Vincent Forlenza
Encyclopedia
Vincent "The Jew" Forlenza is a fictional character in Mario Puzo
's novel The Godfather
and Mark Winegardner
's sequel The Godfather Returns
.
boss of Cleveland. The Godfather establishes that the Forlenza crime family
is composed almost completely of Jews, hence its Don
's nickname. His organization is the most powerful of strictly gambling
-based crime families
in the U.S.. Sal Narducci
is his right-hand man, and the only Gentile
in the organization.
from Sicily
who establishes himself in the underworld by running numbers for other gangsters, and then killing them and assuming their territories.
By the 1940s, he is a force to be reckoned with, quietly expanding his empire until no one stands in his way.
At around this time he employs Fausto Geraci and becomes godfather to his son, Nick
.
In 1957, he conspires with Nick Geraci to kill Narducci, Michael Corleone
, and Hyman Roth
, thereby weakening the Corleone Family
's gambling operation in Cuba
, and strengthening the Chicago mob. Geraci personally executes Narducci.
In 1961, Michael learns of Forlenza's plan and devises one of his own to kill him. As part of a sweeping revenge, when Forlenza has a heart attack, Michael sends an ambulance to get him. The ambulance picks him up, and drives him to the docks where they drag him to a boat. They tie him to the bottom and sink the boat.
Forlenza is succeeded by Frank Greco.
Mario Puzo
Mario Gianluigi Puzo was an American author and screenwriter, known for his novels about the Mafia, including The Godfather , which he later co-adapted into a film by Francis Ford Coppola...
's novel The Godfather
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...
and Mark Winegardner
Mark Winegardner
Mark Winegardner is an American writer born and raised in Bryan, Ohio. His novels include The Godfather Returns, Crooked River Burning, and The Veracruz Blues. He published a collection of short stories, That's True of Everybody, in 2002. His newest novel, The Godfather's Revenge, was published...
's sequel The Godfather Returns
The Godfather Returns
The Godfather Returns is a novel written by author Mark Winegardner, published in 2004. It is the sequel to Mario Puzo's The Godfather, which was originally published in 1969, and The Sicilian...
.
In The Godfather
Forlenza is the MafiaMafia
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...
boss of Cleveland. The Godfather establishes that the Forlenza crime family
Crime family
A crime family is a term used to describe a unit of an organized crime syndicate, often operating within a specific geographic territory. The term is used almost exclusively to refer to units of the Mafia, both in Sicily and in the United States, although it is occasionally used to refer to other...
is composed almost completely of Jews, hence its Don
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:...
's nickname. His organization is the most powerful of strictly gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
-based crime families
Crime family
A crime family is a term used to describe a unit of an organized crime syndicate, often operating within a specific geographic territory. The term is used almost exclusively to refer to units of the Mafia, both in Sicily and in the United States, although it is occasionally used to refer to other...
in the U.S.. Sal Narducci
Sal Narducci
Salvatore 'Laughing Sal' Narducci is a fictional character in Mark Winegardner's novel The Godfather Returns.-Biographical summary:He is born in Cleveland, Ohio; future mob boss Vincent Forlenza is his childhood best friend. As an adult, he runs half of the gambling rackets in Cleveland...
is his right-hand man, and the only Gentile
Gentile
The term Gentile refers to non-Israelite peoples or nations in English translations of the Bible....
in the organization.
In The Godfather Returns
Vincent Forlenza is a minor character in The Godfather, but one of the main villains of The Godfather Returns. The latter novel established his backstory; he is an immigrantImmigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
from 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,...
who establishes himself in the underworld by running numbers for other gangsters, and then killing them and assuming their territories.
By the 1940s, he is a force to be reckoned with, quietly expanding his empire until no one stands in his way.
At around this time he employs Fausto Geraci and becomes godfather to his son, Nick
Nick Geraci
Fausto Dominic 'Nick' Geraci Jr. is a central character in the Mark Winegardner novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge. He is a caporegime in the Corleone crime family, but later betrays the family, and becomes a sworn enemy to Don Michael Corleone.-Biography:The Godfather Returns...
.
In 1957, he conspires with Nick Geraci to kill Narducci, 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...
, and Hyman Roth
Hyman Roth
Hyman Roth is a fictional character, and the primary antagonist in The Godfather Part II, played by the actor and acting teacher Lee Strasberg, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role...
, thereby weakening 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 gambling operation in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and strengthening the Chicago mob. Geraci personally executes Narducci.
In 1961, Michael learns of Forlenza's plan and devises one of his own to kill him. As part of a sweeping revenge, when Forlenza has a heart attack, Michael sends an ambulance to get him. The ambulance picks him up, and drives him to the docks where they drag him to a boat. They tie him to the bottom and sink the boat.
Forlenza is succeeded by Frank Greco.