Peter Clemenza is a fictional character who first appeared in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel
Behind the scenes. Peter Clemenza could be based on Frank Labruzzo, who was one of the most loyal capos of Joseph Bonanno, staying on his side during the "Bananas war" in the 1960s.
Because (I read somewhere) Richard S. Castellano, who played Pete Clemenza, put on a lot of. weight to play that role, and then took it off, and didn't want to do it twice. Understandable that in 1973–4, without the nutrition techniques we have now he didn't want to try that.
Death. Castellano died from a heart attack at his home in North Bergen, New Jersey, in 1988 at age 55.
Eventually Vito splits Tessio from Clemenza and asks the two not to socialize unless absolutely necessary, both to remove the threat of a conspiracy against him and also to set up Tessio to function as a "safety valve caporegime" whose Mafia soldiers can be called upon by the Corleone family in emergencies.
Most noteworthy, the novel depicts Clemenza's fatal heart attack (mentioned in The Godfather Part II), and the many conspiracy theories that he had actually been murdered by the Rosato Brothers, former Corleone soldiers who had formed their own gang after a dispute over the future of the family.
Type of Villain
Peter Clemenza is a character from The Godfather novel and films. He was one of the two original caporegimes of the Corleone Family, the other being Salvatore Tessio. He was portrayed by the late Richard S. Castellano in the first film, and as a young man by the late Bruno Kirby in the second film.
Jack Nicholson - Micheal Corleone, The Godfather (1972)
However, Nicholson turned down the role. He had, at the same time, received offers for The Last Detail and Chinatown, which he thought were more interesting projects.
A distinguished character actor, Richard S. Castellano was the highest earning actor in The Godfather, whose fame outside the saga included playing Joe Girelli in The Super. He also received an Academy Award nomination for his role in Love and Other Strangers.
He once murdered six men single-handedly to protect Don Corleone; only when Vito himself ordered him to stop did Brasi end his rampage, which contributed significantly to ending the "Olive Oil War." Brasi's loyalty to Don Corleone and the Corleone family is unquestioned; he is said to have killed a Corleone soldier ...
Paulie has seemingly betrayed Vito—and thus the family—by selling him out. In The Godfather, this kind of betrayal is the worst of all sins.
Hagen was originally intended to have been featured in The Godfather Part III, but was written out due to a salary dispute between Duvall and the film's producers. Coppola stated in the film's commentary that Duvall demanded the same salary as Al Pacino (who portrayed Michael Corleone).
The Godfather: Part II
Hagen remains on when Michael moves his family to Nevada, albeit in the reduced role that he dislikes. For instance, he was excluded from his negotiations with rival crime boss Hyman Roth.
Don Corleone was inspired by real-life mob boss Frank Costello. Don Vito Corleone has similarities to several real-life mobsters, including Joe Profaci, who used his olive oil distributorship as a front for his illegal activities, and Carlo Gambino, who used a quiet, non-flashy style en route to power.
Emilio Barzini is based on several real-life mobsters. His desire to take complete control of the New York Mafia is inspired by Vito Genovese, who made a similar attempt in the 1950s that ended with the disastrous Apalachin meeting.
They are an organized crime family originating from the Sicilian town of Corleone, and based in New York City. The Corleone family has drawn comparisons with the real-life Genovese and Bonanno crime families.
For his breakout role as Michael Corleone in 1972's The Godfather, Al Pacino was reportedly paid $35,000. This relatively small salary was due to him being a relative unknown at the time he was cast, though the fact that the movie launched his career most likely more than made up for the lack of upfront payment.
Al earned $35,000 for his role in the first Godfather in 1972. That's the same as around $215,000 today after adjusting for inflation. For the second Godfather his salary was upped to $500,000, which is the same as $2.6 million in today's dollars.
The Corleone Family earns millions from illegal rackets such as gambling, bookmaking, extortion, prostitution, bootlegging, money laundering, and murder. Even Don Corleone's “legitimate” holdings in banks, real estate, and olive oil operate as fronts for his criminal activities.
Lenny Montana(1926-1992)
Tall and solidly built, this Italian-American professional wrestler turned actor was born Lenny Passaforo in Brooklyn, New York, and is best remembered for his first on-screen role as the not too bright but ever loyal bodyguard Luca Brasi in.
According to studio executive Robert Evans in his 1994 memoir The Kid Stays in the Picture, Caridi was director Francis Ford Coppola's first choice for the role of Sonny Corleone, but Evans insisted on James Caan because Caridi was too tall to play opposite Al Pacino.
Potential candidates for Michael included the era's most bankable stars, including Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, Ryan O'Neal and Jack Nicholson. "Martin Sheen was considered," Seal says. "Frank Langella. Nobody wanted Al Pacino, except for Coppola.
Michael is cold-blooded, ruthless, smart, and determined. His ability to think clearly under fire, to be decisive, and to command respect makes him an excellent Godfather. Of Vito's children, he is certainly the best candidate to take over the family.
As they leave, Peter delivers one of the most quoted lines in movie history. Critics and scholars have long debated the meaning of “Leave the gun, take the cannoli”. Some say it refers to keeping violence and negativity in the past — take only the “sweet” things with you into the future.
Shortly afterward, Vito's chief rival, Don Emilio Barzini, bribes Gatto to betray the Corleone family by giving him the information his men need to stage an assassination attempt on Vito. On the day the hit went down Gatto calls in sick, leaving only Fredo to protect the Don. Vito is seriously wounded in the attempt.