Gangster who inspired The Godfather was a ‘fake’
January 6th, 2011 - 3:46 pm ICT by ANI
London, Jan 6 (ANI): A historian has claimed that the mobster who inspired 1970s blockbuster 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 in the Francis Ford Coppola movie based on the Mario Puzo book.
Luciano was widely credited for running New York’s notorious underworld, and was linked to extortion rackets, punishment attacks and gangland murders.
But a new research has suggested that his reputation was largely fabricated by the US government to justify the expense of tracking him down.
The revelations emerge in a new book, ‘Lucky Luciano: Mafia Murderer and Secret Agent’ - 74 years after his imprisonment, and 48 years after his death.
US author Tim Newark said the claims would shock other biographers who had painted Lucky as the archetypal gangster.
“The myth of Lucky Luciano is incredible. For decades, he has been portrayed as the father of modern organised crime, no less,” the Scotsman quoted Newark as saying.
“But after delving into the archives, I realised the real Lucky was in some respects, a fake,” Newark added. (ANI)
- GOD FATHER TRIOLOGY - Aug 26, 2010
- Italian gets funeral 64 years after being killed - May 24, 2012
- Anurag Kashyap To Adapt Mario Puzo's 'The Godfather' - Jun 16, 2010
- Al Pacino says he was almost fired from 'The Godfather' - Dec 08, 2010
- Coppola insists Brando's bad reputation was a misunderstanding - Jun 09, 2009
- 'Godfather' house on sale for $3 mn - Dec 05, 2010
- Even after so many years 'Godfather' remains fresh: Big B - Sep 02, 2011
- 'Godfather' house up for sale at $2.9m - Dec 05, 2010
- Marlon Brando was a misunderstood eccentric: Coppola - Jun 10, 2009
- 'Godfather' star James Caan backs arrested alleged Mafia boss - Jan 27, 2011
- Mumbai politicians, activists condemn Mid Day scribe's murder - Jun 11, 2011
- Senior crime journalist shot dead in Mumbai (Second Lead) - Jun 11, 2011
- Marlon Brando suffered from bulimia, claims book - Dec 05, 2008
- Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall once flashed butts to lighten mood on film sets - Dec 15, 2008
- Senior Mid Day crime journalist shot dead (Lead) - Jun 11, 2011
Tags: biographers, blockbuster, charles lucky luciano, don corleone, extortion rackets, fake london, francis ford coppola, francis ford coppola movie, gangland, gangland murders, gangster, london jan, lucky luciano mafia, mafia boss, mario puzo, mario puzo book, marlon brando, mobster, punishment attacks, tim newark