At first I felt a little silly posting questions on this site that I figured were common knowledge in the GF arena. I've asked a couple and everyone has been quite nice about it, and I've received great info. OK, so here goes another one....
Who in hell is that guy in black who is Michael's bodyguard in Cuba during GFII? Does he have a name? He is the one who gets shot trying to off Roth.

His name is Buschetta (although that's never stated in the film, people here just seem to know it) and it's unclear where he came from or how he came to work for Michael.

I never thought about it much, just figured him to be a Luca Brasi type hulk of a bodyguard that Michael needed to have around on business trips.

Amazing fellow...he never utters a word but certainly is a striking presence who holds his own amidst the principal characters.

Apple

Thanks Apple! How did you come to know this?

It didn't seem right for this elusive figure to die

he definetly made himself known but his death really doesnt have any major effect on the film

he did what he had to do then it was over

The guy doesn't have a big part in the film, but with his assassination of Johnny Ola and attempted killing of Roth, he certainly has an important one.

So it's perfectly natural, I think, to wonder who he is and where he came from.

The character's name, if I'm not mistaken, is not listed in the film's credits, where they simply call him "Michael's Bodyguard" but he is named in many of the various versions of the script floating around, and i believe Harlan Lebo provides his name in his excellent book The Godfather Legacy.

Love the 'hanger' method

We can only speculate about where he came from. My guess: Buscetta (as was noted above, his name never appears in the film or the credits) probably was a top-notch Mafia killer/bodyguard not normally associated with the Corleones, but perhaps supplied by allies (maybe in Sicily). Michael would want him for two reasons: First, as he told Tom, he couldn't trust anyone other than Tom right after the Tahoe shooting, so he wouldn't take Neri and/or Rocco with him to Cuba since he couldn't dismiss the possibility (at that point) that they might have been involved in the shooting. Second, using this unknown (to Roth) guy would be a signal to Roth that Michael might suspect people close to him (Neri and Rocco) in the shooting, and thus not suspect Roth. Roth wouldn't feel threatened by Buscetta--"hell, he's only one hired bodyguard, and I've got Batista's army behind me, ready to assassinate Michael."
The real reason (attention: Apple!) was to use the actor's singularly sinister and menacing appearance (combined with his deadly silence) to add drama.

BTW: Amerigo Tot, the actor who played Buscetta, was a famous sculptor with his own museum in Budapest, Hungary. His work, according to his IMDB bio, can be seen in the Vatican.

I'm still alive and well and living outside of Washington, D.C.

I never spoke because I was afraid Mike would pimp slap me like he did Kay.

Good call Turnbull. I think you nailed it.

C'mon, Turnbull...come clean and admit to everybody that you make this stuff up (speculation) as you go along.

Which of course is what they can also do, instead of asking questions to which there are no 'real' answers other than the one you state above.



Apple

I think that Buscetta emphasizes Michael's estrangment from personal ties within his crime family. Those closest to Vito were long time companions; those closest to Michael were more like employees. I think it also points out the business side of Michael's machinations which lacked Vito's personal touch.

A very nice point, olivant, and it's reinforced when Michael tells Tom,"Y'see, Tom, all our people are businessmen. Their loyalty is based on that."

I admit it. But it's so much fun...

Yes, I agree it is fun. Especially to come up with some very interesting and logical background for people who let's face it, can't think for themselves.

I do admire you for taking advantage of the countless opportunities!

Apple

If I may quote DBCH:

"I think Apple has some worms.

The attitude is definitely getting old."

Jimmy Durante as Buscetta! The mind boggles:

"Ya gotta start off each day with a hit,
Even when things seem like s**t..."


"Goodnight, Mama Corleone...wherever you are..."

The Godfather Trilogy could have run for three consecutive Sunday nights on the Colgate Comedy Hour.

I believe Jimmy Durante was only considered after it was learned that Marty Feldman was busy.

He didnt know much.... not even that Fredo was Mike's brother.