Gianni Russo...do we believe this guy?

[Grouchy Sinatra]

There's some interview with him in the 90s where he hardly has an accent. Maybe slight NY accent. In his audio book he sounds like a semi retired Gambino leg breaker telling stories in a social club. Thicker Brooklyn accent than Luca Brasi.

[cavita]

I met him a couple years ago. No accent.

[Wiseguy]

That story about him reacting a scene from The Godfather so Escobar wouldn't kill him...gold. Pure gold.

[Pete]

I liked the story from Frank Calabrese jr book. Frank JR and sr we’re watching tv and Gianni showed a knife on the show and said I got this from a real gangster. Sr laughed and said I gave him that knife.

[axx]

He's all in blue this time, including his teeth. Watching pt 11, he says Gotti wanted to get rid of him & arranged him to see Pablo Escobar...

[JeremyTheJew]

He's all in blue this time, including his teeth. Watching pt 11, he says Gotti wanted to get rid of him & arranged him to see Pablo Escobar...

I haven't gotten to actually listen yet but first thing I noticed was his BLUE TEETH!!!

Lol and apparently he robbed 87 million from 6 banks

[axx]

It gets better. Pt 12 is up - he personally delivered arms money to Saddam via US army hummer and talked to Putin on skype. And I'm just 2 minutes in.

[TallGuy19]

Do we know what this guy's connection to the mob was? Given that he was in The Godfather, I assume that he was probably connected in some way—but I don't believe his bullshit stories about working for Costello.

[TwoPiece]

just saw part 11 where he calls joey merlino skinny nicky and he repeats that story that merlino helped joe biden steal the election this guy is a nut

[Grouchy Sinatra]

Do we know what this guy's connection to the mob was? Given that he was in The Godfather, I assume that he was probably connected in some way—but I don't believe his bullshit stories about working for Costello.

According to his book he was Costello's errand boy as a kid. I tend to believe that. He thinks his shit doesn't stink for some reason. I'm guessing he parlayed that connection into more connections with wiseguys throughout his career, alas Sinatra. In Gus Russo's book about Sidney Korshack (Gus has no relation to Gianni...as far as I know), he says that Gianni sat in on the "negotiation" between Joe Colombo and Paramount pictures over how or if The Godfather would be produced. According to Gus Russo, when the meeting ended, Gianni says "what about me?", then Colombo tells the Paramount exec, "oh yeah, Gianni here gets a role in the movie". lol. Supposedly Marlon Brando refused to speak to him during filming.

[PolackTony]

Do we know what this guy's connection to the mob was? Given that he was in The Godfather, I assume that he was probably connected in some way—but I don't believe his bullshit stories about working for Costello.

According to his book he was Costello's errand boy as a kid. I tend to believe that. He thinks his shit doesn't stink for some reason. I'm guessing he parlayed that connection into more connections with wiseguys throughout his career, alas Sinatra. In Gus Russo's book about Sidney Korshack (Gus has no relation to Gianni...as far as I know), he says that Gianni sat in on the "negotiation" between Joe Colombo and Paramount pictures over how or if The Godfather would be produced. According to Gus Russo, when the meeting ended, Gianni says "what about me?", then Colombo tells the Paramount exec, "oh yeah, Gianni here gets a role in the movie". lol. Supposedly Marlon Brando refused to speak to him during filming.

Does Gianni make any specific claims in his book as to when his relationship with Chicago started, or what the exact connection was? I haven't read Russo's Korshak book either -- does he mention it at all? If Gianni actually was present during Colombos negotiation I'm wondering if he had any Outfit links on the Westcoast.

[Tonyd621]

I think Russo is all bullshit. He has an answer and a story for everything. Its never no I didn't know this person or I wasn't part of that. Fromm NY to Chicago he claims he was a part of everything. Now he's saying he robbed 48 million and how frank Cullota is a piece of shit...it never ends...

[Tonyd621]

Oh he did a an arms deal with saddam hussein-delivered money. When he met him saddam had his scene qued up on the godfather. He also had someone in the Russian govt come up to him while he was out to eat to tell him Putin loved the godfather and how they worked together to hid Steven Seagal. More over he would work at his club he owned then be a money courier for some middle eastern military govt and would go to the vatican

[Grouchy Sinatra]

Does Gianni make any specific claims in his book as to when his relationship with Chicago started, or what the exact connection was? I haven't read Russo's Korshak book either -- does he mention it at all? If Gianni actually was present during Colombos negotiation I'm wondering if he had any Outfit links on the Westcoast.

I listened to a free audio version from my local library a while back. I didn't finish it. I believe the story about him being in the meeting with Colombo and Paramount was something Gus Russo got from Robert Evans' "The Kid Stays In The Picture". As far as Gianni's Chicago connections I dont recall.