How Did Genco Get So Far?

The legendary Genco, predecessor to Tom Hagen, and always the model of the perfect consigliere with unparallelled Sicilian
cunning, is only seen briefly in the films(I am not talking about the novel here). He is mentioned in GF I and appears in a deleted scene on his deathbed almost a supplicant, begging Vito to make some kind of deal with God to spare his life, and also in GFII as the son of the grocer who took young Vito in as long as he could. There was a brotherly relationship between young Vito and young Genco, but IMHO Genco comes off as kind of goofy. He's all infatuated with the girl who appears in the vaudeville show, and is otherwise clearly not Vito's equal intellectually or in the criminal world. He's a grocer's son and not much more. Vito's initial criminal dealings are with Clemenza and Tessio (and Roth in deleted scenes).

I can see Vito bringing Genco into the organization out of loyalty and so forth, but along the way Genco got really smart. What's the backstory there? How did he get from grocer's son, and brother figure to Vito, all the way to the greatest consigliere who ever lived?

I totally agree with your points, dt.

On a number of occasions I've posted that we don't see anything in the films demonstrating Genco's acumen. Even in flashbacks, we don't see Vito look to him for advice.

The "Genco is brilliant" school of thought seems to rest heavily on Sonny's "Pop had Genco look what I got" insult to Tom and, in the novel, Tom's assertion that "Genco would have smelled a rat" after the hit on Sonny.

My theory is that Genco was really not consigliere in a broad, strategic sense. Vito really seems to keep his own counsel. I don't see him talking strategy with Genco.

I see Genco's role as someone absolutely trustworthy who could get Vito information. As a shopkeeper's son, he probably knew the neighborhood very well. He could tell Vito what was brewing and give his impressions of the people involved.

As Vito's empire grew, Genco grew with it.

I think there's a difference between intelligence and street smart. Tom Hagen was too rational for a consigliere, while Genco could rely on his instinct.

Good question. I never thought of Genco as being so intelligent and cunning. If he was, he would have understood better about Fanucci being a free-lancer (as Vito figured it out). Instead, Genco was scared shitless of Fanucci.

Consiglieri in Mafia families usually start out as made men who do all the "muscle" jobs expected of them before eventually being elevated. But Vito clearly valued advice and loyalty above muscle. It's not a coincidence that Tom followed Genco.

As for Genco being afraid of Fanucci: so were Clemm and Tess. What was important was that Vito wasn't afraid--that's how he become the Don. But, the others found useful jobs under him.

Genco IS brilliant!

1) Dexterity: He shows Senor Roberto how to use the door handle..
2) Shrewdness: He teaches young Vito to let the black hand threaten his lady...
3) Marketing: Convinces Vito to name the Olive Oil company after him....

And reverent: he believes Vito talks to God.

And neither of those capos were known for their brains..... (and no crap about how Tessio was smarter. He wasn't smart enough to believe Don Vito near the end).

I never saw anything street smart about Genco. True Vito is the only onw who figured out how to defeat Fanucci, it seemed like he was a total wuss when it came to women.

I totally agree with your points, dt.