THE BLACK HAND FORUM

To Everyone:

My own 2 cents, FWIW: Simply, Profaci, Lucchese, and a small dollop of Gambino, in that order.

Regards,
BeatiPaoli

On mothers: It is well known that David Chase's mother was a big inspiration for his 'The Sopranos' TV series.

Mario Puzo has said several times that his biggest inspiration for Vito Corleone was a mother. Here's one example: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/ ... ded8d39cb/

Puzo worked for the New York Times for a while and knew Peter Maas, so he had access to the material used to write The Valachi Papers. In the book, he kills Salvatore Maranzano and forms the Commission, so there's a bit of Lucky Luciano in there, as well as Profaci, Bonanno, Costello, and Gambino. Puzo borrowed and adapted stories that appeared in the newspapers and TV. The name of his consigliere before Tom Hagen was Genco Abbandando, a name that's a combination of Giuseppe Genco Russo, whose name was frequently in the papers from 1964 to 1965, and Frank "the Dasher" Abbandando of Murder Inc. fame. Marlon Brando borrowed Frank Costello's voice and mannerisms from the Kefauver Hearings.

It is clear Vito was a combination of several notorious New York bosses of different families…Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, Costello. All have several characteristics in common.

CornerBoy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 8:14 am

bluehouse wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 6:08 pm i think it a was mixture of Marvin Moran and Michael derosa

moran would be able to give very good info to this forum. those guys are older than me and the little i know, I'm too scared to type lol

I think moran posted at gbb afew years ago.

Mario Puzo needed money so used what learned but his mother that was running a gambling ring. I think that the more close to the Godfather is Joseph Bonanno.
He born in Sicily become boss at young age and tried to make his son Bill as his successor.

thekiduknow wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 8:02 pm I saw someone make a comparison between Tessio and Gaspar DiGregorio, both old time caporegimes who turn against their boss.

Also DiGregorio was Bill Bonanno's Godfather and Tessio was Michael's Godfather. Both of them set up their Godsons to be killed.


Pogo

bluehouse wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 6:08 pm i think it a was mixture of Marvin Moran and Michael derosa

moran would be able to give very good info to this forum. those guys are older than me and the little i know, I'm too scared to type lol

bluehouse wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 6:08 pm i think it a was mixture of Marvin Moran and Michael derosa

Marvin's not his real first name lol

Obviously the character of Vito is a combination of people. Personally I think he grabbed the olive oil business from Profaci, the political connections from Costello, but the overall story I think comes from Bonanno. Family war, the son taking over, the family relocating to the west. All Bonanno. The claim that Bonanno tried to take out members of the commission is essentially Michael taking out Barzini and Tataglia at the end. Even the rise of Corleone with the war with in the 30s was essentially the Maranzano/Masseria war. Which was odd that Puzo called the Masseria character Maranzano. But whatever. We've talked about it here before, but Puzo really wasn't that good of a writer(relatively speaking to other well known authors) and really just took a lot of real people and modified their names for back story. It's not like he spent a lot of time on the other families in the country and he wasn't even subtle about it. Zaluchi is Zerilli. Tramonti is Trafficante. Panza is Patriarca......

I saw someone make a comparison between Tessio and Gaspar DiGregorio, both old time caporegimes who turn against their boss.

Finally, the whole tenor of the book 'The Godfather' points to Joe Bonanno.
Vito Corleone is a benign ruler, who uses networking, and exchanges of favours, for the mutual benefit of all. He does not extort, nor do drugs. Joe Bonanno describes himself similarly.
Even the title of the book, screams Bonanno!
Joe Bonanno, in his own autobigraphy prefers to use the word 'Father' rather than Boss.
Gay Talese and Bill Bonanno in their book 'Honor Thy Father' describe a communications system that has Joe Bonanno given the code-name of 'Mr Shepherd'.
Mr Shepherd is the Father!
Joe Bonanno is The Godfather!

Who was Luca Brasi?
In the book, Luca Brasi is introduced as the guy that pointed a gun at the head of a band-leader, while Vito Corleone made an offer that could not be refused. The real-life version of this story had Willie Moretti getting the band leader to release Frank Sinatra. Clearly, this is the story that Mario Puzo put in his book.
However, let us look more generally at Luca Brasi. It will be remembered that Brasi was very loyal to Vito Corleone, very violent, and very feared. This could also be a description of Carmine Galante.
The death of Brasi, was the first blow in the war against the Corleones. I doubt that there would have been any Bonanno War , if Galante had avoided getting sent down.
Another central figure in the novel, is Tom Hagen. For many years, I have known of a figure that he could have been based upon. Recently, I became aware of a second figure. Both are connected to the Bonannos, but I will not expand on that.
In the book, the attack against Vito Corleone was planned with the help of a traitor driver.
In real life, Gay Talese in his 'Honor Thy Father' biography of Bill Bonanno, tells us that a traitor driver helped set up Joe Bonanno to be kidnapped.
The long-loyal Tessio of the book, could be compared to the real-life long-loyal Gaspar DiGregorio.

i think it a was mixture of Marvin Moran and Michael derosa

'The Godfather' book, opens with Vito Corleone on top, and presiding over his daughter's lavish wedding. Joe Bonanno, in real life, also hosted a lavish wedding for his eldest son. In the book, a Johnnie Fontane, who is clearly based on Frank Sinatra, sings at the wedding. In real-life, Tony Bennett sang at the Bonanno wedding.
The fictional Corleone family has three sons and one daughter. So too, do the real-life Bonannos. Joe Bonanno had three sons, though one died as a baby.
The eldest Corleone son was named Santino, but known as Sonny. The eldest Bonanno son was named Salvatore, but was known as Bill.
Both were hot-tempered womanizers, destined to follow in their father's footsteps. Both got involved in a shooting war when their fathers were out of the game. Sonny got shot on the Causeway, Bill survived The Troutman Street Shooting.
Bill also had a reputation as a bungler, just like Freddy. Both were based out west.
Michael joined the military and went to war. Bill went to military school.
Michael graduated from college. Bill dropped out.
Michael got involved in the Mafia war when his father was out of the game. Same applies to Bill.
I believe that the three Corleone brothers are based on different aspects of the character of Bill Bonanno.