Godfather inspiration (Charles 'Lucky' Luciano) was a fraud

[Turborama]

Source: ANI

A historian has claimed that the mobster who inspired the 1970s movie The Godfather was a “fake”. It was believed that Charles “Lucky” Luciano was the father of organised crime and experts hailed him as the model for legendary mafia boss Don Corleone, played by Marlon Brando.

Luciano was credited for running New York’s underworld, and was linked to extortion rackets, punishment attacks and gangland murders.

But US author Tim Newark, in his new book Lucky Luciano: Mafia Murderer and Secret Agent, claims that his reputation was fabricated by the US government to justify the expense of tracking him down.

Read more: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Godfather-inspiration-was-a-fraud/Article1-647214.aspx

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Actually, the author is a British historian...


British historian debunks myth of gangster Charles 'Lucky' Luciano

Author Tim Newark claims reputation of father of organised crime was heavily inflated

The American gangster who inspired 1970s cult flick The Godfather was a ''fake'', a British historian claimed yesterday.

For decades, experts believed Charles 'Lucky' Luciano was the 'father of organised crime' and heralded him as the model for legendary mafia boss Don Corleone.

He was widely credited for running New York's notorious underworld, and linked to multi-million dollar extortion rackets, revenge beatings and gangland murders. But according to new research, his 'legend' was largely false and was fabricated by the US Government to justify the expense and manpower of tracking him down.

The revelations come to light this week in a new book Lucky Luciano: Mafia Murderer and Secret Agent - 74 years after his imprisonment, and 48 years after his death.

A lot more: http://www.lovereading.co.uk/news/800005416/british-historian-debunks-myth-of-gangster-charles-lucky-luciano.html

[boppers]

1. The "Mafia" legend was always fake.

It's how they maintain power, they're basically common street thugs with a legend attached to *give* them power.

Take away the legends, and they're no more powerful than a corner hustler.

[dogfacedboy]

3. Just a bunch of Hollywood B.S.

Certain members of my extended family were connected with the "Outfit", as it was called here in Chicago. I went to weddings, funerals, and other gatherings that a lot of "the boys" were at. No $1000.00 suits; no Cadillacs. Never even a saw a pinkie ring. Crooks and goons? Sure, but the Hollywood version of the "American Mobster" is 90% B.S.

[heliarc]

5. I resent your smearing of hollywood...

by comparing our Hollywood BS with the monumental pile of BS for which the US government is responsible...

Hollywood admits to being faked up and that's it's job... "Our" government has really literally conned us almost every time and it's meant to represent the people.

Any credence lent to the Godfather by man-child fans of Scorcese and Coppola is strictly the fault of the man-children.

[boppers]

10. Let me re-arrange some words....

Any credence lent to the Government by man-child fans of politicians is strictly the fault of the man-children.

[fishwax]

2. Lucky Luciano wasn't the inspiration for the godfather

It's weird that the assertion shows up in both articles -- if it's a claim from the publisher it doesn't do much to support the book's credibility.

[Turborama]

4. Publishers desription from Amazon...

Product Description

Charles ‘Lucky’ Luciano was a vicious mobster who rose to become the multimillionaire king of the New York underworld. He was a legend – but also a fake master criminal without real power, his reputation manipulated and maintained by the government agents who had put him behind bars.

Drawing on secret government documents from archives in America and Europe, this myth-busting biography tells Luciano’s real story, from his early days as a top hit man for the mob to his exploits running sex and narcotics empires and revelations about his transatlantic trip to Nazi Germany to set up a drugs importing racket. His career abruptly halted by imprisonment, Luciano’s reputation was only enhanced by rumours that he was helping to win the Second World War for the Allies in Sicily and the Mediterranean. Through painstaking research, Newark exposes the truth about what he really did during the war.

Expelled from the US in 1946, Luciano returned to Italy, where he was reputed to head a massive transatlantic narcotics network. Newark reveals that Luciano was in fact being used by government agents to justify their bloated budgets. In a complex conspiracy, he became a victim of the far greater powers around him, and Newark provides evidence that, at one time, he was even working as a Cold War agent, helping the US government fight communism in Sicily. Lucky Luciano: Mafia Murderer and Secret Agent turns accepted Mafia history on its head with an extraordinary story that has never been told before.

About the Author

Tim Newark is the author of the critically acclaimed Mafia Allies. He is the editor of Military Illustrated, the leading military history monthly magazine, and has written numerous military history volumes, including Highlander. He has worked as a TV scriptwriter and historical consultant, resulting in seven documentary series for BBC Worldwide and the History Channel, including the thirteen-part series Hitler’s Bodyguard. He contributes book reviews to the Financial Times, Time Out, and the Daily Telegraph.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/product-description/1845967372/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books

The second article in the OP was a review written by Tim Jackson . He went on to say...

"Observers later credited him as the inspiration for Don Vito Corleone, the Mafia kingpin played by Hollywood legend Marlon Brando in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 blockbuster."

[fishwax]

6. I just found it curious that the tidbit showed up in both articles

usually that has something to do with publisher/publicist, but in this case maybe it was just a reviewer/reporter repeating another reviewer/reporter's error.

Corleone was inspired by a number of underworld figures (perhaps Luciano's friend and associate Frank Costello most of all), but bares little resemblance to Luciano.

[Turborama]

7. Probably was errors being repeated.

The fact the 1st article said the author is American was a major faux pas, too.

It hasn't reduced my interest in reading the book, though.

[fishwax]

8. yes, it does sound like an interesting book

:kick:

[boppers]

9. Meh, self-important fiction.

1. Claim your thugs are powerful.
2. Release fictional media substantiating the claim.
3. Point to the fictions as proof.

[Turborama]

12. What?

You've read the book and can give us a review already?

[alfredo]

13. I remember hearing about him working with our government

to undermine leftist local governments in Italy. Of course what replaced those leftist governments was right wing heroin thugs.

[CatWoman]

17. I thought it was Joe Bonano?

[The Second Stone]

11. Joselph Bonnano was a larger inspiration

for Vito Corleone than Charles Luciano. But in fact some mafia people are very powerful. Teflon Don John Gotti assassinated Paul Castellano to become head of the Gambino crime organization and he made millions as head of the organization. If it was profitless, then where did all the money to pay his lawyers for several trials and still leave his family with houses come from?

[alfredo]

14. My wife knew Bonnano. She said he was very nice, very

generous. My wife was part of a singing duo traveling the southwest. She did some singing gigs for him and was given a place to stay. I believe she was given a gig at a place called The Plank Room, or something like that.

I worked with some guys in the Detroit Syndicate. They appeared outwardly thuggish, but they always treated me with respect. They never asked a lot of me, never put me in an uncomfortable situation. What I got in return was three part time jobs, and free breakfast at IHOP.

[formercia]

15. Joe bananas died a natural death

He was untouchable and very well connected. He and Hoover were lodge buddies.

[RagAss]

16. Three non-Italians get together and commit a crime and it's called "conspiracy"...

Three Italians get together and commit the same crime...and it's called "Mafia"...."Organized Crime"

Government Bullshit !!! Justification of FBI salaries...and Rico Act confiscation of wealth !

[morningglory]

18. Uncle Jun? n/t