The Horrifying Origin Story Of Luca Brasi | The Godfather 

Don't forget to like, subscribe & hit the notification bell for more content! Edit: Tom Hagen didn't exacly pay of Luca Brasi - I'll make a video with more details on this soon

Brasi didn’t fear Don Corleone, he respected him. There’s a difference.

I never felt that Luca stuttered his congratulations because he feared Don Corleone. I think it was clear that Luca was just very socially awkward and bad with words.

Good video Cineranter Fan of Godfather movies Greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪

"Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes!"...

I believe he meant race as in she was a female. In the movie he says he wants Michaels first child to be a “masculine” child

Luca brasi, possibly the most popular movie character with the least amount of screen time and lines.

Let us all agree that everyone in those movies is a psychopath.

You just knew the way this character was portrayed he had such a feared reputation but this is....Insanely Dark this is part of what made the Don Vito family so feared and so powerful. Still an incredible story today.

What I get from _The Family Corleone_ is that the reason that Brazi ended up so loyal to Vito was after everything that had happened, Vito still treated Luca as human being (as opposed to a monster), and gave him a reason to continue living. _Everyone_ saw and treated Brazi as an evil monster, except Vito Corleone. Thus, Vito's respect became the only thing Brazi still had left that he considered of real value, even more valuable than his own life.

Throwing his baby in the furnace was damn brutal

Love your videos. Please make one about the great Al Neri. From police officer to Underboss of Michael.

Where do all these pre-film/novel Luca Brasi stories come from? He ended the olive oil war in the 1930s; he hacked to death this guy; he singly handedly slaughtered 6 other guys; he killed his abusive father; he threatened Tom Hagen; he crawled into Hitler’s bunker and eliminated all the top Nazis with a knife…and 100s more.

I read somewhere that Lenny Montana goofed his lines because he was nervous acting opposite Marlon Brando. They did a retake and he got the scripted speech out, but Coppola watched the flubbed take we see and then wrote the scene that had Luca practicing his speech at the wedding reception. Brasi the character would be nervous speaking to Don Vito on such an important social occasion and it was completely natural. Supposedly Brando was super cool about it and told Lenny he’d had to do retakes many times. Who wouldn’t be nervous acting opposite Brando? Edit: Just got to the part in the vid where our host talks about this.

I thought Michael’s bride “Appelonia” was perfect!!!

I feel the film fails with Luca Brasi. He was so dangerous that even Don Vito was nervous about being alone with him. (In the original Godfather.) In the film, we only see him as weak. Stupid (slow) and easily wacked.

If you read the book, you find that Luca was a certified psychotic killer with absolutely no conscience.the movie made him seem almost sympathetic.

You could have gotten to the main reason in 3 minutes.

Wish I could have seen more of luca

Please do a video on Al Neri's story. As you correctly said, it's an interesting story.

Uh, just like burning at the stake .. hacking from the feet to the knees to the thighs would kill the victim before he finished with the feet (RE: burning at the stake .. victims died from smoke inhalation, not necessarily burning to death). And then if the victim choked on the towel, it would still be in the throat, if it passed to the stomach ... victim should still be breathing but have a tummy ache. Excellent critique ! I appreciate that the details and evidence for the thesis were taken from Mario Puzo's work and the film adaptation. Well done. Thank you for sharing. Thumbs up. [EDIT] ah, Spartan baby-killing ... so she nodded yes or no ?? good opportunity for everyone to be vague. (it's mental power by making you think wicked thoughts is all). I gave money to a bum and he told me this horrible story about losing something (not gonna say) but with wicked eyes i was sure he was fibbing... Brasi didn't work for don corleone ?? wait a minute, who's he shuttling midwives for ?? something is anachronistic ... i thought Corleone and Brasi they knew each other at a young age (in the movie at least) ... I mean, I thought something else. Spartans. That's all this was ... "faux warrior code." hey, still a great critique. Thank you [Double Edit] forgot to mention ... Luca's kind of a bitch. He kill people but not a baby ? If i was the old hag I'd drop the baby on the floor (it's his after all) I'd be like "Niger (name of african country), toss me in then ! You're still left with this baby, you cunt bitch. WTF ? you ain't that tough. Fuck me." I mean, the fact that she did it for him means that he was never gonna do it. In the reality, Luca Brasi is just mental ... what a jip. [END]

I always thought that Vito's orders to Brasi to speak with Sollozzo at the Tattaglia's turf saying that he wasn't happy with the Corleone family was a poor reason that anyone wise guy with street smarts will see right through it, hence why they whacked him. And another idiotic move by Brasi was that he went by himself. He should have taken some back up guys. Anyway, it would have been good to see such a feared, ruthless hitman like Brasi, not get whacked so easily and quickly in the movie.

Vito was afraid of Luca. That’s why he was sent.

The Godfather is one of those rare cases where reading the book makes the movie better and watching the movie makes the book better.

Honestly, I always thought that Don Corleone made a foolish mistake sending Luca Brasi to infiltrate his rivals. Brasi was renowned for fearsome violence, but was also known for his loyalty to the Don. That and his limited social skills made him entirely unsuited to the complicated role of an undercover spy. No one was fooled for an instance, and Vito Corleone lost a valuable, if dangerous, asset.

I don't think Luca Brasi was afraid of Vito at all. I think he loved and respected him so much he wanted his gift and presentation perfect but knew how limited his social skills were. He was so happy to be invited to the wedding he wanted to show his appreciation.

After so many years the Godfather just ages like wine.

I did always think that the movie didn't do Brasi's character justice because all we see of him is stumbling through the speech to Vito at the wedding and then Vito stupidly sending him to his death at the hands of Sollozzo and Tattaglia like he was some nobody flunky. All we really know about him in the film is from the story Michael tells Kay. Lenny Montana was great in the small part though. I won't sell him short.

"I'll try...but even Sonny won't be able to call off Luca brasi"...made me want to know more about this character...

Brasi is a very little part of the movie, but he really stands out.

When I read the book, the Luca Brasi story is one you never forget. He is one of the most evil characters in literature. I think Puzo included this because it illustrates unapologetically what organized crime is. It also illustrates why Vito was so successful. Once you commit to a life of crime, you commit. Vito was in it to win it. Vito was not really a gangster by choice, he had to become a killer to eventually avenge his parents murders back in Sicily, buy he went big. Luca was the blue chip psyco and Vito got him on his team.

In the novel it says that the only person that luca brazi feared was Don Corlenoe and the only person that Don corleone feared was luca brazi.

I have read all of the books and here's my theory on why was killed so early. Luca was known to kill without aid, so he was used to going into extremely dangerous situations and handling business. Sollozzo and his guys struck faster than the Don anticipated, remember they came after the Don and Brasi very quickly after the refusal to do business. Sollozzo knew if he didn't strike the initial blow Don's forces and cunning would win the fight. It was a 2 prong attack, take out the brains and leadership of Don Corleone, and the muscle of Luca Brasi. It would have worked except Michael rose to the moment and thwarted Sollozzo's final attempts. When Michael saved the Don at the hospital and the removal of Sollozzo and McClucksey which was not expected.

Lenny Montana worked for NYC Sanitation in the 60’s at an incinerator. I worked there in the 80’s and the old timers told a story of when Lenny held a supervisor over a 30 ft pit of garbage by his ankles.

That scene when Luca Brasi was rehearsing what he was going to say to Vito, was actually Lenny Montana practicing his lines and it was caught on camera. It was so good, it was cut into the final edit of the movie.

Before viewing this, I always thought of Luca as a sort of gentle giant who is just really dangerous when you make him mad. Based only on the movie portrayal, I found his mumbling endearing. Now, especially having two small children, I despise him and can’t get the image of a live baby in a furnace out of my head.

I can never believe they got him so easily and that he never saw it coming.

Fucking ads come at the worst time "the book tells us-" "another cleaning tip from Mr clean!" Very informative I'm surprised puzo added that.

The book is phenomenal. Don Corleone was a master of psychology

Another little known fact that I heard was that Lenny Montana, born - Leonardo Passafaro - was also in the film to make sure that the word mafia was never used.

Luca brasi is mentioned in another Mario Puzo novel " the Sicilian".

His “Character” was not afraid of Corleone. He had a phenomenal respect for him. Whilst in his element of carrying-out the Enforcer role he would not stutter. But here in a rare social event of great importance he knew he was not in his element. He was afraid of embarrassing the great Don and bringing disrespect to the family.

Upon reading the Godfather I thought, “Italy is not sending its best”.

Luca was so grateful to be invited, he wanted to express his appreciation……and wanted it to be honorable.

Usually I roll my eyes at click bait pronouncements of something being "horrifying," but Brasi earned it. However, The Godfather isn't exactly a story about a bunch of altar boys, so...

*Kay:* _Michael, that man over there is talking to himself. See that scary guy over there?_ *Michael:* _He's a very scary guy._ *Kay:* _Well, who is he? What's his name?_ *Michael:* _His name is Luca Brasi -- and he helps my father out sometimes._

Fredo eventually went to work for CNN.

The fumbling of the actor's lines when presenting his gift to the Don says so much more than a paragraph of scripted dialog. It takes a keenly insightful director to recognize the value in that, and not just say, "Cut, let's do it again". I just thought it was good acting, but it was bad acting in the proper context.

Don Vito made a mistake and sent Luca to his death. The other families knew who he was, and that he was loyal to the Corleones and he was not going to change sides.That part was a weak story line.

Interesting side note, the scene where Michael looked at Al Neri (signaling that it was time to kill Freddo), even Al looked a little shocked. Like “damn, at your mom’s funeral?”

The stutter was perfect, i thought they wrote it in.

Me before watching the video: "what could be worse than Luca throwing a newborn into a furnace?" Me after watching the video: "apparently nothing."

Loyalty first, brutality second was how Francis Ford Coppola decided project Luca Brasi in the film. The book leaned more heavily toward the brutality aspect. Luca certainly had both traits.

Too bad Sonny Corleone didn't have fasttrack when he went through that road toll booth....

Before John Wick goes to sleep, he checks under the bed for Luca

I always felt he should have been the son of the widow who wanted to keep her apartment in the GF2. Its a nicer backstory and would have explained Luca's extreme loyalty to Don Corleone.

I've read many novels over the years, but what Luca did to that baby is one of the few story points that stand out as truly horrific. The novel has a number of things the movie is missing. If you're a fan of the movie and haven't read the source material, I'd totally recommend the first novel at least.

Luca Brasi is to the Corleone family as The Mountain is to the Lannisters.

Horrifying is accurate!

Love the movie and the sequel. The only annoying character in an otherwise brilliantly casted 2 movies is Kay. IMO she is annoying out of place and a ridiculous portrayal of a Mafia dons wife.

For fans of the movie be sure to read Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli by Mark Seal. The author provides behind the scenes scoop how Lenny Montana was discovered and cast as Luca Brasi, how his death scene was filmed. And a very funny story how he was coached by James Cain (Sonny Corleone) to put one over on Marlon Brando during the scene in the the Don's den.

Having read the book I was wondering if you were going to mention Al Neri's story. Johnny Fontaine's backstory is also interesting along with Sonny's prowess and comparison to a horse and how it affected his mistress.

If you enjoyed watching the film you must read the book. So much more detail.

I never took his stumbling lines in the film as being from fear. I thought that it was nervousness because he had so much respect for the Don and knowing his place in the organization, didn't expect to be invited he felt out of place and greatly honored. I'm not sure if knowing how he was portrayed in the novel adds or detracts from the performance in the film.

Never understood why 1: Vito sent such a loyal valuable asset like Luca into certain death and 2: Why would such a fierce seasoned veteran to street violence walk into such an obviously vulnerable situation

Lucabrasi was Vito's most powerful soldier/inforcer . When they killed him the Corleone's new there in deep s**t.

Wild and crazy. I always thought of him as just a big dumb oaf. Changes my whole perspective of this character 180 degrees.

It was the Colombo crime family and boss Joe Colombo that gave The Godfather movie the green light that’s why Luca was there the director had too get the ok from Colombo too do this movie

One of the worst scenes in The Godfather is how Luca was killed, “The Blowfish scene” Luca is the toughest person in the film but he puts up less of a fight getting garroted than Carlo or Frankie 5 fingers. Major mistake by the director.

There’s is no trilogy. There’s three movies, yes, trilogy… that stretching it. The first two movies are the story of The Godfather….the third is a bullshit studio tack on.

Trouble is on every side,when the wicked are exalted.

Wow! Thanks for the backstory, as I do not read bocks, even and especially the classics. It has always been my great character flaw. A backstory of my own. When the Godfather 2 came out, i was 17 and in retrospect at that age at the time with an adult companion coulld have seen it. I asked my father if he would take me. He himself had been the child of Polish immigrants (who entered the U.S.about 1900 at Ellis Island and grew up dirt poor in Queens, NY City. He was a very good father but very stern. Born in 1915 and raised in NYC, he would have seen and heard all the crime of the pre-depression and depression era. He said that I could not see the movie as it "white washed " the vicious criminals of the era. While it didn't outright glorify the mafia, it made them look more normal, like ours but without an overtly evil streak, ie. acting only out of defense and not the criminals that they would be.

Al Neri's history is also very interesting and he made it to the three movies(The origin story in the book is also quite good)

In the book, Brasi threw the baby his girlfriend had into a furnace to get rid of it. Crazy beyond belief and one of those individuals whose death is no great loss to the planet!

To be fair I would have done everything that Luca did if people had done the same to me as they did to Luca.

Books always tell the story far better than any movie

Tommy Dorsey was the bandleader who got strong-armed in real life.

I always understood that Luca was extremely simple-minded, which is why he was rehearsing the lines and then stuttering before Don Corleone. Never for a moment did I get the feeling he feared him, only that he respected him a lot and was honored to be invited.

This tale certainly paints an interesting picture of Luca Brazi. Of course more details are in the prequel novel the Family Corleone. It make one wonder why Don Vito decided to send Luca to Sollozzo. I think Vito knew he was sending Brazi into a trap. Maybe Vito needed a way to rid himself of Brazi.

The book, The Godfather, is incredible. Be sure to watch the full "Godfather Saga" with the cut scenes.

Damn, Brasi was as dark as they come 😳!

Do a Al Neri Video. And his backstory as a Police Officer. And his story of getting into the crime Family. Oh, you will cool Man. That was a bizarre Luca Story. Seems like the book is more of pure horror story.

I always had the feeling that when the Don sent Luca to spy on the Tataglias ( “ see what they have under their fingernails”) it was to a hopefully effective outcome or horrible complete death. Win-win for the Don. Very informative critique. Changed my perceptions and filled in blanks.

Many of the characters in the Godfather films appear to be based on real-life persons. The more obvious ones are Hyman Roth (obviously based on Meyer Lansky), Moe Greene (obviously based on Ben Siegel), Frank Pentagelli (based on Joe Valachi), and the Rosado Brothers (Gallo Brothers). But there are others as well. Don Corleone appears to be a combination of at least three people: Frank Costello for his power and his reputation as an underworld diplomat, Joe Profaci based on his olive oil business, Joe Bonanno for the respect he commanded and for trying to have son succeed him, and maybe Carlo Gambino for his immense power as well. Michael reminds us of Bill Bonanno (although all three Corleone sons remind us of the Gallos, too). Barzini reminds us of Genovese - Costello's chief rival. Clemenza reminds us of Joe Magliocco - big, fat, and loyal to his boss. The drug dealer Sollozzo reminds us of Carmine Galante., who was heavy into the heroin trade. And Tom Hagen reminds us of lawyer Sidney Korschak, who was very tight with the Chicago mob. Luca Brasi invokes images of Albert Anastasia, who was a prolific killer and one of the most feared guys in the underworld. But this story also reminds us of Mad Sam DeStefano, who had a reputation for sadism.

It's funny you told this story. I was talking with a co-worker about my love for the godfather movies. I mentioned how I wish they explained why Luca was so feared. My co- worker, who read the book and saw the movie, explained to me how evil Luca was and spoke the same story you just told in this video! After hearing this, I no longer cared to hear the legend of luca nor felt bad when he was eventually killed in the movie!

"Louis Brasi sleeps with the fishes!" "Luca!!..........LLLUCA!!!!!"

Luca was enigmatic. I was concerned for the people who were near him. He looked like he could break someone in pieces and then would help an elderly lady cross the street afterwards. I was expecting to see more scenes with him. His fate in the movie was too sudden and very disappointing. The movie is a masterpiece nonetheless.

I read the book in 1972 while serving in the Navy overseas. this is the only part of the book that I remember. So I knew exactly what the secret was.

The movie makes Luca Brasi and Sonny's side piece goomba out as small characters. They are both major roles in the book.

Luca Brasi was a much darker character than was portrayed in the movie. The movie did a good job of telling the book's story but as is the film is three hours long. I guess the decision had to be made to cut stuff out. Luca's story suffered as a result but Sonny's story really suffered. He was a prime character that should be developed more than was portrayed. I always thought there is enough good material to make at least one more movie but I don't think Frances Ford Coppola has any interest. I always considered Bussetta, killed in Havana trying to whack Hyman Roth as Michael's Luca Brasi. Al Neri was a good soldier but he relied just as much on cunning as brute force.

The silly part is when its explained that the woman asks Michael about his father Don Vito Corleone... Nobody in Italy would have known Vito Corleone, because his real name was Vito Andolini. A mistake that slipped through...

One of the only things I didnt like about the Godfather movie was the fact we never got to see him in action at least once, I felt it was foolish to dispose of such a forceful character so early in the film. Even with "the story" and his demonically imposing presence I always wanted to see him instilling fear into the other families in what could have been a most memorable scene or scenes.

I just finished the book. Truly gave me an entirely different feeling towards Brasi.

I wish they had used him more in the film. He was scary to look at and building him up would have been awesome.

I never got the impression that he was scared of Vito Corleone. I was under the impression were that he couldn’t speak English that he was Italian and was trying to congratulate him out of respect in English for some type of custom just daughters wedding. Although Vito Corleone was Italian his children are first generation Americans. Perhaps he just wanted to learn a phrase in English to to include something sentimental along with the $$$ gift for the wedding?

What’s interesting is that the story of Luca that’s so terrible is him killing his own new born baby. But they’re a lot of Americans that support abortion until birth. If you support an abortion on the day it would be be born you’re literally no less evil than Luca.

Whensonny was beating Carlo he threw a punch that missed by a mile

The worst part of the whole story? Luca, a traumatized, psycopath, merciless criminal, will feel ashamed and guilty of this, his worst crime: killing his newborn child. Kay Corleone, on the other hand, a nice professional, well born and raised, educated and christian, a wealthy lady, kills her unborn child for the same reason, and feels entitled and empowered for doingt it. One is a criminal, the other is a "victim", but , if there is any difference between both deeds, it is because what Kay did to her son ("It was a boy!" she yelled at Michael when bragging about what she did to their baby) is even worse.We Horrify of Luca killing his newborn (as we should), but look the other way when Kay brags about killin her unborn boy: What does that says about this society?

There are in the underworld, two kinds of fear : the fear of the savagery and beast of a person before you- like Luca ! Then there is the awe fear of a man … it’s a deeper and wider type of fear . Fear of the mans prestige rank amongst many men … even the legitimate world respects him . Like don corleone … it was best described by denzel in Malcolm X … the fear one has of the Sun !

Fun fact. The actor that plays one of Michael's guards in Sicily , the one that doesn't speak, is Franco Citti, Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini's fetish actor seen on Mama Roma and Acatone, supposedly, Pasolini dindn't like his voice or his accent so he dubbed him. I wonder if something like that happened to Copola also, and what his voice is like.