Mafia films are recognized for their gritty portrayal of a criminal underworld filled with crime, corruption, and the consequences that follow. Among these, none surpasses the greatness of “The Godfather” directed by Francis Ford Coppola. This movie depicted the mob as a criminal organization with characters inspired by real-life individuals. Although it may not seem so at first glance, the film isn’t necessarily striving for realism. Fortunately, we have some insights into the truth behind “The Godfather” from former mafia member Anthony Ruggiano Jr.
1972 saw the release of the groundbreaking crime drama, “The Godfather,” which significantly reshaped the film industry. Its captivating tale focused on Vito and Michael Corleone, a father-son duo grappling with their inherent natures as they carry out the most devastating act against their own family – a betrayal. Often hailed as one of the greatest films in cinematic history, “The Godfather” left an indelible mark that was surpassed only by its sequel, “The Godfather Part II.
Previously associated with the Gambino crime family, one of the Five Families that governed organized criminal activities during the peak of Italian-American Mafia operations in New York City, Ruggiano is no longer a mobster. In an interview with Insider, he shared his insights on the authenticity of gangster films.
Ruggiano was once linked to the Gambino crime family, one of the Five Families that ran organized crime in New York City during the height of Italian-American Mafia activities. Today, however, he is no longer a mobster. In a discussion with Insider, Ruggiano spoke about the accuracy of gangster films.
During his interview, he shares his thoughts on movies such as “The Irishman”, “Goodfellas” and “The Godfather”, giving his perspective on whether each film accurately portrays real-life events. Notably, when discussing the 1972 film, he focuses on a particular scene – the restaurant confrontation where Michael is tasked with eliminating Virgil Sollozzo and Captain McCluskey, for which a gun has been strategically placed in the restroom.
It’s uncertain if the gun concealed atop the toilet tank would go unnoticed by everyone. A team of carpenters specialized in working for the mafia, and their craft was constructing hidden compartments. They’d survey, discover something, and then create a container that could be opened, items placed within, and finally closed – but it wouldn’t be visible to the naked eye. When police arrived, they would likely miss it.
The scene was remarkable – let me clarify. It was startlingly intense and added significantly to the movie. You see, it was an impressive scene, but one has to wonder if it could occur in real life? Frankly, no, not quite. To begin with, killing a police captain, which might seem plausible given his corruption, was highly unlikely, especially considering that most New York police officers during that time were corrupt themselves. In the storyline, they would storm in and carry out the murder, but it’s unlikely they would engage in a leisurely conversation before shooting him.
In this scenario, instead of saying “I never heard of anybody leaving a murder weapon at a scene,” we could say “I’ve never come across anyone so careless as to leave a murder weapon behind at the crime scene.”
The rest of the text remains largely unchanged: Guns were difficult to trace because they were either stolen or purchased in the south and brought up to New York. They also wrapped tape around the handle of the gun to prevent any fingerprints from being found. It seems logical that if you’re going to abandon a gun at a murder scene, you wouldn’t want your prints on it. At that time, DNA evidence was not yet available.
I’d rate “The Godfather” around seven out of ten, as many events depicted in the movie seem implausible. It certainly feels like a typical Hollywood production.
What Is the Most Accurate Depiction of the Mafia?
Ruggiano continues to evaluate various mafia-themed films and shares his own insights about their authenticity based on his personal experiences. He believes that films such as The Irishman, Killing Them Softly, The Sopranos, and even The Simpsons offer a fairly accurate portrayal of mafia activities. Additionally, he mentions the 2018 film starring John Travolta, Gotti, and rates it an impressive 8 out of 10 for its accuracy. Given his close association with the real John Gotti, his evaluation is considered particularly reliable.
Insider (YouTube)
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2025-03-12 23:36