Originally posted by Boss_of_bosses:
And I agree that Paul was a better choice than Neil. Neil was in so much trouble that he probably would have ended up behind bars shortly after his takeover. And Carlo knew that.
Vito Corleone was a mixture of many Dons: labeled after Carlo Gambino, Frank Costello, Joe Profaci, and Joseph Bonanno
One of the reasons Gambino didn't choose Dellacroce was that Neil was still in prison, serving a term for income tax evasion. He got nailed after losing $30k or $60k in a casino in Puerto Rico even though he claimed an income of only $10k/year at the time. That's how easy it is to convict mobsters of tax evasion. Gambino may have figured that, once Neil got out, the Feds would be watching him closely. Castellano was mostly legit, having a large wholesale meat business as his cover. But, as we saw, the Feds were watching him closely anyway.
Vito Corleone has a bit of Salvatore Maranzano in him (victor in a war in which his chief rival was killed while chewing bread in a restaurant); something of Joe Profaci (biggest olive oil importer in America); something of Joe Bonanno (one underboss remained loyal to his son, one betrayed him); a big of Charlie Luciano (Jewish gangster was close associate). But he most resembles Frank Costello (gambling and unions, had all the judges in New York, retired after being shot).
