Licio Lucchesi
Encyclopedia
Licio Lucchesi, often referred to simply as 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 Italian
actor Enzo Robutti.
politics who never goes anywhere without a team of police
bodyguard
s, Lucchesi is the chairman of 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 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.
Once Michael has transferred the money to the Vatican Bank, however, Lucchesi orders Gilday and Keinszig to stall the deal by claiming it can't be ratified without the signature of Pope Paul VI
, who is gravely ill. Meanwhile, Lucchesi — through his ally Don Altobello
, a New York City
Mafia
chieftain that Michael believes is still his ally — 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 agrees to have Michael killed. Although Zasa's assassination attempt — a helicopter
and submachine gun
raid on a meeting of the Commission
in Atlantic City, which leaves most of the bosses dead — puts him in a position of power, he fails to kill Michael or his new protégé, Vincent Mancini. Shortly thereafter, Vincent (acting without Michael's knowledge) assassinates Zasa.
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 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 first Godfather film
.
Days later, the Pope dies, and the reformist Cardinal Lamberto
is elected Pope John Paul I
. This frightens Lucchesi, who believes that the new Pontiff will not only approve Michael's takeover of Immobiliare, but expose his criminal dealings as well. The Pope does indeed approve the Immobiliare deal, and begins an investigation of Keinszig's financial dealings. Lucchesi orders Gilday to arrange the Pope's death, by slipping some poison
into his evening tea
. Meanwhile, Michael has officially retired from the Mafia and passes leadership of the Corleone family to Vincent, who makes ready take his revenge against Lucchesi and his coconspirators.
On Easter
, as Michael and his family attend a performance of Cavalleria Rusticana
by his son 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 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.
for the DVD
release of the film, 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."
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 various conspiracy theories related to the death of Pope John Paul I
, both of which inspired the plot of the film.
Don (honorific)
Don, from Latin dominus, is an honorific in Spanish , Portuguese , and Italian . The female equivalent is Doña , Dona , and Donna , abbreviated "Dª" or simply "D."-Usage:...
Lucchesi, is a fictional character in The Godfather Part III
The Godfather Part III
The Godfather Part III is a 1990 American gangster film written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, and directed by Coppola. It completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia kingpin who tries to legitimize his criminal empire...
, in which he is, along with Don Altobello
Don Altobello
Osvaldo "Ozzie" Altobello is a fictional character and the primary antagonist of the film The Godfather Part III. He also appears in the novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge. In the film, he is portrayed by Eli Wallach....
, one of the two chief antagonists. He is portrayed by Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
actor Enzo Robutti.
Biography
A powerful figure in ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
politics who never goes anywhere without a team of police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
s, Lucchesi is the chairman of International Immobiliare
Società Generale Immobiliare
Società Generale Immobiliare was the largest Italian real estate and construction company. It was founded in Turin in 1862 but then moved to Rome in 1870 with the unification of Italy. After moving to Rome, the company became interested in the pastoral land around Rome and ended up buying it. ...
, the world's largest real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
. Having worked with the corrupt Catholic Church officials Archbishop Gilday
Archbishop Gilday
Archbishop Gilday is a fictional character and one of the main antagonists in The Godfather Part III. He is portrayed by Donal Donnelly. His character is said to have been based on Paul Marcinkus....
and Frederick Keinszig
Frederick Keinszig
Frederick Keinszig is a fictional character appearing in The Godfather Part III. He was portrayed by Austrian actor Helmut Berger.-In the film:Nicknamed "God's Banker," Keinszig is the Swiss chief accountant of the Vatican Bank...
to drain the coffers of the 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
Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novels, The Godfather and The Sicilian. He is also the main character of the Godfather film trilogy that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, in which he was portrayed by Al Pacino, who was twice nominated for an Academy Award for his...
to purchase the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
'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.
Once Michael has transferred the money to the Vatican Bank, however, Lucchesi orders Gilday and Keinszig to stall the deal by claiming it can't be ratified without the signature of Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
, who is gravely ill. Meanwhile, Lucchesi — through his ally Don Altobello
Don Altobello
Osvaldo "Ozzie" Altobello is a fictional character and the primary antagonist of the film The Godfather Part III. He also appears in the novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge. In the film, he is portrayed by Eli Wallach....
, a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
chieftain that Michael believes is still his ally — makes a deal with Joey Zasa
Joey Zasa
Joey Zasa is a fictional character appearing in The Godfather Part III. He was portrayed by Joe Mantegna. He is based on a mix of three real Mafia members: Joseph Colombo, Joe Gallo and John Gotti.-Character overview:...
, the boss of the Corleone family
Corleone family
The Corleone family is a fictional Sicilian Mafia family settled in New York City. The family was created by Mario Puzo and appears in his 1969 novel The Godfather, as well as the acclaimed film trilogy of the same name directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The family was founded by Vito Corleone , who...
's criminal operations. In exchange for Altobello and Lucchesi's backing of his bid to become capo di tutti capi
Capo di tutti capi
Capo di tutti capi or capo dei capi is Italian for "boss of all bosses" or "boss of bosses". It is a phrase used mainly by the media, public and the law enforcement community to indicate a supremely powerful crime boss in the Sicilian or American Mafia who holds great influence over the whole...
of the Five Families
Five Families
The Five Families are the five original Italian-American Mafia crime families which have dominated organized crime in America since 1931. The Five Families in New York remain as the powerhouse of the Italian Mafia in the United States.-History:...
, Zasa agrees to have Michael killed. Although Zasa's assassination attempt — a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
and submachine gun
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
raid on a meeting of the Commission
The Commission (mafia)
The Commission is the governing body of the American Mafia. Formed in 1931, the Commission replaced the "Boss of all Bosses" title, with a ruling committee, consisting of the New York Five Families bosses and the boss of the Chicago Outfit...
in Atlantic City, which leaves most of the bosses dead — puts him in a position of power, he fails to kill Michael or his new protégé, Vincent Mancini. Shortly thereafter, Vincent (acting without Michael's knowledge) assassinates Zasa.
Soon thereafter, Michael, Vincent, and the rest of the family travel to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. 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
Montelepre
Montelepre is a town and comune in the province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. It is known for having been the native city of Sicilian bandit Salvatore Giuliano.-Main sights:*The Church of Maria Santissima del Rosario...
, where he hires the veteran hitman
Hitman
A hitman is a person hired to kill another person.- Hitmen in organized crime :Hitmen are largely linked to the world of organized crime. Hitmen are hired people who kill people for money. Notable examples include Murder, Inc., Mafia hitmen and Richard Kuklinski.- Other cases involving hitmen...
Mosca to kill Michael. Although Mosca's first attempt on Michael's life is unsuccessful, he succeeds in killing Don Tommasino
Don Tommasino
Don Lionele Tommasino is a fictional character from The Godfather series of books and films.-Novel and first two films:Tommasino is an old friend of Vito Corleone from Vito's native village of Corleone, Sicily. By the 1920s, he has become a top-ranking soldier in the local Mafia family, headed by...
, the Mafia boss and old friend of Vito Corleone
Vito Corleone
Vito Andolini Corleone is a fictional character and the main character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather, as well as Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy, where he was portrayed by Marlon Brando in The Godfather and by Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II. Premiere Magazine listed Vito...
, who served as Michael's protector in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
during the events of the first Godfather film
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
.
Days later, the Pope dies, and the reformist Cardinal Lamberto
Cardinal Lamberto
Cardinal Lamberto is a fictional character appearing in The Godfather Part III. He is portrayed by Raf Vallone.-In the film:Lamberto is a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, and the man favoured to succeed the terminally ill Pope Paul VI as head of the Church...
is elected Pope John Paul I
Pope John Paul I
John Paul I , born Albino Luciani, , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and as Sovereign of Vatican City from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent Year of Three Popes...
. This frightens Lucchesi, who believes that the new Pontiff will not only approve Michael's takeover of Immobiliare, but expose his criminal dealings as well. The Pope does indeed approve the Immobiliare deal, and begins an investigation of Keinszig's financial dealings. Lucchesi orders Gilday to arrange the Pope's death, by slipping some poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
into his evening tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
. Meanwhile, Michael has officially retired from the Mafia and passes leadership of the Corleone family to Vincent, who makes ready take his revenge against Lucchesi and his coconspirators.
On Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, as Michael and his family attend a performance of Cavalleria Rusticana
Cavalleria rusticana
Cavalleria rusticana is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a play written by Giovanni Verga based on his short story. Considered one of the classic verismo operas, it premiered on May 17, 1890 at the Teatro...
by his son Anthony
Anthony Corleone
Anthony "Tony" Vito Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather trilogy of films directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He is portrayed by Anthony Gounaris in the first film, James Gounaris in the second, and singer Franc D'Ambrosio in the third...
at the Teatro Massimo
Teatro Massimo
The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele is an opera house and opera company located on the Piazza Verdi in Palermo, Sicily. It was dedicated to King Victor Emanuel II....
, 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 frisked
Frisking
Frisking is a search of a person's outer clothing wherein a person runs his or her hands along the outer garments to detect any concealed weapons or contraband.-Stop and frisk:...
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
Glasses
Glasses, also known as eyeglasses , spectacles or simply specs , are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes. They are normally used for vision correction or eye protection. Safety glasses are a kind of eye protection against flying debris or against visible and near visible light or...
. Calo is then himself gunned down by his target's team of bodyguards.
Inspiration
On the audio commentaryAudio commentary
On disc-based video formats, an audio commentary is an additional audio track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with video...
for the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release of the film, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and co-screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
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
Giulio Andreotti
Giulio Andreotti is an Italian politician of the now dissolved centrist Christian Democracy party. He served as the 42nd Prime Minister of Italy from 1972 to 1973, from 1976 to 1979 and from 1989 to 1992. He also served as Minister of the Interior , Defense Minister and Foreign Minister and he...
, the seven-time Prime Minister of Italy
Prime minister of Italy
The Prime Minister of Italy is the head of government of the Italian Republic...
who had proven links with the Mafia and who is the source of the saying "Power wears out those who do not have it."
It is also suspected that Lucchesi's first name, "Licio" (and, indeed, his whole character), may be a reference to Licio Gelli
Licio Gelli
Licio Gelli is an Italian financier, chiefly known for his role in the Banco Ambrosiano scandal. He was revealed in 1981 as being the Venerable Master of the clandestine Masonic lodge Propaganda Due...
, the prominent Italian financier
Financier
Financier is a term for a person who handles typically large sums of money, usually involving money lending, financing projects, large-scale investing, or large-scale money management. The term is French, and derives from finance or payment...
and leader of Propaganda Due
Propaganda Due
Propaganda Due , or P2, was a Masonic lodge operating under the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient of Italy from 1945 to 1976 , and a pseudo-Masonic or "black" or "covert" lodge operating illegally from 1976 to...
, who played a leading role in both the collapse of Banco Ambrosiano
Banco Ambrosiano
Banco Ambrosiano was an Italian bank which collapsed in 1982. At the centre of the bank's failure was its chairman, Roberto Calvi and his membership in the illegal Masonic Lodge Propaganda Due...
and the various conspiracy theories related to the death of Pope John Paul I
Pope John Paul I conspiracy theories
Pope John Paul I died alone in September 1978 only a month after his election to the Papacy. The suddenness of the death, and the Vatican's difficulties with the ceremonial and legal death procedures have resulted in several conspiracy theories.-Rationale:Discrepancies in the Vatican's account of...
, both of which inspired the plot of the film.
External links
- The Godfather Part III at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- The Godfather Trilogy Fansite