Original Heads of the 5 Crime Families in New York
The original heads of the 5 Crime Families in New York, as established by Charles "Lucky" Luciano in the 1930s, were:
Gambino Crime Family: Vincent Mangano (1888-1951) - Mangano was a powerful and respected gangster who became the first boss of the Gambino Family.
Genovese Crime Family: Charles "Lucky" Luciano (1897-1962) - Luciano, who is considered one of the most influential gangsters in American history, became the first boss of the Genovese Family.
Bonanno Crime Family: Charles "Carlo" Bonanno (1903-2002) - Bonanno, also known as "Joe Bananas," was a Sicilian-born gangster who became the first boss of the Bonanno Family.
Lucchese Crime Family: Gaetano "Tom" Lucchese (1899-1967) - Lucchese, also known as "Tommy Three-Finger Brown," was a powerful and respected gangster who became the first boss of the Lucchese Family.
Colombo Crime Family: Joe Profaci (1892-1962) - Profaci, also known as "The Olive Oil King," was a Sicilian-born gangster who became the first boss of the Colombo Family.
These five men were the original heads of the 5 Crime Families in New York, and they played a significant role in shaping the course of organized crime in the city.
It's worth noting that the leadership of the families has changed over the years, with new bosses emerging and old ones being replaced. However, the original heads of the 5 Families remain an important part of American Mafia history.
The Godfather (1972) - Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino.
The Godfather: Part II (1974) - Also directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
Goodfellas (1990) - Directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Ray Liotta.
The Untouchables (1987) - Directed by Brian De Palma, starring Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, and Sean Connery.
Donnie Brasco (1997) - Directed by Mike Newell, starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp.
Carlito's Way (1993) - Directed by Brian De Palma, starring Al Pacino and Sean Penn.
Analyze This (1999) - Directed by Harold Ramis, starring Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal.
The Departed (2006) - Directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson.
American Gangster (2007) - Directed by Ridley Scott, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.
The Irishman (2019) - Directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci.
These movies are widely regarded as some of the best and most influential Mafia films of all time, and have helped to shape the public's perception of organized crime.
Many of these movies are based on real-life events and figures, and offer a glimpse into the world of organized crime and the Mafia.
The Godfather, a novel by Mario Puzo and a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a work of fiction, but it is loosely based on real-life events and figures from the world of organized crime.
The story is inspired by the lives of several Italian-American Mafia families, including the Bonanno, Gambino, and Lucchese families. The character of Don Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, is believed to be based on several real-life Mafia bosses, including:
Carlo Gambino: A powerful and respected Mafia boss who led the Gambino crime family.
Joe Bonanno: A Sicilian-born Mafia boss who led the Bonanno crime family.
Vito Genovese: A notorious Mafia boss who led the Genovese crime family.
The film's plot, which revolves around the Corleone family's rise to power and their struggles with rival families, is also inspired by real-life events, including:
The Castellammarese War: A bloody conflict between the Masseria and Maranzano factions of the Mafia in the 1930s.
The Apalachin Meeting: A real-life meeting of Mafia bosses in 1957, which was raided by law enforcement and led to a significant crackdown on organized crime.
However, it's worth noting that the film and novel take significant creative liberties with the facts, and many of the characters and events are fictionalized or composites of real people and events.
Overall, while The Godfather is not a strictly true story, it is deeply rooted in the history and culture of organized crime, and its portrayal of the Mafia and its inner workings has had a lasting impact on popular culture.
The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, won three Academy Awards (Oscars) at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973:
Best Picture: Albert S. Ruddy, producer
Best Actor: Marlon Brando, for his iconic portrayal of Don Vito Corleone (although Brando declined the award)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo, for their adaptation of Puzo's novel
The Godfather was also nominated for several other Oscars, including:
Best Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Best Supporting Actor: James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Al Pacino
Best Film Editing: William Reynolds and Peter Zinner
Best Sound: Charles Grenzbach, Richard Portman, and Christopher Newman
The Godfather's Oscar wins and nominations are a testament to the film's enduring influence and excellence.
It's worth noting that The Godfather: Part II, the sequel to The Godfather, won six Oscars at the 47th Academy Awards in 1975, including Best Picture and Best Director for Francis Ford Coppola.
Original Heads of the 5 Crime Families in New York
The original heads of the 5 Crime Families in New York, as established by Charles "Lucky" Luciano in the 1930s, were:
These five men were the original heads of the 5 Crime Families in New York, and they played a significant role in shaping the course of organized crime in the city.
It's worth noting that the leadership of the families has changed over the years, with new bosses emerging and old ones being replaced. However, the original heads of the 5 Families remain an important part of American Mafia history.
What are the best known Mafia movies? When were they made?
Best Known Mafia Movies
Some of the best known Mafia movies include:
These movies are widely regarded as some of the best and most influential Mafia films of all time, and have helped to shape the public's perception of organized crime.
Many of these movies are based on real-life events and figures, and offer a glimpse into the world of organized crime and the Mafia.
Was The Godfather based upon a true story?
The Godfather: Fact and Fiction
The Godfather, a novel by Mario Puzo and a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a work of fiction, but it is loosely based on real-life events and figures from the world of organized crime.
The story is inspired by the lives of several Italian-American Mafia families, including the Bonanno, Gambino, and Lucchese families. The character of Don Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, is believed to be based on several real-life Mafia bosses, including:
The film's plot, which revolves around the Corleone family's rise to power and their struggles with rival families, is also inspired by real-life events, including:
However, it's worth noting that the film and novel take significant creative liberties with the facts, and many of the characters and events are fictionalized or composites of real people and events.
Overall, while The Godfather is not a strictly true story, it is deeply rooted in the history and culture of organized crime, and its portrayal of the Mafia and its inner workings has had a lasting impact on popular culture.
What Oscars did The Godfather win?
The Godfather's Oscar Wins
The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, won three Academy Awards (Oscars) at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973:
The Godfather was also nominated for several other Oscars, including:
The Godfather's Oscar wins and nominations are a testament to the film's enduring influence and excellence.
It's worth noting that The Godfather: Part II, the sequel to The Godfather, won six Oscars at the 47th Academy Awards in 1975, including Best Picture and Best Director for Francis Ford Coppola.