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Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
#361318
02/05/07 07:09 PM
02/05/07 07:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 76 Georgia, USA
DonRobertoCorleone
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I happened to be watching GF3 last night and the scene where Mike along with Vincent,Neri, Calo and others go to speak with Don Tommassino there's mention getting back in because of the death of Zasa. Vincent mentions that the Colombians qould move in and I believe Calo was saying something about the Corleones leaving drugs. I always thought that he meant that they left drugs to the other families, but after hearing some news about how Puzo wanted to have vincent go into the narcotics business in a possible GF4, I'm not so sure. Anyone know what was really going on here?
DonRobertoCorleone
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: DonRobertoCorleone]
#361322
02/05/07 07:19 PM
02/05/07 07:19 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 275 Somewhere, sometime... Somehow
Frank Pentangely
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With all-a-due respetto, the ol' time Families did get into drugs, no matter how mythified tha topic mighta have been in the GF. So I think is very possible that the Corleones had ties to financing and protection fees to junk dealers. noa big deal
RING-A-DING-DING
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: Dakosta]
#361360
02/05/07 11:11 PM
02/05/07 11:11 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512 AZ
Turnbull
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In GF, when Vito agreed to provide "political protection" for the drugs business, it meant that the Corleones were in the drugs business. Period. Because, without their political protection, the drugs business would never have prospered.
In GFII, it's pretty clear that Frank Pentangeli, as the underboss who runs the NY branch of the Corleones for Michael, is in the drugs business to some extent. Though he bitches about the Rosatos that "...an' everything with them is a babania...an' they leave the gambling for last," I think he's complaining about the emphasis they put on drugs and their neglect of the gambling business. He's not complaining that they deal drugs at all. So, we can conclude that Michael at least tolerated the drugs business, and certainly supported it through his political protection and his street operations (via Frankie).
This is a correct reflection of the real-life Mafia's attitude toward drugs. While many Dons "officially condemned" drug trafficking, as a practical matter they never questioned where the money came from that was kicked upstairs to them. Their "official condemnation" of drugs was really a test--a kind of Darwinian "survival of the fittest"--for their men. Their attitude (like Clinton's "don't ask/don't tell" policy on gays in the military) was: "Don't get caught." It was meant to discourage the weak and unimaginative among them--people who'd get caught because of their incompetence. The really capable and daring members of their families would deal drugs, not get caught--and continue to kick money upstairs to the Don.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: Turnbull]
#361447
02/06/07 10:33 AM
02/06/07 10:33 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 11,468 With Geary in Fredo's Brothel
dontomasso
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Though he bitches about the Rosatos that "...an' everything with them is a babania...an' they leave the gambling for last," I think he's complaining about the emphasis they put on drugs and their neglect of the gambling business. He's not complaining that they deal drugs at all. We see this again in GF III where Michael confronts Zasa about whether or not he guarantees that his people are not selling drugs in the old Italian neighborhoods. Zasa dodges the question by saying he makes no such guarantee, but that he would kill anyone he caught doing it.
"Io sono stanco, sono imbigliato, and I wan't everyone here to know, there ain't gonna be no trouble from me..Don Corleone..Cicc' a port!"
"I stood in the courtroom like a fool."
"I am Constanza: Lord of the idiots."
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: dontomasso]
#361496
02/06/07 12:44 PM
02/06/07 12:44 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 773 Pittsburgh, PA
The Last Woltz
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One of Don Corleone's main objections to the drug trade was that politicians and policemen would not offer protection. However, at the Commission meeting, the Don contradicts this by agreeing to use his connections to ensure protection in the East. There is no evidence in the films that the Corleones' power or political clout was affected by their drug involvement in any way.
My question: Did Don Corleone really believe (mistakenly) that the politicians and police would refuse to protect the drug trade or was he using this argument as a smokescreen for other qualms he had about getting involved in drugs?
"A man in my position cannot afford to be made to look ridiculous!"
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: The Last Woltz]
#361504
02/06/07 12:53 PM
02/06/07 12:53 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 11,468 With Geary in Fredo's Brothel
dontomasso
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My question: Did Don Corleone really believe (mistakenly) that the politicians and police would refuse to protect the drug trade or was he using this argument as a smokescreen for other qualms he had about getting involved in drugs?
Yes, he did believe it then and at the meeting he still believed it, however because of the limitations imposed, I imagine he thought he could keep the politicians and judges in line because the end users are animals anyway.
"Io sono stanco, sono imbigliato, and I wan't everyone here to know, there ain't gonna be no trouble from me..Don Corleone..Cicc' a port!"
"I stood in the courtroom like a fool."
"I am Constanza: Lord of the idiots."
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: The Last Woltz]
#361524
02/06/07 01:56 PM
02/06/07 01:56 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512
AZ
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My question: Did Don Corleone really believe (mistakenly) that the politicians and police would refuse to protect the drug trade or was he using this argument as a smokescreen for other qualms he had about getting involved in drugs? He certainly saw the drugs business as a threat to the police and political protection he'd put together to protect his gambling and labor rackets. I believe that was his primary motivation in turning down Sollozzo. But the novel adds a nuance: He tells Tom that "what he [Sollozzo] will propose is an infamia." And, at the end of their conference, the Don tells Tom, "Do you have it in your notes that Sollozzo made his living before the war from prostitution, as the Tattaglias do now? Write that down before you forget." Tom concludes that this bodes ill for the drugs deal because the Don "was notoriously straight-laced in matters of sex." (BTW: That sentence is another example of Puzo's, uh, sloppy writing. Can you imagine Vito being "notorious" for being straight-laced in matters of sex? How did he get that "notoriety"? I can just picture it now: at the Don's Convention, they're all whispering, "Better not make any Paris Hilton jokes while Vito's around..." )
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: Turnbull]
#361526
02/06/07 01:59 PM
02/06/07 01:59 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 11,468 With Geary in Fredo's Brothel
dontomasso
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[quote=Turnbull the Don "was notoriously straight-laced in matters of sex." (BTW: That sentence is another example of Puzo's, uh, sloppy writing. Can you imagine Vito being "notorious" for being straight-laced in matters of sex? How did he get that "notoriety"? I can just picture it now: at the Don's Convention, they're all whispering, "Better not make any Paris Hilton jokes while Vito's around..." ) [/quote] I guess that means he and Hyman Roth would hang around the Hotel room in Havana playing cards while Johnny Ola went to the Superman show.
"Io sono stanco, sono imbigliato, and I wan't everyone here to know, there ain't gonna be no trouble from me..Don Corleone..Cicc' a port!"
"I stood in the courtroom like a fool."
"I am Constanza: Lord of the idiots."
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: Turnbull]
#361641
02/06/07 06:34 PM
02/06/07 06:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296 Throggs Neck
pizzaboy
The Fuckin Doctor
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I guess that means he and Hyman Roth would hang around the Hotel room in Havana playing cards while Johnny Ola went to the Superman show. In a deleted scene, young Vito and young Roth prove their piety by extending their religious beliefs to each other. Vito arranges for Roth to have a bath in holy water. Roth reciprocates by arranging for Vito to be circumsized. I could just see DeNiro's face.
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: pizzaboy]
#361758
02/07/07 11:31 AM
02/07/07 11:31 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 11,468 With Geary in Fredo's Brothel
dontomasso
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I guess that means he and Hyman Roth would hang around the Hotel room in Havana playing cards while Johnny Ola went to the Superman show. In a deleted scene, young Vito and young Roth prove their piety by extending their religious beliefs to each other. Vito arranges for Roth to have a bath in holy water. Roth reciprocates by arranging for Vito to be circumsized. I could just see DeNiro's face. Was that before or after De Niro had the moustache?
"Io sono stanco, sono imbigliato, and I wan't everyone here to know, there ain't gonna be no trouble from me..Don Corleone..Cicc' a port!"
"I stood in the courtroom like a fool."
"I am Constanza: Lord of the idiots."
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: Ice]
#361786
02/07/07 01:17 PM
02/07/07 01:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,296 Throggs Neck
pizzaboy
The Fuckin Doctor
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The Fuckin Doctor
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Hmm...I wonder if Vito had any brothels? When did the Corleones get into da' whores business? Was this part of the move to Vegas ya think? In both the novel and the movie, it is implied that prostitution in the New York area, was left to the Tattaglias. However, you're right, by the time they got to Nevada, Fredo was running at least 1 brothel for the Corleones. So, my guess would be, after the death of Vito but before or during the move to Nevada.
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: Ice]
#361798
02/07/07 01:31 PM
02/07/07 01:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,238 The Ravenite Social Club
Don Cardi
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Hmm...I wonder if Vito had any brothels? When did the Corleones get into da' whores business? Was this part of the move to Vegas ya think? I doubt that Vito was into prostitution. " Tattalglia's a pimp" And he says that about Tattaglia in what seems to be a pretty condescending tone. Michael probably moved into the Prostitution business when the Corleone's went out west. After all it was not illegal out there. Don Cardi
Don Cardi Five - ten years from now, they're gonna wish there was American Cosa Nostra. Five - ten years from now, they're gonna miss John Gotti.
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: Don Cardi]
#361800
02/07/07 01:39 PM
02/07/07 01:39 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,512
AZ
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[Michael probably moved into the Prostitution business when the Corleone's went out west. After all it was not illegal out there. Don Cardi Yes, and that constitutes a marvelous little example of Michael's definition of "legitimate." Throughout his life, he attempted to be "legitimate," but on terms that he defined. His father abhorred prostitution. But, since prostitution was legal in Nevada, and Michael was a "legitimate" businessman, he could own a brothel and still consider himself "legitimate."
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: Don Cardi]
#361838
02/07/07 04:07 PM
02/07/07 04:07 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 11,468 With Geary in Fredo's Brothel
dontomasso
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With Geary in Fredo's Brothel
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The same could be said for Michael being like Vito when it came to matters of sex, infidelity and womanizing.
Yet Michael did make money off of woman by owning a brothel run by his brother Fredo.
Don Cardi 8) I wonder if Michael made Fredo pay for banging hookers two at a time.
"Io sono stanco, sono imbigliato, and I wan't everyone here to know, there ain't gonna be no trouble from me..Don Corleone..Cicc' a port!"
"I stood in the courtroom like a fool."
"I am Constanza: Lord of the idiots."
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Re: Did the Corleone family ever get into drugs?
[Re: Don Cardi]
#368784
02/25/07 03:01 PM
02/25/07 03:01 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 443 New Jersey
Obsessed With The GodFather
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Capo
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New Jersey
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Hmm...I wonder if Vito had any brothels? When did the Corleones get into da' whores business? Was this part of the move to Vegas ya think? I doubt that Vito was into prostitution. " Tattalglia's a pimp" And he says that about Tattaglia in what seems to be a pretty condescending tone. Michael probably moved into the Prostitution business when the Corleone's went out west. After all it was not illegal out there. Don Cardi 8) Thats what i make of it to Don, After Vegas- was when they got into prostitution!
Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash Fan!
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