses title with a committee consisting of the New York Five Families bosses. The last known Commission meeting held with all the bosses was in November 1985, before the Commission was formed, the American Mafia crime families were under control of one man known as the capo di tutti capi. This man held great power over all their bosses, leading to disputes, in 1929, two New York Mafia bosses, Joe The Boss Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano, fought over the title in the Castellammarese War. Masseria was murdered on April 15,1931, allowing Maranzano to assume the title of capo di tutti capi, Maranzano began to divide all the national criminal gangs into several crime families. Charles Lucky Luciano and his allies decided that Maranzano would be removed, after Maranzanos murder in 1931, the Mafia families called a meeting in Chicago. The purpose of the meeting was to replace the old Sicilian Mafia regime of boss of all bosses, charlie Luciano established a Mafia board of directors to be known as The Commission to oversee all Mafia activities in the United States and serve to mediate conflicts between families. Charlie Luciano was appointed chairman of the Commission, the Commission agreed to hold meetings every five years or when they needed to discuss family problems. The Commission held the power of approving a new boss before he could take over officially, the New York Five Families also decided that the names of all new proposed members must be approved by the other families. After the new proposed member is approved by the other families, the Commission allowed Jewish mobsters Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Louis Lepke Buchalter, Dutch Schultz, and Abner Longie Zwillman to work alongside them and participate in some meetings. In 1935, Dutch Schultz questioned the Commissions authority when he wanted to have prosecutor Thomas Dewey murdered, instead, the Commission had Schultz killed on October 23,1935. The Commission used Louis Buchalters Murder, Inc. to dispose of any rivals to their authority, in 1936, Charles Lucky Luciano was imprisoned, which allowed bosses Vincent Mangano, Joseph Profaci, Joseph Bonanno, Tommy Gagliano, and Stefano Magaddino to take control of the Commission. The five bosses were all from the faction of the commission. The conservative faction selected Vincent Mangano as the new chairman, in 1946, the Havana Conference was arranged by Charles Luciano to discuss with the Commission the American Mafias future. In 1951, conservative faction leader Vincent Mangano went missing and Albert Anastasia sided with liberal-American faction members Frank Costello, the power of the Commission shifted from the conservative-Sicilian faction to the liberal-American faction. Jack Dragna, boss of the Los Angeles crime family for 25 years, since Dragnas death in 1956, the Los Angeles crime family has been represented by the Chicago Outfit. The Commission is still reported to exist today, though its current membership is composed of only the bosses of the Five Families and its activities have receded from public view as a matter of necessity, like much of the Mafia in general. The five New York City bosses have not met since Paul Castellano was killed in 1985 because of increased law enforcement scrutiny, the Commission no longer meets as a whole, but they still must approve major actions
16.
Michael Corleone
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Michael Corleone is the main protagonist of Mario Puzos novel The Godfather and the three Godfather films directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Michael was portrayed by Al Pacino, for which he was twice-nominated for Academy Awards, Michael Corleone was recognized as the 11th most iconic villain in film history by the American Film Institute, although some critics consider him to be a tragic hero. Born in 1920, Michael is the youngest son of the mafia don Vito Corleone and his wife and he has two older brothers, Santino Sonny Corleone and Frederico Fredo Corleone and a younger sister, Constanzia Connie Corleone. The family consigliere, Tom Hagen, is their informal adoptive brother, the story begins in the summer of 1945. Michael has been discharged from the Marine Corps having been wounded, his father and he returns home to attend his sister Connies wedding, accompanied by Kay Adams, his college sweetheart. Michael stays for a few weeks before re-entering college without consulting his family, unlike his two older brothers, Michael does not want to join the Corleone business. Vito does not want Michael to join the Corleone criminal empire either, when the United States entered World War II in 1941, Michael had enlisted in the Marine Corps. During the war, he was in the Pacific and he received a battlefield commission to the rank of captain and is awarded the Navy Cross for bravery. In 1944, his war heroism is featured in Life magazine, just before Christmas 1945, Vito is severely wounded in an assassination attempt by drug kingpin Virgil Sollozzo, throwing Michael into the middle of the Mafia world he had for so long avoided. Michael reaffirms his loyalty at his fathers bedside, then prevents Sollozzos second attempt on Vitos life, captain McCluskey, a corrupt NYPD officer on Sollozzos payroll, breaks Michaels jaw. Knowing that his fathers life is in danger while Sollozzo lives, Michael proposes that he murder Sollozzo, Sonny dismisses the idea, believing that killing McCluskey would invite police retribution, it is a hard and fast rule in the American Mafia that policemen are not to be harmed. However, Michael persuades him that McCluskey has crossed into their world by serving as Sollozzos bodyguard, a meeting between Sollozzo and Michael is arranged. At the restaurant, Michael retrieves a handgun that his fathers caporegime Peter Clemenza had planted in the bathroom and kills Sollozzo, Michael flees to Sicily, where he spends two years under the protection of Vitos longtime ally, Don Tommasino. Michael meets and falls in love with a local woman named Apollonia Vitelli. They marry and when Michael is notified that Sonny has been murdered, Apollonia is killed by a car bomb intended for Michael. Fabrizio, Michaels bodyguard, planted the bomb after being bought off by the Corleones rivals, Michael returns to the United States in early 1951 and assumes Sonnys role as Vitos heir apparent. He and his plot to wipe out the other New York Dons. Meanwhile, Michael convinces his father the time is right to remove the family from the Mafia, more than a year after his return, Michael reunites with Kay and they marry
17.
Al Pacino
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Alfredo James Al Pacino is an American actor of stage and screen, filmmaker, and screenwriter. DeMille Award, and the National Medal of Arts and he is also one of few performers to have won a competitive Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony Award for acting, dubbed the Triple Crown of Acting. He achieved international acclaim and recognition for his role as Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppolas The Godfather. He received his first Oscar nomination and would reprise the role in the successful sequels The Godfather Part II. Pacinos performance as Corleone is now regarded as one of the greatest screen performances in film history, for his performances in The Godfather, Dick Tracy and Glengarry Glen Ross, Pacino was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. A lifelong fan of Shakespeare, Pacino directed and starred in Looking for Richard, a film about the play Richard III. He has also acted as Shylock in a 2004 feature film adaptation, since 1994, Pacino has been the joint president of the Actors Studio with Ellen Burstyn and Harvey Keitel. Pacino was born in New York City, to Sicilian-American parents Salvatore Pacino and Rose and his mother moved to The Bronx to live with her parents, Kate and James Gerardi, who, coincidentally, had come from a town in Sicily named Corleone. His father, who was from San Fratello in the Province of Messina, moved to Covina, California, in his teen years Sonny, as he was known to his friends, aimed to become a baseball player, and was also nicknamed The Actor. Pacino went through Herman Ridder Junior High School, but in secondary school dropped out of many classes and he attended the High School of Performing Arts, but dropped out of school at age 17. His mother disagreed with his decision, they argued and he left home and he worked at low-paying jobs, messenger, busboy, janitor, and postal clerk, to finance his acting studies. He once worked in the room for Commentary magazine. He began smoking and drinking at age nine, and took up casual cannabis use at age 13 and his two closest friends died from drug abuse at the ages of 19 and 30. Growing up in The Bronx, he got into fights and was considered something of a troublemaker at school. He acted in basement plays in New Yorks theatrical underground but was rejected for the Actors Studio while a teenager, Pacino then joined the Herbert Berghof Studio, where he met acting teacher Charlie Laughton, who became his mentor and best friend. In this period, he was unemployed and homeless, and sometimes slept on the street, in theaters. In 1962, his mother died at the age of 43, the following year, Pacinos grandfather James Gerardi, one of the most influential people in his life, also died. After four years at HB Studio, Pacino successfully auditioned for the Actors Studio, the Actors Studio is a membership organization of professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights in the Hells Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City
18.
Vincent Corleone
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Vincent Santino Corleone is a fictional character in the 1990 feature film The Godfather Part III, in which he is portrayed by Andy García, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance. Vincent is the son of Sonny Corleone and his mistress Lucy Mancini. He eventually succeeds his uncle Michael as head of the Corleone family, retroactive continuity was employed to create the characters existence for The Godfather Part III, as it is evident from Mario Puzos original novel that Lucy did not conceive a child with Sonny. In The Godfather, Sonny Corleone and Lucy Mancini were having an illicit affair, being illegitimate, as a youth he was not included in the Corleone family. Vincent is eventually embroiled in a feud with Zasa when he senses that Zasa is trying to usurp Michaels power, Michael tries to make peace between the two, but this fails, Zasa calls Vincent a bastard, and Vincent bites his ear. That night, Zasa sends two hitmen to kill Vincent, but Vincent kills them instead after forcing them to reveal who hired them. Vincent attempts to ingratiate himself with his uncle by protecting him from rival Mafia families, who are in league with Zasa, encouraged by his sister Connie, Michael takes Vincent under his wing and starts mentoring him. Michael admires Vincents loyalty and intelligence, but also notes that the man has his fathers recklessness. Vincent saves Michael from an assassination orchestrated by Zasa at a Mafia summit in Atlantic City. That same night, Michael is hospitalized following a diabetic stroke, believing Zasa will make another attempt on Michaels life, Vincent murders Zasa. Michael is angry that Vincent used violence to deal with Zasa, when Michael learns that his old friend Don Altobello is the traitor within the family, Michael has Vincent spy on him. Michael tacitly agrees, then retires as Don and names Vincent his successor. Michaels influence has made Vincent into a new man, wiser, more patient and his first act is to order the murders of Lucchesi, Keinszig, and Gilday. Connie kills Altobello by poisoning him, in return for being made Don, Vincent agrees to end his relationship with Mary. That same night, Altobellos assassin Mosca accidentally kills Mary during an attempt on Michaels life, enraged, Vincent kills Mosca with a single gunshot. What follows in Vincents story, according to author Mario Puzo, however, on The Godfather Part IIIs DVD commentary, Coppola explains that both he and Puzo had envisioned a storyline depicting Vincents reign heading the Corleone family. Vincent, deviating from his predecessors morals, would have entered the family into the trade, driving the Corleone clan back into corruption. Vincents story ends with him being killed similarly to Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and this proposed film would have been titled either The Godfather Part IV or The Godfather, The Final Part
19.
Sonny Corleone
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Santino Sonny Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzos 1969 novel The Godfather and its 1972 film adaptation. The character also appears in flashback sequences in the films 1974 sequel. In the novel and film, he is the oldest son of the mafia don Vito Corleone and he has two brothers, Fredo and Michael, a sister, Connie, and an adopted brother, Tom Hagen. In the film, Sonny was portrayed by James Caan, who reprised his role for a scene in Part II. Director Francis Ford Coppolas son Roman Coppola played Sonny as a boy in the 1920s scene of that film, in both the novel and the movie, Sonny is the eldest of Vito Corleones four children, and depicted as the most volatile and confrontational. He is heavily involved in his fathers crime family, at age 16, Sonny committed a robbery. When Sonnys godfather, Peter Clemenza informed Vito about it, Vito demanded his son explain himself, Sonny said he had witnessed Vito murder the feared Black Hand gangster Don Fanucci. He now wants to sell olive oil like his father, Vito, understanding that Sonny wanted to join the Corleone crime family, sent him to Clemenza for training. Sonny made his bones when he was 19, by his mid-20s, he was promoted to a caporegime in the Corleone family. By the end of World War II, he is his fathers underboss and heir apparent, Sonny also possesses a more patient side, at age 11, he brought home a homeless boy, Tom Hagen, demanding he be allowed to live with the family. Hagen eventually rises through the ranks to become Vitos consigliere, as the eldest child, Sonny acts as protector to his younger siblings and has a close relationship with his youngest brother, Michael and only sister, Connie. The novel shows he is unable to harm women, children and this trait probably saved Connies abusive husband, Carlo Rizzi, from being fatally beaten by Sonny when Carlo refuses to fight back. Sonny is married to Sandra with whom he has four children, but he has several mistresses, including Lucy Mancini, in the novel, Sandra ignores his infidelities because she is unable to tolerate his enormous penis. Sonny’s life is upturned in 1945, when Virgil The Turk Sollozzo, backed by the Tattaglia family, during the meeting, Sonny spontaneously speaks out-of-turn, expressing an interest in the deal that Vito had declined. Vito later reprimands Sonny for revealing his thoughts to an outsider, Sollozzo later attempts to have Vito assassinated, believing Sonny, as his fathers successor, will bring the Corleone family into the drug trade. The failed assassination attempt leaves Vito near death, making Sonny acting boss of the Corleone family, Sonny orders Clemenza to execute Vitos traitorous bodyguard Paulie Gatto. Sollozzo mounts a second attempt on Vito at the hospital that Sonnys youngest brother Michael thwarts. Sonny then orders Bruno Tattaglia, son and underboss of Sollozzos ally Philip Tattaglia, Sollozzo proposes that Michael to be sent to hear a truce proposition
20.
Capo dei capi
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Capo di tutti capi or capo dei capi, often referred to as the Godfather in English, is Italian for boss of all bosses or boss of bosses. The title was introduced to the U. S. public by the Kefauver Commission and it has seldom been given to specific bosses because it could create tension between different factions within the Mafia. Typically the title is awarded de facto to the boss of the most powerful Mafia family, the word was applied by mobsters to Giuseppe Morello around 1900, according to Nick Gentile. Bosses Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano used the title as part of their efforts to control of the Mafia under themselves. When Maranzano won the Castellammarese War, he set himself up as boss of all bosses and this provoked a rebellious reaction which led to him being murdered. Lucky Luciano then created The Commission in 1931 as an alternative, the Commission consisted of the bosses of the Five Families in New York and some non New York families. These men had equal say in Mafia matters, since then, the title of boss of all bosses has been given by the media to the most powerful boss, although the Mafia never recognized the position itself. Genovese crime family bosses Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese were given the title, following Genovese, Joseph Bonanno, boss of the Bonanno crime family, chaired the commission in 1959–1962. With the rise of Carlo Gambino, the Gambino crime family became the most powerful family and he was given the title from 1962–1976, as were his successors Paul Castellano. With the fall of Gotti, Genovese Boss Vincent Gigante held the title from 1992–1997, the term has since fallen out of date. Bonanno family Boss Joseph Massino was recognized by four of the five families, in the Sicilian Mafia the position does not exist. They also denied Vizzini ever was the boss of the Mafia in Sicily. According to Mafia historian Salvatore Lupo the emphasis of the media on the definition of capo dei capi is without any foundation, nevertheless, the title has frequently been given to powerful Mafia bosses to this day. During the 1980s and 1990s the bosses of the Corleonesi clan Salvatore Riina, in April 2006, the Italian government arrested Bernardo Provenzano in a small farmhouse near the town of Corleone. His successor is reported to be either Matteo Messina Denaro or Salvatore Lo Piccolo and this presupposes that Provenzano has the power to nominate a successor, which is not unanimously accepted among Mafia observers. Provenzano established a kind of directorate of about four to seven people who met infrequently, only when necessary. According to Ingroia in an organization like the Mafia, a boss has to be one step above the others otherwise it all falls apart and it all depends on if he can manage consensus and if the others agree or rebel. Provenzano guaranteed a measure of stability because he had the authority to quash internal disputes, in Italy a fictional six-part television miniseries called Il Capo dei Capi relates the story of Salvatore Riina
21.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
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Atlantic City is a resort city in New Jersey, United States, known for its casinos, boardwalk and beach. In 2010, it had a population of 39,558, incorporated on May 1,1854, from portions of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway Township, the city borders Absecon, Brigantine, Pleasantville, Ventnor City, West Atlantic City and the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic City inspired the American version of the board game Monopoly, especially the street names, since 1921, Atlantic City has been the home of the Miss America pageant. Because of its location in South Jersey, hugging the Atlantic Ocean between marshlands and islands, Atlantic City was viewed by developers as prime real estate and a resort town. In 1853, the first commercial hotel, the Belloe House, was built at the intersection of Massachusetts, the city was incorporated in 1854, the same year in which the Camden and Atlantic Railroad train service began. Built on the edge of the bay, this served as the link of this remote parcel of land with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That same year, construction of the Absecon Lighthouse, designed by George Meade of the Corps of Topographical Engineers, was approved, by 1874, almost 500,000 passengers a year were coming to Atlantic City by rail. In Boardwalk Empire, The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, the hotel was owned by the railroad. It was a sprawling, four-story structure built to house 2,000 guests and it opened while it was still under construction, with only one wing standing, and even that wasnt completed. By years end, when it was constructed, the United States Hotel was not only the first hotel in Atlantic City. Its rooms totaled more than 600, and its grounds covered some 14 acres, the first boardwalk was built in 1870 along a portion of the beach in an effort to help hotel owners keep sand out of their lobbies. Businesses were restricted and the boardwalk was removed each year at the end of the peak season, because of its effectiveness and popularity, the boardwalk was expanded in length and width, and modified several times in subsequent years. The historic length of the boardwalk, before the destructive 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane, was about 7 miles and it extended from Atlantic City to Longport, through Ventnor, the first road connecting the city to the mainland at Pleasantville was completed in 1870 and charged a 30-cent toll. Albany Avenue was the first road to the mainland available without a toll, by 1878, because of the growing popularity of the city, one railroad line could no longer keep up with demand. Soon, the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway was also constructed to transport tourists to Atlantic City, at this point massive hotels like The United States and Surf House, as well as smaller rooming houses, had sprung up all over town. The United States Hotel took up a city block between Atlantic, Pacific, Delaware, and Maryland Avenues. These hotels were not only impressive in size, but featured the most updated amenities, in the early part of the 20th century, Atlantic City went through a radical building boom. Many of the modest boarding houses dotted the boardwalk were replaced with large hotels
22.
Talia Shire
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Talia Rose Shire is an American actress most known for her roles as Connie Corleone in The Godfather films and Adrian Balboa in the Rocky series. For her work in The Godfather Part II and Rocky, Shire has been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively, Shire was born Talia Rose Coppola in Lake Success, New York, the only daughter of Italia and arranger/composer Carmine Coppola. Her parents were both of Italian descent and her son Matthew Orlando Shire is the child of her first marriage to composer David Shire. Her other sons, actors/musicians Jason and Robert, are from her second marriage, Shire portrayed Connie Corleone in The Godfather and its sequels. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 1974s The Godfather, in 1976, she portrayed Adrian Pennino, the love interest of Rocky Balboa in Rocky. For this role, she won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress, the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress, and was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. In addition to the Rocky sequels, Shire appeared in films as Kiss the Bride, I Heart Huckabees. Coppola family tree Francis Ford Coppola Talia Shire at the Internet Movie Database
23.
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
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Bensonhurst is a large, multiethnic neighborhood in the southwestern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, in the United States. It is well known as a Little Italy of Brooklyn due to its large Italian-American population, Bensonhurst has the largest population of residents born in China of any neighborhood in New York City and is now home to Brooklyns second Chinatown. The neighborhood accounts for 9. 5% of the 330,000 Chinese-born residents of the city, Bensonhurst derives its name from Egbert Benson, whose lands were sold by his children and grandchildren to James D. Lynch, a New York Real Estate developer. Lynch bought the old farmlands of the Benson family in mid 1880s, the first sale of lands in The New Seaside Resort area was advertised in July 24,1888 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Bensonhurst has a population of over 151,000 inhabitants as of the 2010 United States Census, in the early 20th century, many Italians and Jews moved into the neighborhood, and prior to World War II the neighborhood was about equally Jewish and Italian. With a large Italian-American population, Bensonhurst is usually considered the main Little Italy of Brooklyn, the Italian-speaking community remains over 20,000 strong, according to the census of 2000. But, the Italian-speaking community is becoming increasingly elderly and isolated, with the small, 86th Street is another popular local thoroughfare, lined by the arches of the BMT West End Line. Around 1989, an influx of immigrants from China and the former USSR began to arrive, mainly from Southern China, Russia, Ukraine, in the 1990s Bensonhurst rapidly grew in cultural diversity. In 2000, the New York City Department of City Planning determined that just over half of the residents were born in another country, Bensonhurst has long been well-known as a Little Italy of Brooklyn, containing a large Italian-American and Italian immigrant population. The annual Festa di Santa Rosalia, is held on 18th Avenue from Bay Ridge Parkway to 66th Street in late August or early September, the Feast is presented by Bensonhurst resident and marketer Franco Corrado, as well as by the Santa Rosalia Society, on 18th Avenue. Born in Rome in 1955, Corrado has been a social member of the Italian-American community for the past 20 years. St. Rosalia is the saint of the city of Palermo and is sometimes venerated as the patron for the entire island of Sicily. The annual end-of-summer celebration attracts thousands, bensonhurt also hosts a Columbus Day parade. Like Lower Manhattans Little Italy, Bensonhursts Little Italy is declining with its Italian American population, with Bensonhursts Chinatown, below the West End Line, served by the D train along on 86th Street between 18th Avenue and Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue, now emerging another Brooklyn Chinatown. Overall, the Chinatown section of Bensonhurst remains heavily mixed with Italian, Jewish, within recent years, most new businesses opening within this portion of Bensonhursts 86th Street, especially between 20th Avenue and 25th Avenue, have been Chinese. Chinese grocery stores, salons, bakeries, and other types of Chinese businesses are also expanding swiftly on this street, the N W trains stations are also located in these sections as well. This means Bensonhurst has much higher proportion of Chinese than the Homecrest/Sheepshead Bay area, however, there are small numbers of Fuzhou and Mandarin speakers. According to the Daily News, Brooklyns Asian population, mainly Chinese, has grown not only in the Sunset Park area, but also in Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights
24.
Al Neri
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Albert Al Neri is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzos novel The Godfather and Francis Ford Coppolas trilogy of films based on it. In all three motion pictures, he is portrayed by actor Richard Bright and he functions as Michael Corleones personal enforcer and assassin. In the novel The Godfather, Neri begins his career as a New York City police officer, where he earns a reputation for a temper, quick reflexes. He frequently patrols with a flashlight, which he uses to assault Italian youths who run with gangs or shattering the windshields of diplomats who disregard traffic or parking laws. After his wife leaves him, Neri kills a drug dealer, tom Hagen and Peter Clemenza see Neri as a potential replacement for Luca Brasi, Vito Corleones feared enforcer, and arrange his release from prison. Normally, policemen are barred from becoming made men, but they were impressed enough with Neri to recommend that Michael intercede, Michael, appealing to Neris sense of loyalty and Sicilian-American roots, recruits him into Clemenzas regime. Clemenza is initially impressed by the ferocity that Neri displays in their first meeting, Neri later makes his bones and becomes Michaels chief lieutenant by personally murdering Moe Greene and Emilio Barzini on Michaels behalf. Neri carries out the murder while disguised in his old police uniform. When Michael and his move to Nevada, Neri becomes head of security for all hotels controlled by the Corleones. In the film version of The Godfather, Neris backstory is not mentioned and he does not say a word in the first film and following Michaels return from exile in Sicily, Neri becomes his bodyguard, accompanying him everywhere. In the famous sequence, Neri, disguised in a police uniform, guns down Barzini and his bodyguards on the steps of a courthouse. However, the murder of Greene, which occurs simultaneously, is handled by another, in The Godfather Part II, Neri is portrayed as Michaels unofficial second-in-command in his operations in Nevada, and is one of Michaels capos along with Rocco Lampone and Frank Pentangeli. In a deleted scene, Neri is shown convincing Meyer Klingman, when Klingman protests, Neri slaps him in the face and pursues him through the casinos showroom, while casino security guards do nothing. During a Senate investigation of Michaels criminal syndicate, Neri is identified as a capo for the Corleone family on an organization chart. Neri also carries out the execution of Michaels brother Fredo, under Michaels orders, while out fishing together on Lake Tahoe, Neri shoots Fredo in the back of the head. When Michael retires and transfers control of the family to Vincent, Neri is the second to pledge his loyalty, after Calò, in Mark Winegardners novel The Godfathers Revenge, Neri and his nephew take part in an attempt to obtain information from antagonist Nick Geracis father. He is seriously wounded in a shootout at the end of the novel, in The Godfather, The Game, Neri is voiced by Gary Chalk. Al Neri at the Internet Movie Database
25.
New York Police Department
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The New York City Police Department, officially the City of New York Police Department, is the largest municipal police force in the United States. Established in 1845, the agency has primary responsibilities in law enforcement, the NYPD is one of the oldest police departments established in the U. S. tracing its roots back to the nineteenth century. According to the department, its mission is to enforce the laws, preserve the peace, reduce fear, the departments regulations are compiled in title 38 of the New York City Rules. In June 2004, there were about 40,000 sworn officers plus several thousand employees, in June 2005. As of December 2011, that figure increased slightly to over 36,600, the NYPDs current authorized uniformed strength is 34,450. The Patrolmens Benevolent Association of the City of New York, the largest municipal police union in the United States, represents over 50,000 active, the NYPD Intelligence Division & Counter-Terrorism Bureau has officers stationed in 11 cities internationally. In the 1990s the department developed a CompStat system of management which has also since established in other cities. The NYPD is headquartered at 1 Police Plaza, located on Park Row in Lower Manhattan across the street from City Hall, the NYPD has extensive crime scene investigation and laboratory resources, as well as units which assist with computer crime investigations. The NYPD runs a Real Time Crime Center, essentially a search engine. A Domain Awareness System, a joint project of Microsoft and the NYPD, links 6,000 closed-circuit television cameras, license plate readers, members of the NYPD are frequently referred to by politicians, some media and their own police cars by the nickname New Yorks Finest. The Municipal Police were established in 1845, replacing an old night watch system, in 1857, it was tumultuously replaced by a Metropolitan force, which consolidated many other local police departments in 1898. Twentieth-century trends included professionalization and struggles against corruption, Officers begin service with the rank of Probationary Police Officer, also referred to as Recruit Officer. After successful completion of six months of Police Academy training and various academic, physical, There are three career tracks in the NYPD, supervisory, investigative, and specialist. The supervisory track consists of 12 sworn titles, referred to as ranks, promotion to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, and captain are made via competitive civil service examinations. Promotion from the rank of police officer to detective is determined by the current police labor contract, the entry level appointment to detective is third grade or specialist. The commissioner may grant discretionary grades of first or second and these grades offer compensation roughly equivalent to that of supervisors. Specifically, a second grade detectives pay roughly corresponds to a sergeants, Detectives are police officers who have been given a more investigatory position but no official supervisory authority. A Detective First Grade still falls under the command of a sergeant or above, just like detectives, sergeants and lieutenants can receive pay grade increases within their respective ranks
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Mounted police
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Mounted police are police who patrol on horseback or camelback. Some mounted police units are trained in search and rescue due to the ability to travel where vehicles cannot. Poor roads and extensive rural areas made horse-mounted police a necessity in European states until the early 20th century, notable examples included the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Mexican Rurales, the British South African Police, the Turkish/Cypriot Zapiteh and the caballeria of the Spanish Civil Guard. Tack used by mounted police is similar to standard riding tack, high-traction horseshoes made of speciality metals or fitted with rubber soles are typically used in urban areas in place of standard steel horseshoes, which are prone to slip on pavement. Rubber soled shoes also produce less noise than steel shoes and jar the hoof less, horses working in riot control wear facial armor, made of perspex so that the animals can still see. The New South Wales Mounted Police is a section of the New South Wales Police Force. Currently they have a strength of 36 officers and around 38 mounts and their duties include traffic and crowd management, patrols, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is a well-known mounted police force, although horses are no longer in use operationally. However, horses are used in the Musical Ride as well as by several provincial and municipal police detachments. The Royal Oman Police have both horse and camel mounted troopers, the United States Border Patrol had 200 horses in 2005. Most of these are employed along the U. S. -Mexico border, in Arizona, these animals are fed special processed feed pellets so that their wastes do not spread non-native plants in the national parks and wildlife areas they patrol. Philadelphias mounted police unit was disbanded in 2004, but reinstated in 2011 with four horses from the unit of Newark. List of mounted police forces Mounted search and rescue Police dog Police paddock Informational site for mounted police officers List of mounted search and rescue units Mounted Police in France
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The Godfather (novel)
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Constanzia Connie Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather, a novel by Mario Puzo and the 1972 film The Godfather. In the film, Connie is portrayed by Talia Shire, the sister of director Francis Ford Coppola, Shire was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Connie Corleone in The Godfather Part II. Born in 1925, Connie is the youngest child and only daughter of mafia don Vito Corleone and she is the sister of Sonny, Fredo and Michael Corleone. She marries Sonnys friend Carlo Rizzi and her father was very displeased that Connie married a man who was not only half northern Italian, but also had a criminal history. He only agreed to the marriage on condition that they hold an old-style Sicilian wedding, Carlo, who Puzo characterizes as a punk sore at the world, periodically abuses and cheats on Connie in frustration at being shunted aside by the Corleone family. The night of their wedding turned out to be a harbinger of things to come, after one particularly bad beating, Connie complains to her father, who refuses to help. The book reveals that in truth, Vito was outraged at how Carlo treated Connie, connies family grow to resent Carlo and his mistreatment of Connie, especially her oldest brother Sonny. One day, when Sonny visits Connie, he finds her in tears, Sonny chases and beats up Carlo in the street, threatening to kill Carlo if he hurts Connie again. Corleone rivals Emilio Barzini and Philip Tattaglia recruit Carlo to bring Sonny into the open, Carlo has a mistress call the house and a fight with Connie ensues that ends with Carlo again beating Connie. Connie calls the Corleone compound asking Sonny for help, an enraged Sonny drives off alone to help Connie, leaving his bodyguards following in a separate car. At a toll booth Sonny is shot and killed by Barzinis Tommy gun-wielding men, Michael returns from Sicily and takes Sonnys place as Vitos heir apparent. When Vito dies, Michael becomes the new Don and avenges Sonnys murder by having the heads of the Five Families killed, Connie flies into a rage when she finds out Carlo is dead and blames Michael, denouncing him in front of his wife Kay. In The Godfather Part II, Connie has remarried, divorced and she remains bitter toward Michael and announces that she intends to marry Merle Johnson, which Michael disapproves of. At the end of the film, Connie returns for her mothers funeral and she intercedes on Fredos behalf after Michael disowns him for conspiring with Corleone rival Hyman Roth, pleading with Michael to forgive him. Michael publicly appears to forgive Fredo, Connie later says that Fredo had drowned, unaware that Michael had him killed. After Michael and Kay divorce, Connie helps care for Michaels two children, Anthony and Mary, in a flashback at the end of the film, it is revealed that Sonny introduced her to Carlo in 1941 during Vitos birthday party. In The Godfather Part III, Connie is very close to her nephew Vincent Mancini, Connie encourages Michael to bring Vincent into the Corleone family and support him in his feud with Joey Zasa. When Michael suffers a stroke and recuperates in the hospital Connie
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The Sicilian
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The Sicilian is a novel by Italian-American author Mario Puzo. Published in 1984 by Random House Publishing Group, it is based on Puzos most famous work and it is regarded as The Godfathers literary sequel. In this novel, the spelling of Salvatore Giulianos name was changed by Puzo to Guiliano. This novel, though a work of fiction, is based on the real life exploits of Giuliano and they discuss with Michael the details of his fathers agreement to allow Michael to usher the bandit Salvatore Turi Guiliano out of Sicily and to America. Michael is told of a testament, a set of documents Guiliano has composed that would be damning to certain officials of the Italian government if released. Michael is taken to Guilianos house where he meets Turis parents and Gaspare Aspanu Pisciotta, Michael is informed that Turis pregnant fiancée is heading to America first, ahead of Guiliano, and only when she sends word back that she is safe, will Turi leave for America. Michael is also told he is to be entrusted with Guilianos testament, maria Lombardo Guiliano gives Michael a black statue of the Virgin Mary as a gift as he parts. The bulk of the focuses on the life of Salvatore Guiliano and how he rose to his legendary status as a bandit. He was born in the village of Montelepre, west of Palermo and his godfather, Hector Adonis, a small man tormented his entire life for his small stature, was a professor of history and literature at the University of Palermo. He is a close personal friend of the Guiliano family, a mentor for Turi. In September 1943, the town of Montelepre was preparing for its annual festa for its towns patron saint. Montelepre was a poor town, and in this period, food was very scarce. Black market laws were enforced, but smuggling was another matter. The Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories was using the remnants of the previous fascist government, especially the Carabinieri, but since the Carabinieris pay was irregular, and most of their income was bribes from major black marketeers, they focused their attention on minor operators. On a September morning in 1943, Turi Guiliano and his best friend Aspanu Pisciotta travelled to the town of Corleone to procure some food for his sisters engagement party. On the way back, they were stopped by the carabinieri, Turi was shot, but he also managed to shoot his attacker, a police Sergeant, through the eye. Turi was carried by Aspanu to a monastery, where he was taken care of by the monks there, helped by the Abbot Manfredi. Here he was nursed back to health, and Aspanu Pisciotta developed his undying loyalty to Turi, leaving the monastery, he and Aspanu made their way back to Guilianos home in Montelepre, knowing he was still being sought for the murder of the Sergeant
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The Family Corleone
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The Family Corleone is a 2012 novel by Ed Falco, based on an unproduced screenplay by Mario Puzo, who died in 1999. It is the prequel to Puzos The Godfather and it was published by Grand Central Publishing and released May 8,2012. The novel, set in the Great Depression, is the story of how Vito Corleone consolidated his power to become the most powerful Don in New York City. Also, it tells of Sonny Corleones inauguration into the family business, the novel also reveals how Luca Brasi first became associated with the Corleones, and introduces a number of new characters, including the crime boss Giuseppe Mariposa. The Washington Posts Patrick Anderson wrote, Falco has captured Puzos rich prose style, if you want to read another installment of the Corleone story, The Family Corleone is a solid piece of work. Kirkus Reviews gave it a review, calling it, A worthy addition to the lurid world of the Five Families. The estate of Mario Puzo had sought to keep Paramount Pictures from producing a film based on the novel. This has been resolved, with Paramount gaining the rights to make more Godfather films, an audio book of The Family Corleone was produced by Hachette Audio, read by Bobby Cannavale
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The Godfather (film series)
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The Godfather film series consists of three American crime drama films directed by Francis Ford Coppola inspired by the novel of the same name by Italian American author Mario Puzo. The series follows the trials of the Corleone family, Italian Americans whose patriarch, Vito Corleone and his youngest son, Michael Corleone, becomes his successor. All three films were distributed by Paramount Pictures and released in 1972,1974 and 1990, the series achieved success at the box office, with the films earning over $550 million worldwide. The first two films have received wide acclaim since release, the former, The Godfather, is seen by many as one of the greatest films of all time and its sequel, The Godfather Part II, is viewed by many as the best sequel in cinematic history. The series is awarded, winning 9 out of 29 total Academy Award nominations. The Godfather, the first film in the franchise, was released on March 15,1972, the feature-length film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based upon Mario Puzos novel of the same name. The plot begins with Don Vito Corleone declining an offer to join in the business with notorious drug lord Virgil Sollozzo. While in Sicily, Michael travels around the country and meets a woman whom he marries. Michael returns to America after the news of his brother Sonnys murder, after returning, Vito turns over the reins of the family to Michael. Michael plans to move the business to Las Vegas, but before the move. Other subplots include Vitos daughters abusive marriage, Johnny Fontaines success in Hollywood, the Godfather Part II, the second film in the franchise, was released on December 20,1974. The feature-length film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based upon Mario Puzos novel of the same name. The film is in both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, presenting two parallel dramas. The Godfather Part III, the film in the franchise, was released on December 25,1990. Francis Ford Coppola returned as director for the film, while also writing the screenplay with the help of the author Mario Puzo. It completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia kingpin who tries to legitimize his criminal empire, the fourth film was supposed to be a prequel. Many famous actor were announced to star in the film, robert De Niro, Andy García and Talia Shire were slated to reprise their roles as Vito Corleone, Vincent Corleone and Connie Corleone respectively. Ray Liotta was rumored to had a role in the movie, on June 21,1999, The Hollywood Reporter reported that a fourth film with García as in the lead role was in works
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The Godfather
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The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy, based on Mario Puzos best-selling novel of the same name. It stars Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as the leaders of a fictional New York crime family, the story, spanning 1945 to 1955, chronicles the family under the patriarch Vito Corleone, focusing on the transformation of Michael Corleone from reluctant family outsider to ruthless mafia boss. Paramount Pictures obtained the rights to the novel for the price of $80,000, Studio executives had trouble finding a director, as their first few candidates turned down the position. They and Coppola disagreed over who would play characters, in particular Vito. Filming was done on location and completed earlier than scheduled, the musical score was composed primarily by Nino Rota with additional pieces by Carmine Coppola. The film was the film of 1972 and was for a time the highest-grossing film ever made. It won the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay and its seven other Oscar nominations included Pacino, James Caan, and Robert Duvall for Best Supporting Actor and Coppola for Best Director. It was followed by sequels The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III, the Godfather is widely regarded as one of the greatest films in world cinema and one of the most influential, especially in the gangster genre. It was selected for preservation in the U. S, in 1945, at his daughter Connies wedding, Vito Corleone hears requests in his role as the Godfather, the Don of a New York crime family. Vitos youngest son, Michael, who was a Marine during World War II, introduces his girlfriend, Kay Adams, Woltz refuses until he wakes up in bed with the severed head of his prized stallion. Wary of involvement in a new trade that risks alienating political insiders. Suspicious, Vito sends his enforcer, Luca Brasi, to spy on them, however, a Tattaglia button man garrotes Brasi during Brasis first meeting with Bruno Tattaglia and Sollozzo. Later Sollozzo has Vito gunned down in the street, then kidnaps Hagen, with Corleone first-born Sonny in command, Hagen is pressured to persuade Sonny to accept Sollozzos deal, then released. The family receives fish wrapped in Brasis bullet-proof vest, indicating that Luca sleeps with the fishes, Vito survives, and at the hospital Michael thwarts another attempt on his father, Michaels jaw is broken by NYPD Captain Marc McCluskey, Sollozzos bodyguard. Sonny retaliates with a hit on Tattaglias son, Michael plots to murder Sollozzo and McCluskey, on the pretext of settling the dispute, Michael agrees to meet them in a Bronx restaurant. There, retrieving a planted handgun, he kills both men, despite a clampdown by the authorities, the Five Families erupt in open warfare and Vitos sons fear for their safety. Michael takes refuge in Sicily, and his brother, Fredo, is sheltered by the Corleones Las Vegas casino partner, Sonny attacks his brother-in-law Carlo on the street for abusing his sister and threatens to kill him if it happens again. When it does, Sonny speeds to their home, but is ambushed at a toll booth
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The Godfather (1991 video game)
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The Godfather is a side scrolling shoot em up game released by U. S. The plot is based on the three Godfather films, the game has five levels of gameplay which reflect the locations seen in the movies, including the streets of New York City, Miami, and the village of Corleone in Sicily. It was released for several computer formats, including the Commodore Amiga, critical reception to the Amiga version was mixed, ranging from 40% to 95%. Amiga Computing praised its graphics, but panned both its gameplay and addictiveness and awarded it a below-average 40% overall, the Godfather is a side scrolling shooter with occasional first person shooter sequences. The object of the consists of getting to the end of the levels while shooting enemy gangsters on the street. The player must be not to hit any innocent people. At the end of level, there is a boss. The last level consists of taking down a helicopter while protecting Michael Corleone
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The Godfather (2006 video game)
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The Godfather is a 2006 open world action-adventure video game developed by EA Redwood Shores and published by Electronic Arts. Marlon Brando also recorded dialogue for Vito Corleone, in what would be his acting job. Al Pacino, who played Michael Corleone in the film, is absent in both likeness and voice, choosing to lend his image instead to Scarface, The World Is Yours. The Godfather received mixed to positive reviews across most systems, although the PlayStation Portable version was seen as inferior to the others. The game was a success, selling over two million units. In 2009, a sequel was released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. Based on the 1974 film, The Godfather Part II, the sequel did not sell as well nor do as well with critics as had the original, the game features both a lock-on system and a manual aiming system. In the manual system, the players have complete freedom to aim wherever they wish, in the lock-on system, when the player locks a target, a targeting reticule appears on-screen. The longer the player is locked on, the smaller the reticule gets, within the lock-on system, the player also has a certain degree of freedom to aim manually, the reticule can be moved around the locked on target, allowing the player to target specific areas. If the reticule turns red, the player has found a weak point, all enemies have five weak points, their two knees and their two shoulders, plus their groin. If the player one of their knees, the enemy will no longer be able to run. If the player hits a shoulder, the enemy wont be able to back or fight. Hitting the groin accomplishes the same effect as a knee shot, the other mode of combat in the game is melee combat, for which the game uses a system dubbed BlackHand, after the Black Hand extortion method. Once the player has locked onto an NPC, either hostile or non-hostile, the system allows for light attacks, heavy attacks and directional attacks. Players can also wield numerous melee weapons, such as bats, tire irons, police batons. For the PlayStation 3 Dons Edition and the Wii Blackhand Edition, the BlackHand system has been enhanced, utilizing the motion sensor capabilities of the SIXAXIS, a major part of The Godfathers gameplay is extorting businesses. The player must extort business to earn enough respect to level up, to complete certain missions, when the player is attempting to intimidate a business owner into paying protection money, a meter appears on screen with a green bar and a red bar. To get the owner to agree to pay, the player must intimidate them until the meter fills up to the green bar, after this point, the more intimidation the player can achieve, the more money the owner will pay out
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The Godfather II (video game)
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The Godfather II is a 2009 open world action-adventure video game developed by EA Redwood Shores and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was released worldwide for all platforms in April 2009, the game is based on the 1974 film The Godfather Part II, and is a sequel to the 2006 game The Godfather, which was based on the 1972 film of the same name. As with the first game, Dominics original story intersects with the narrative of the film on multiple occasions, whereas the first Godfather game received a generally positive reception, The Godfather II received mixed to negative reviews across all platforms. Common criticisms included graphical glitches, technical bugs, poor AI, many critics also felt the game deviated too much from both the plot and tone of the film, and that it was too easy and too short. Whereas the first game sold well, the sequel was a commercial failure and its poor critical and commercial performance led EA to scrap plans to adapt the third film. The game features both a system and a manual aiming system. In the manual system, the player has complete freedom to aim wherever they wish, If the reticule turns red, the player has found a weak point. All enemies have four weak points - their two knees and their two shoulders, If the player shoots one of their knees, the enemy will no longer be able to run, but will continue to shoot back. If the player hits a shoulder, the enemy wont be able to back or fight. The other mode of combat in the game is melee combat, once the player has locked onto an NPC, either hostile or non-hostile, they can use the right analog stick or the shoulder buttons to engage in melee combat. The system allows for light attacks, heavy attacks, powered attacks, players can also wield numerous melee weapons, such as baseball bats, tire irons, police batons, and snooker cues. A major part of The Godfather IIs gameplay is extorting businesses, when the player is attempting to intimidate a business owner into paying protection money, a meter appears on screen with two red bars. To get the owner to agree to pay, the player must intimidate them until the meter fills up to the first bar, after this point, the more intimidation the player can achieve, the more money the owner will pay out. However, if the meter passes the red bar, the owner will begin to fight back. Intimidation methods include beating the owner up, throwing them around, smashing their shop, hanging them off ledges, attacking customers, a new element of gameplay in The Godfather II is Crime Rings. Every business is part of a larger multi-business crime ring, and once the player has taken over every business in a crime ring. However, these bonuses are available to any rival family who controls the crime ring, until the player takes over any single business within the ring. For either the player or a family to receive the crime ring bonus, they must control every business in the crime ring
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Vito Corleone
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He is an orphaned Sicilian immigrant who builds a mafia empire. Upon his death, Michael, his youngest son, succeeds him as the don of the Corleone crime family. He has two sons, Santino and Frederico and one daughter Constanzia. He informally adopts Sonnys friend, Tom Hagen, a lawyer, Vito oversees a business founded on gambling, bootlegging, and union corruption, but he is known as a generous man who lives by a strict moral code of loyalty to friends and, above all, family. He is also known as a traditionalist who demands respect commensurate with his status, Vito Andolini was born in Corleone, Sicily on December 7,1891. The nine-year-old Vito is sent to the United States by his mother for his safety after Antonio, his father, is murdered in retaliation for insulting the local Mafia boss, paolo, his older brother, swears revenge but he too is killed. Vitos mother goes to Ciccio and begs him to spare Vito, Ciccio refuses, reasoning that the boy will seek revenge as a grown man. Upon Ciccios refusal, Vitos mother holds a knife to his throat, Family friends smuggle Vito out of Sicily, putting him on a ship with immigrants travelling to America. In the film, Ellis Island immigration officials rename him Vito Corleone and this was often the case on Ellis Island during the time period in which the scene takes place. He later adopts Andolini as his name to acknowledge his family heritage. Vito is taken in by the Abbandando family, who are distant relations of his, Vito grows very close to the Abbadandos, particularly their son, Genco, who is like a brother to him. In 1920, Vito is befriended by Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio and is taught how to survive and prosper through petty crime and performing favors in return for loyalty. Vito plans his first murder, Fanucci threatened to report him, Clemenza, during an Italian street festival, Vito trails Fanucci from the rooftops as Fanucci walks home. Vito shoots and kills Fanucci before he enters his apartment, Vito takes over the district and behaves with far greater respect than Fanucci. Vito and Genco start an oil importing business, Genco Pura. It eventually becomes the legal front for Vitos growing organized crime syndicate. Despite--or because of--its status as a front company, Genco Pura becomes the nations largest olive oil importing company, between Genco Pura and his illegal operations, Vito becomes a wealthy man. In 1923, he returns to Sicily for the first time since fleeing as a child and he and his partner Don Tommasino systematically eliminate Don Ciccios men who were involved in murdering Vitos family and arrange a meeting with Ciccio himself
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Tom Hagen
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Tom Hagen is a fictional character in Mario Puzos novel Godfather and Francis Ford Coppolas films The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. He was portrayed by Robert Duvall in the films, Hagen is the informally adopted son of the mafia don Vito Corleone. He is a lawyer and the consigliere to the Corleone mafia family. Mild-mannered and soft-spoken, he serves as the voice of reason within the family, the novel and first film establish that he is of German-Irish ancestry. Sonny Corleone befriends 11-year-old Tom, who was living on the street after running away from an orphanage, when Sonny brings Tom home and demands he be taken in, the Corleone family allowed him to stay. Hagen considers Vito his true father, though Vito never formally adopts Tom, after law school, Hagen wanted to work in the Corleone business. His non-Italian ancestry precludes his formal membership into the family but when consigliere Genco Abbandando dies. This results in the other New York families derisively calling the Corleones, though Hagen immerses himself in the Sicilian-American lifestyle, and speaks Sicilian, he has a non-Italian physical appearance. His Northern European appearance being advantageous to his work, allowing him to travel, while Hagen loves all the Corleones, he idolizes Sonny, and blames himself for Sonnys murder. Hagen is thus restricted to handling the familys legitimate business, Michael claims Hagen is not a war-time consigliere. In the novel, Hagen later tells Michael that he figured out the reason that he was demoted. The novel and first film portray Hagen aiding Vito and Michael Corleone in warring against the other ruling New York Mafia families, in The Godfather Part II, set in the late 1950s, Hagen serves as Michaels right-hand man during his power struggle with Hyman Roth. In The Godfather Part III, set in 1979-1980, he is said to have died years before in an unspecified manner. His role in the story between the second and third films, including his death, is portrayed in Mark Winegardners sequel novels, The Godfather Returns, in both the novel and film, Hagen is introduced as an important member of the Corleone family. As a child he grew up in a family, the son of an abusive alcoholic. Sonny Corleone finds the orphaned Hagen living on the street and suffering from a bad eye infection, Sonny takes him home and demands he live with the Corleone family. Vito Corleone becomes a father to Hagen, but never officially adopts him out of respect for the boys father. In the novel, Hagen asks to work for Vito after graduating law school
37.
Fredo Corleone
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Fredo Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzos novel The Godfather. Fredo is portrayed by American actor John Cazale in the Francis Ford Coppola film adaptation and in the sequel and he is the second son of the mafia don Vito Corleone. Fredo is the brother of Sonny and the elder brother to Michael and sister. In both Puzos novel and the adaptations, Fredo is characterized as weaker and less intelligent than his brothers. In the novel, Fredos primary weakness is his womanizing, a habit he develops after moving to Las Vegas, in the films, Fredos feelings of personal inadequacy and his inability to act effectively on his own behalf are character flaws leading to greater consequences. In a pivotal scene in the novel and film, Fredo is with his father when assassins working for drug kingpin Virgil Sollozzo gun down Don Corleone in the street, Fredo, terrified, drops his gun, failing to return fire. He sits on the next to his severely wounded father. In the novel, Fredo is sickened after witnessing his father being shot, to aid Fredos recovery and protect him from possible reprisals, Sonny sends his younger brother to Las Vegas under the protection of Don Anthony Molinari of San Francisco. While in Las Vegas, Fredo learns the trade and becomes acquainted with former hitman Moe Greene. When Fredos womanizing starts affecting business, Greene slaps him in public, after Sonny is assassinated, Vito chooses Michael as his successor of the Corleone Family. This creates a rift between the two surviving brothers. When Michael learns that Greene slapped Fredo, he is angered and confronts Greene, Michael berates Fredo for openly taking sides against the family during a meeting with Greene, warning him never to do so again. By the beginning of The Godfather Part II, Fredo has become Michaels underboss, during a large family gathering, Fredo is unable to control his intoxicated wife, Deanna Dunn. When she dances and flirts with another man, he drags her off the dance floor and threatens to hit her. Hagen is ordered to bring Senator Pat Geary under the Corleone Familys control to gain his assistance in obtaining gambling licenses. After the senator refuses to help, he is implicated in a prostitutes murder, Hagen offers the Corleone familys help in eliminating the problem in exchange for the senators friendship. Hagen tells Geary that Fredo operates the brothel, and it will be as if she never existed, Fredo later betrays Michael after being approached by Johnny Ola, an associate of rival gangster Hyman Roth. Ola and Roth tell Fredo that Michael is being difficult in business negotiations between Roths organization and the Corleone family
38.
Carmela Corleone
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Carmela Corleone, a fictional character in Mario Puzos The Godfather, is the wife of Don Vito Corleone. Carmela is portrayed by Italian-American Morgana King in Francis Ford Coppolas film adaptation of the novel, King is better known as a singer and is given a brief chance to display her vocal skills in the wedding reception scene of The Godfather when she sings the song Luna MezzO Mare. Although King was born Maria Grazia Morgana Messina in Pleasantville, New York, her parents were from Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, Province of Catania, Carmela was born in Sicily in 1897, and emigrated to the United States shortly after the turn of the century. She married Vito Corleone in 1914, they were married for just over 40 years until Vitos death in 1955 and they had four children – Sonny, Fredo, Michael and Connie. They also took care of a friend of Sonny, Tom Hagen, in the novel, Carmela Corleone is portrayed as a traditional Italian immigrant woman who speaks in very broken English. In the movies, however, she speaks fluent English as an adult, in the novel, she develops a close relationship with Michaels girlfriend and future wife, Kay. Carmela Corleone dies toward the end of the sequel, Carmela was disturbed by Vitos change from a kind, quiet young man to a pragmatic and ruthless criminal. However Carmela seems to forgive Vito for his crimes, because he remains essentially a good man who is devoted to his family. Devoutly Catholic, Carmela attends Mass every day to pray for her husbands soul to him from going down there. In The Godfather Part IIs flashback scenes, the young Carmela is portrayed by Francesca De Sapio, Carmela is a major character in the 2012 prequel novel The Family Corleone, which portrays their early years together, raising a family as Vito becomes a crime boss
39.
Kay Adams-Corleone
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For similar names, see Kaye Adams Katherine Kay Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzos The Godfather. She was portrayed by Diane Keaton in Francis Ford Coppolas trilogy of films based on the novel, Kay is a native of Hanover, New Hampshire, and the only child of a Baptist minister and his wife. She is the girlfriend and eventual second wife of Michael Corleone, the youngest son of Don Vito Corleone. In 1945, while attending Dartmouth College, Kay met and fell in love with Michael, as a non-Italian, she is an outsider to the Corleones world, and symbolizes Michaels initial desire to live a more Americanized and honest life, separate from his familys. When she and Michael attend his sister, Connies wedding, they sit at an away from the family. In the book, the other guests notice how Kays manner is freer than expected from an unmarried woman, Kay is initially unaware that the Corleones are a powerful Mafia family. In the novel, Michael at first attempts to explain his father to her by depicting him as an unethical business man. After a failed attempt on his father, Michael murders Virgil Sollozzo. While hiding there, Michael falls in love with and marries a local woman. Kay has no knowledge of Michaels whereabouts or his marriage and eventually returns to her hometown to work as a teacher. She asks Corleone family consigliere Tom Hagen to deliver a letter to Michael, during this time, Kay develops a close relationship with Michaels mother, Carmela. Apollonia is killed in a car bombing targeting Michael, after recovering from his injuries, he returns to the United States. More than a year following his return, Michael seeks out Kay, wanting them to reunite and they marry after he promises the Corleone family will be completely legitimate within five years. In the novel, Kay and Michael reunite after Kay phones Carmela Corleone, Carmela informs Kay that Michael has returned home and invites Kay to the Corleone house to see him. Michael wants to marry her, but explains that until the family becomes fully legitimate, at the time, it appears that Kay knows nothing about Michaels previous marriage. In the novel, he admits to being with one woman since their separation. Kay and Michael marry and have two children, Anthony and Mary and they are born within two years of each other, leading Michael to joke that Kay is more Italian than Yankee. Kay retorts that Michael is more Yankee than Italian because he takes his work home with him
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Anthony Corleone
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Anthony Vito Tony Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather trilogy of films directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He is portrayed by Anthony Gounaris in the first film, James Gounaris in the second, the character was given the name Anthony because it was thought that the three-year-old Gounaris of the first film would respond best if his own name was used. He is the son of Michael and Kay Corleone, and the brother of Mary Corleone. He was not mentioned by name in the novel, Anthony has a small role in the first film, his only scene of consequence is when he witnesses the death of his grandfather, Vito Corleone, who is playing with him in the garden. The second films plotline opens in 1958, with Anthonys first communion and it continues with an extravagant banquet held in his honor at the family estate near Lake Tahoe. During it, his fathers time is taken up with tending to the family business. Anthony receives many gifts, mostly from people he does not know, later in the film, he and his sister, Mary, overhear their parents arguing, Kay voices her concerns that Michaels soldati are Anthonys primary playmates. Michael refuses to believe he has influenced his son in any negative way, Michael and Kay are divorced by the end of the film, Anthony seems to resent his mothers role in his parents split, and as a result is sullen and not affectionate during her visit. At the end of the film, he has developed a relationship with his Uncle Fredo. When they are about to go fishing together, Michael calls Anthony away, Fredo is then assassinated by Al Neri at Michaels order. Sometime in the 1960s, Michael gave Kay custody of Anthony, Michael, infuriated, wants him to finish school. Michael finally relents at Kays urging and she privately tells Michael that Anthony knows that he had Fredo killed. Anthonys operatic debut is the lead in Cavalleria Rusticana in Palermo and his family join him for the premiere. As a gift, he performs the traditional Sicilian ballad Brucia La Terra, during this visit, he, like his parents, disapproves of Marys romance with their cousin, Vincent Corleone. The film concludes with Anthonys performance, Anthony appears in Mark Winegardners sequel novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfathers Revenge. In the former novel, he witnesses Fredos murder from his bedroom window, in these novels, Anthony has a difficult relationship with his father, he loves Michael, but does not want to become like him. Anthonys ambivalence hurts Michael, but he understands it, as he had felt the same way about his own father
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Mary Corleone
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Mary Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather Part III, portrayed by Sofia Coppola. She is the daughter of Michael Corleone and Kay Adams and sister of Anthony Vito Corleone, Mary first appears in The Godfather Part II as the youngest child of Michael and Kay. She is a child in the late 1950s. Like Anthony, she not have a significant role or story arc in the film. Mary is one of the characters of Godfather Part III. Her fathers favorite, she is sheltered from the violent world of the Corleone crime family and she falls in love with her cousin, Vincent Mancini, Sonny Corleones illegitimate son and Michaels protégé. While the family is traveling in Sicily, Michael tells Mary he disapproves of the romance and he fears that Mary could suffer the same fate as his first wife, Apollonia, who was killed by a car bomb intended for him 30 years earlier. Toward the end of the film, Michael names Vincent as his successor, after her brothers debut concert, the assassin Mosca tries to kill Michael. One bullet grazes Michaels shoulder, but the other accidentally hits Mary in the torso, Michael is devastated by Marys death, which happens as he is beginning to finally put his criminal life behind him and rekindle his estranged relationship with Kay. A broken man, he retires to Sicily, where he dies of old age. Sofia Coppola, the daughter of director Francis Ford Coppola, was cast in the role after the choice, Winona Ryder. Rebecca Schaeffer was set to read for this role, as well, Coppolas performance was panned by most movie critics and earned her two Razzies for Worst Supporting Actress and Worst New Star of 1990. In his review of the film in his Movie and Video Guide, Marys aunt, Connie Corleone, is played by Talia Shire — Sofia Coppolas real-life aunt. Mary appears as a character in Mark Winegardners sequel novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfathers Revenge, although in the original novel. — Cousin, son of Sonny Corleone
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Sandra Corleone
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Sandra Corleone is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzos novel The Godfather, the Godfather film trilogy, and the Godfather video game. She was portrayed by Julie Gregg in the first film, born in 1917, she married Sonny Corleone, with whom she had four children, Francesca Corleone, Kathryn Corleone, Frank Corleone and Santino Corleone. She and Sonny live in a house in the Corleone Mall, after Sonnys death, she takes her children to live with her parents in Florida. She is depicted as a woman who immigrated from Italy as a child who does not enjoy sex with Sonny. She is aware, and thankful, that he is unfaithful, Sonny has a mistress, Lucy Mancini and they have a son, Vincent. Sandra appears in a scene in The Godfather Part II. Michael approves but suggests that her fiance changes his college studies, in a deleted subplot, Sandra becomes Tom Hagens mistress, a fact that Michael uses to blackmail Hagen into remaining loyal to the family, despite Sandra urging Hagen to abandon the Corleone family. In the final film, Hagen is depicted as having died years earlier, Sandra is a minor character in The Godfather Returns and The Godfathers Revenge, Mark Winegardners sequels to Puzos novel. In The Family Corleone, she appears as a teenager, the granddaughter of Signora Colombo, a minor character in the original novel
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Salvatore Tessio
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Salvatore Sal Tessio is a fictional character in Mario Puzos 1969 novel The Godfather, as well as two of the films based on it, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. His given name was created for the films, in the novel he is referred to only as Tessio, in the film The Godfather, Tessio was portrayed by Abe Vigoda. In The Godfather Part II, John Aprea portrayed the younger Tessio, while Vigoda reprised the role in a flashback, set in late 1941, Tessio has also appeared in the 2004 novel The Godfather Returns and the 2006 video game The Godfather. Tessio and friends Peter Clemenza and Vito Corleone begin their careers as low-level hoodlums in the New York City neighborhood of Little Italy in Manhattan. As Corleone rises to power and prominence in the Mafia underworld, Tessio, Tessio, well-connected throughout the borough, owns the Embassy Club in Brooklyn, his base of operations for his Mafia soldiers. Most federal investigators consider Tessio the smarter, savvier and more ruthless of the Corleone capos, however, according to the book, he mellows considerably over the decade of peace between New Yorks Mafia families. He is the Corleone Familys most trusted capo during the war with the Five Families and is issued the task of assassinating Bruno Tattaglia, in the novel, Tessio is depicted as thinking more highly of Michael Corleone than do Clemenza and Tom Hagen. However, he never completely trusts Michael, and is frustrated when Michael prevents him from retaliating against Emilio Barzini as the Barzini family chips away at his bailiwick in Brooklyn, ultimately, Tessio betrays Michael by helping arrange his assassination at a peace summit with Barzini and Philip Tattaglia. The summit will be held on Tessios fiefdom in Brooklyn, where Michael will presumably be safe, in return, Tessio was to inherit the Corleone family upon Michaels death. In the novel, Tessio helps broker the summit shortly after Vitos death, in the film, Tessio approaches Michael about setting up the peace summit at Vitos funeral. Michael already anticipated the plot via his fathers warning, whoever approached Michael about the summit would be the family traitor. Tessios betrayal surprised Hagen, who thought Clemenza would betray Michael, Michael tells him, Its the smart move, Tessio was always smarter. A few days later, Tessio is ready to escort Michael, a frustrated Tessio says it interferes with his arrangements. Hagen says he cannot go either, and several button men surround Tessio, immediately understanding his situation, Tessio wants Hagen to tell Michael that his betrayal was not personal, but simply business. Tessio also asks Hagen to get him off the hook, and he is taken away to be killed. In this novel, Geraci is chosen and intended to succeed him as capo, in the video game adaptation, Tessio is the main hit contractor for the first half of the games story. Later, after he is confronted by Tom Hagen and Cicci, Tessio is escorted to the place where he was to betray Michael by the games protagonist and he subsequently flees, but is hunted down and shot by Trapani. In the game, Tessios death takes place before the baptism executions, unlike in the film
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Don Altobello
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Osvaldo Ozzie Altobello is a fictional character and the primary antagonist of the film The Godfather Part III. In the film, he is portrayed by Eli Wallach, frank Sinatra biographer Tom Santopietro notes that Francis Ford Coppola approached Sinatra to play Altobello. The singer considered accepting the role, but wasnt keen on the shooting schedule. Ultimately, his wife Barbara talked him out of it, Altobello is an aging gangster and longstanding ally of the Corleone crime family. He was the consigliere of Rico Tattaglia from 1955 to 1961, by the time of Godfather III, he has become a close friend and ally of Michael Corleone. Altobello even donates one million dollars to be a part of the Vito Corleone Foundation, aside from being Michaels associate, Altobello is also Connie Corleones godfather. Altobello wants in on Michaels investments as he attempts to complete his familys move from crime-based profits to legitimate business, Altobello had left the conference room just prior to the attack. Michael escapes unharmed, but many others are killed, Michael instructs his nephew Vincent Corleone to approach Altobello pretending to pledge his allegiance to him, without promising to betray Michael. While in Sicily, Altobello enlists an assassin named Mosca to kill Michael and he plans the attack for when Michaels son, Anthony is performing in Cavalleria Rusticana at Teatro Massimo opera house. Before the performance, Connie presents Altobello a box of cannoli as a birthday gift and he suspects the cannoli may be poisoned and offers Connie the first bite. Connie takes a bite of the cannoli, reassuring him. He finishes eating the poisoned cannoli and dies in his seat as Connie watches through her opera glasses, Altobello is a supporting character in the novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfathers Revenge, set before the events of The Godfather Part III
