The book Supermob about Sydney Korshak goes into how Russo got the Godfather part. He sort of got it because he was connected but it wasn't exactly dignified. He was supposedly in the meeting with the Italian Rights group (Joe Colombo) and the Paramount people and when they came to an agreement and wrapped up, he had to intervene and remind them he was supposed to get a part. They agreed to give him the part of Carlo then left. They were basically walking out of there when he chimed up and whined about what he was supposed to get. Brando wouldn't even talk to him during filming because he knew how he got the role.
"...the successful annihilation of organized crime's subculture in America would rock the 'legitimate' world's foundation, which would ultimately force fundamental social changes and redistributions of wealth and power in this country. Meyer Lansky's dream was to bond the two worlds together so that one could not survive without the other." - Dan E. Moldea
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