Licio Lucchesi: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Lucchesi.jpg|right|Lucchesi in his final moments, as portrayed in ''The Godfather Part III'']] |
[[Image:Lucchesi.jpg|right|Lucchesi in his final moments, as portrayed in ''The Godfather Part III'']] |
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'''Licio Lucchesi''', was the chairman of the board of Immobiliare, the world's largest real estate company, and a key figure in the Italian underworld and Propaganda Due. |
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'''Licio Lucchesi''', often referred to simply as '''[[Don (honorific)|Don]] Lucchesi''', is a fictional character in ''[[The Godfather Part III]]'', in which he is, along with [[Don Altobello]], one of the two chief antagonists. He is portrayed by [[Italy|Italian]] actor [[Enzo Robutti]]. |
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A powerful figure in [[Italy|Italian]] politics who never goes anywhere without a team of [[police]] [[bodyguard]]s, Lucchesi is the chairman of [[Società Generale Immobiliare|International Immobiliare]], the world's largest [[real estate]] [[holding company]]. Having worked with the corrupt [[Catholic Church]] officials [[Archbishop Gilday]] and [[Frederick Keinszig]] to drain the coffers of the [[Institute for Works of Religion|Vatican Bank]] to the tune of several hundred million dollars, he now schemes to put it back before it can be missed by persuading [[Michael Corleone]] to purchase the [[Holy See]]'s 25% share in Immobiliare. Michael is already Immobiliare's largest single shareholder, and with the purchase of the Vatican's share he will have controlling interest. |
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Soon thereafter, Michael, Vincent, and the rest of the family travel to [[Sicily]]. Michael by this time realizes that Altobello has turned against him, and has Vincent present himself to Altobello, claiming that he is dissatisfied with Michael and willing to defect. Altobello introduces Vincent to Lucchesi, who explains their whole scheme to him. As Vincent returns to Michael to tell him of the plot, Altobello (on Lucchesi's orders) travels to the small village of [[Montelepre]], where he hires the veteran [[hitman]] [[Mosca (The Godfather)|Mosca]] to kill Michael. Although Mosca's first attempt on Michael's life is unsuccessful, he succeeds in killing [[Don Tommasino]], the Mafia boss and old friend of [[Vito Corleone]], who served as Michael's protector in [[Sicily]] during the events of [[The Godfather|the first ''Godfather'' film]]. |
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An important figure in Italian politics, Lucchesi also had significant ties to the Mafia. He was known in the Sicilian underworld as Don Lucchesi. Along with Archbishop Liam Gilday and the Swiss banker Frederick Keinszig, he had looted Immobiliare of several hundred million dollars. It was unknown exactly what position he held, but Lucchesi was believed to even have his fingers on the strings in the Italian Government. |
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| ⚫ | Days later, the Pope dies, and |
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On [[Easter]], as Michael and his family attend a performance of ''[[Cavalleria rusticana|Cavalleria Rusticana]]'' by his son [[Anthony Corleone|Anthony]] at the ''[[Teatro Massimo]]'', Vincent simultaneously orders the assassinations of Lucchesi, Altobello, Gilday, and Keinszig. Lucchesi is the last to die. Calo, the former bodyguard of Don Tommasino, arrives at Lucchesi's office claiming to bear a message from Michael. After being thoroughly [[frisking|frisked]] for weapons, he is allowed to approach Lucchesi. Calo whispers to Lucchesi, "Power wears out those who do not have it", then stabs Lucchesi through the throat with his own [[glasses]]. Calo is then himself gunned down by his target's team of bodyguards. |
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==The Immobiliare plot== |
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In 1979, Lucchesi was afraid that Vatican officials would notice the missing money. To put it back, he put together a scheme to persuade Michael Corleone to purchase the Holy See's 25 percent share in Immobiliare. Michael was already Immobiliare's largest single shareholder, and controlled six seats on the company's 13-member board. With the Vatican's stake, Michael would have acquired controlling interest. |
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On the [[audio commentary]] for the [[DVD]] release of the film, [[film director|director]] and co-screenwriter [[Francis Ford Coppola]] states that the Lucchesi character could be very recognizable for Italian citizens. The thick-rimmed glasses, the official police bodyguards, and the message that Calo whispers to him before he dies have led many to conclude that the character is based on [[Giulio Andreotti]], the seven-time [[Prime Minister of Italy]] who had proven links with the Mafia and who is the source of the saying "Power wears out those who do not have it." |
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Once Michael transferred the money to the Vatican Bank, however, Lucchesi revealed he had no intention of turning over control of Immobiliare, and so ordered Gilday and Keinszig to stall the deal. They were inadvertently helped by Pope Paul VI's illness; under the terms of the Lateran Treaty, the pope had to personally ratify the deal. Lucchesi offered to help clear the deadlock, on condition that Michael do business with him. |
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| ⚫ | Meanwhile, Lucchesi, through his ally Don Altobello, makes a deal with Joey Zasa, the boss of the Corleone family's criminal operations. In exchange for Altobello and Lucchesi's backing of his bid to become capo di tutti capi of the Five Families, Zasa agreed to have Michael killed. Although Zasa's assassination attempt put him in a position of power, he failed to kill Michael or his new protégé, Vincent Mancini. Shortly thereafter, Vincent (acting without Michael's knowledge) assassinates Zasa, much to Altobello and Lucchesi's relief, as Zasa's media seeking nature threatened their plans. |
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==The counter plot== |
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Soon thereafter, Michael, Vincent, and the rest of the family traveled to Sicily, where Lionele Tommasino informed them of Lucchesi's nature. On Michael's instructions, Vincent presented himself to Altobello, claiming that he was dissatisfied with Michael and willing to defect. Altobello introduced Vincent to Lucchesi, who explains their whole scheme to him. As Vincent returned to Michael to tell him of the plot, Altobello traveled to hire Mosca de Montelepre to kill Michael. |
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| ⚫ | Days later, the Pope dies, and Cardinal Lamberto, a reformer and friend of Michael's, is elected Pope John Paul I. This frightened Lucchesi, who believed that the new Pontiff would authorize the Immobiliare deal, and expose their criminal dealings. The Pope does indeed approve the Immobiliare deal, and begins an investigation of Keinszig's financial dealings. Lucchesi ordered Gilday to arrange the Pope's death, by slipping some poison into his evening tea. |
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==Guns dont kill people glasses do== |
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It is also suspected that Lucchesi's first name, "Licio" (and, indeed, his whole character), may be a reference to [[Licio Gelli]], the prominent Italian [[financier]] and leader of [[Propaganda Due]], who played a leading role in both the collapse of [[Banco Ambrosiano]] and the [[Pope John Paul I conspiracy theories|various conspiracy theories related to the death of Pope John Paul I]], both of which inspired the plot of the film. |
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Michael formally retired from the Mafia, naming Vincent his successor. As his first act, Vincent ordered Lucchesi killed. During Anthony Corleone's performance at the Teatro Massimo, Lucchesi was visited by Michael's old friend and bodyguard from Sicily, Calo, who gave him Michael's message 'Power wears out those who do not have it' and stabbed Lucchesi in the neck with his own glasses. Calo was immediately killed by Lucchesi's bodyguards. |
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==Based on== |
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Coppola said in his audio commentary that the figure of Lucchesi should be easily recognizable to Italian audiences. One possible model is seven-time Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, who had proven ties to the Sicilian Mafia. Calo's whisper "Il potere logora chi non ce l'ha" is an aforisma of Andreotti meaning "power wears out those that don't have it". [2][3][4] They also wear thick horn rimmed glasses and have similar hair styles. |
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Another likely model is Licio Gelli, the leader of the secret P2 Masonic lodge.[2] When Vincent told Michael that Lucchesi was trying to have him killed, he mentioned that P2 was likely involved. |
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Lucchesi also bears a resemblance to New York crime boss Thomas Lucchese, from whom Lucchesi's name more than likely derived from. |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099674/ The Godfather Part III] at [[Internet Movie Database]] |
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099674/ The Godfather Part III] at [[Internet Movie Database]] |
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Revision as of 11:55, 25 March 2012
Licio Lucchesi, was the chairman of the board of Immobiliare, the world's largest real estate company, and a key figure in the Italian underworld and Propaganda Due.
Biography
An important figure in Italian politics, Lucchesi also had significant ties to the Mafia. He was known in the Sicilian underworld as Don Lucchesi. Along with Archbishop Liam Gilday and the Swiss banker Frederick Keinszig, he had looted Immobiliare of several hundred million dollars. It was unknown exactly what position he held, but Lucchesi was believed to even have his fingers on the strings in the Italian Government.
The Immobiliare plot
In 1979, Lucchesi was afraid that Vatican officials would notice the missing money. To put it back, he put together a scheme to persuade Michael Corleone to purchase the Holy See's 25 percent share in Immobiliare. Michael was already Immobiliare's largest single shareholder, and controlled six seats on the company's 13-member board. With the Vatican's stake, Michael would have acquired controlling interest.
Once Michael transferred the money to the Vatican Bank, however, Lucchesi revealed he had no intention of turning over control of Immobiliare, and so ordered Gilday and Keinszig to stall the deal. They were inadvertently helped by Pope Paul VI's illness; under the terms of the Lateran Treaty, the pope had to personally ratify the deal. Lucchesi offered to help clear the deadlock, on condition that Michael do business with him.
Meanwhile, Lucchesi, through his ally Don Altobello, makes a deal with Joey Zasa, the boss of the Corleone family's criminal operations. In exchange for Altobello and Lucchesi's backing of his bid to become capo di tutti capi of the Five Families, Zasa agreed to have Michael killed. Although Zasa's assassination attempt put him in a position of power, he failed to kill Michael or his new protégé, Vincent Mancini. Shortly thereafter, Vincent (acting without Michael's knowledge) assassinates Zasa, much to Altobello and Lucchesi's relief, as Zasa's media seeking nature threatened their plans.
The counter plot
Soon thereafter, Michael, Vincent, and the rest of the family traveled to Sicily, where Lionele Tommasino informed them of Lucchesi's nature. On Michael's instructions, Vincent presented himself to Altobello, claiming that he was dissatisfied with Michael and willing to defect. Altobello introduced Vincent to Lucchesi, who explains their whole scheme to him. As Vincent returned to Michael to tell him of the plot, Altobello traveled to hire Mosca de Montelepre to kill Michael.
Days later, the Pope dies, and Cardinal Lamberto, a reformer and friend of Michael's, is elected Pope John Paul I. This frightened Lucchesi, who believed that the new Pontiff would authorize the Immobiliare deal, and expose their criminal dealings. The Pope does indeed approve the Immobiliare deal, and begins an investigation of Keinszig's financial dealings. Lucchesi ordered Gilday to arrange the Pope's death, by slipping some poison into his evening tea.
Guns dont kill people glasses do
Michael formally retired from the Mafia, naming Vincent his successor. As his first act, Vincent ordered Lucchesi killed. During Anthony Corleone's performance at the Teatro Massimo, Lucchesi was visited by Michael's old friend and bodyguard from Sicily, Calo, who gave him Michael's message 'Power wears out those who do not have it' and stabbed Lucchesi in the neck with his own glasses. Calo was immediately killed by Lucchesi's bodyguards.
Based on
Coppola said in his audio commentary that the figure of Lucchesi should be easily recognizable to Italian audiences. One possible model is seven-time Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, who had proven ties to the Sicilian Mafia. Calo's whisper "Il potere logora chi non ce l'ha" is an aforisma of Andreotti meaning "power wears out those that don't have it". [2][3][4] They also wear thick horn rimmed glasses and have similar hair styles.
Another likely model is Licio Gelli, the leader of the secret P2 Masonic lodge.[2] When Vincent told Michael that Lucchesi was trying to have him killed, he mentioned that P2 was likely involved.
Lucchesi also bears a resemblance to New York crime boss Thomas Lucchese, from whom Lucchesi's name more than likely derived from.
External links
Mario Puzo's The Godfather | |||||||||
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