The Mysterious Backstory of Bussetta | The Godfather Explained 

He looks like someone that wouldn't compromise. I bet he could do twenty years without a peep.

The fact that he waited for Michael's approval before greeting Fredo says it all.

There are three aspects of Bussetta that standout: 1) He never speaks; he is silent 2) He is always wearing black, even in the middle of the day, under the hot sun of Miami and Cuba 3) He is always positioned behind Michael, whether following him as he walks, as he sits within a given scene, or even when riding in a car with Michael. He is always with Michael, but behind him; following him. Bussetta is Death. Wherever Michael goes, Death follows. I also find it interesting, that while "Death" carried out his mission--of killing Johnny Ola and Hyman Roth--Michael is confronting the Traitor. But at the very moment that Michael confronts Fredo, telling him he knows that Fredo is the traitor, he lets him go. Simultaneously, "Death" is visiting Hyman Roth. But just as Michael lets Fredo escape, Hyman Roth escapes Death when the Cuban officials intervene, "killing" Death.

I'd say Frankie's reaction to seeing him waiting at his doorstep, pretty much said what this guy represents. He knew shit just got real. The emphasis of what a weathered, aging tough guy from "the Old Country" means to Pentangeli would come full-circle when he would later see his Sicilian brother at the Senate hearing. In either case, Frankie is shaken just by the sight of them without a word being said. These guys were the true mafia.

This bodyguard was essential to the darkness of the Michael Corleone character in Godfather II. The actor Amirigo Tot did a fantastic job, regardless of the fact that he didn't utter one word throughout the entire film. This bodyguard/ assassin carries so much presence throughout the film. He's dark, evil, sinister, deadly, dangerous, and no nonsense! This was another ingenious theory that Puzo and Coppola came up with. I also think that this Bussecetta character, is one of the greatest in the gangster film genre.

he accompanied Michael because Michael knew there could be a risk... He didn't wanna risk losing Al Neri

If Don Carlo had said you gotta go, I woulda come here today with these two "zips" and you would go

He is the most fascinating minor character in the movies. He looked like the most intimidating character in the franchise. He seemed even more scary than Luca Brasi, at least in the movie. Luca Brasi in the book was way more scary/deadly than the movie one.

To me Bussetta showed no regard for anybody including Michael. He was a walking death machine. The actor portraying him did an excellent job not displaying any kind of emotion or motive other than to exterminate the enemy by any means possible. I would never want to cross a man like this in real life.

There was a story I read when I was younger, which I remember neither the title nor full details to. But the gist of it went something like this: Set back in medieval times, there was a man who admired and envied the king so very much. One day the king gave him the chance to experience what it felt like to be king for a day. The man was overjoyed as the king had him clothed in the king's own robes and crown; and sat him down in the king's chair at the head of the king's table. As the overjoyed man was fed a lavish meal of royal food, he looked up and was shocked to see a large sword hanging pointed straight-down, held from the ceiling by only a thin string over his head. The king told him: "Now you know what it feels like to be me." I feel like Bussetta was like that string, symbolizing that death was following Michael everywhere due to the life he had chosen--not that Bussetta would kill him himself, but that death was everpresent over Michael's head, restrained by only a string ready to snap at any moment.

He wasn't in the original novel, but his presence in the film was definitely a plus.

played by Amerigo Tot, (Tóth Imre), Hungarian sculptor who worked in Rome. a tremendous artist

Could they known each one other from the time when Michael was in Italy hiding.

Similar to Luca Brasi in a way, didn't get a great deal of screen time and was killed off suddenly but is still memorable despite little being known about him. I imagine if there was a Godfather 2 book then Bussetta likely would have also had a dark and detailed backstory, similar to that of Luca Brasi's.

Michael’s bodyguard in Cuba was another Luca Brasi. He was a physically imposing, strong and silent, unquestionably loyal soldier and assassin. Both bodyguards only answered to their Don and never interacted with anyone else in the family at all. They both had mysterious and dark pasts, and they were feared by everyone in all of the families. I believe that Michael’s bodyguard was created as a kind of replacement for Luca. Vito commented in one scene that Michael had found his Luca Brasi in Al Neri. But Al is nothing like Luca. Al was loyal to Michael, but not as loyal as Luca,not as strong and imposing as Luca. And not as feared as Luca. But the Cuba bodyguard was exactly like Luca in every way.

His role in the Godfather was what you would expect. A dark man with a dark past.

At the time, I just chalked him up to a “use it, and lose it button man.” I.e., if he performs a hit, he is then himself taken out. But I do like your analysis of him as a concept more than just a character.

Definitely helped make Michael appear subtly more imposing, but always kind of thought he stuck out like a sore thumb, so less a stealthy assassin, and more a brutal enforcer.

My wife and I have watched The Godfather 1 & 2 TWICE a year and we have been together over 30 years. We called him the Angel of Death. His silence was GOLDEN. Thanks again for your research and dedication. Funny you mentioned him as a possible zip. Was the guy who put the bomb in the car that killed Appolonia a zip?

Boardwalk Empire has a total nod to this character with Paul Calderon's "Archie" who becomes Nucky's silent bodyguard assassin in the final season when he goes to Havana Cuba.

He had that ominous piano theme in the movie too.

No one ever mentions how absolutely lame the hit attempt on Michael was. They shot way up high above his head. They didn't get close to the window to get a sure shot. It was amateur hour.

Bussetta is one of the scariest characters ever!

The best line out of this “when the chips are down, muscle” I literally laughed for a few minutes. He’s Shorty Boyd, before he cleaned his ack up. It does send a message to have someone like Bussetta. Good analysis.

Bussetta reminded me of Peter Falk's bodyguard in The Troubleshooter (The Untouchables series with Robert Stack). Wish I had someone like that on my payroll.

Using Bussetta kind of tips Micheal’s hand that there’s someone in his family he doesn’t trust. A smart man like Hyman Roth would’ve picked up on that. And while he was Luka/Veto type loyal to Mike, a dangerous man like Neri would’ve been offended- or worst scared which could’ve lead to an out of the frying pan into the fire type situation for Mike.

He was a great well drawn character

Luca Brasi.... Bussetta and Mosca (Godfather 3) ....scariest characters in the Godfather trilogy

Amerigo Tot. He came out in an episode of Gilligan's Island before his role in the Godfather.

He was Michael’s Luca Brasí. Definitely recruited from Don Tommasino’s familia. (*see correction below).

Literally the cliff notes to The Godfather series

Thank you for extensive analysis.

Furio wasn't the only 'zip' in The Sopranos. The character of Rusty (played by Frankie Valli) was shot by two Sicilian assassins who were brought over from the old country for just that purpose. When it was over, they went home again.

He had the makings of a varsity athlete.

Excellent analysis! Well done, Sir, well done!

I gotta say man your channel is one of my favorites on RU-vid. Better than any other analysis channels of its type. Love your content thx man

Awesome analysis 👍

I always thought of him as Michael's answer to Luca Brasi.

@CineRanter - thank you for posting. I never knew the name of Michael’s bodyguard in Godfather II. Great name and so fitting that he would be a ‘zip’ sent over by Don Tommasino. Zips were specifically from Sicily and chosen for ‘special assignments’ particularly for their readiness to do whatever they were instructed to do, without the risk of authorities being able to track them down, or be able to find informants who would be able to point the finger in their direction. That is how Cesare Bonventre (the Tall Guy) and Baldo Amato first arrived in the US in the 1970s - they were zips brought over by Carmine Galante and, ironically, present, and possibly participated in the ‘hit’ that took out Galante in the garden of ‘Joe and Mary’s Italian Restaurant’ in 1979.

During probably my first viewing of the film I viewed Bussetta as Michael's Luca Brasi. Loyal to only the don and the go-to person for solving certain kinds of problems. I've read some say that Al Neri is Michael's Luca. but I see the loner Bussetta in that role.

I think Michael also used Bussetta to let Roth think he is losing it, that he can't even trust his own men. Thinking someone so unbalanced can't see what is really going on or plan to make a move.

Only Brazilian Portuguese speakers can appreciate how funny the sentences including Bussetta in the video and in the comments are.

Thanks for another interesting video

Your a great youtuber I always found this character interesting maby it's the no dialogue maby it's the turtle neck either way great video!

Busseta was a zip like Furio. Up in da club! Dammit! I made this comment before you mentioned it in the video! This is why I love your channel dude. You know your mob movie stuff and make all the connections!

vitos body guard portrayed him...in likes of him being brought by rival mobsters...so getting a bodyguard outside of america from the old country who has no knowledge of the business was a smart move for michael...he learned from his fathers mistakes or misfortunes

Good insight.

My thought at the time and still today is that yes the character looked dark, ominous and hidden in the shadows as an "assassin". However I felt the mistake was that looking as such made him stand out of the background with his garb and dark presence in contrast to everyone else. For quite a while I didn't think of him as a bodyguard but Michaels nefarious henchman and hired killer.

I liked him no talk no nonsense just dose what boss wants.

Busetta, was a risk assessment decision made by a very cautious and pragmatic leader.

He could even be somebody that Michael met when he was in Italy or was told about when he was in Italy.

A very brutal and dangerous man.

What a great channel

They were called 'zips' because of 1. their rapid dialect, cadence exceeding mainland Italian, and 2. because they came an went so quickly in most cases. Fly over get picked up and equipped, carry out the hit, and back on a plane to Palermo in 48 hrs.

He was star of the movie silent but deadly!

Busetta would also be useful as a representative of an allegiance Michael may have had with people unknown by those he was dealing with...which is an implied threat of retaliation from a mysterious entity should things turn.

Luca Brasi - Scary because when you look at him, you know what he will do to you. Al Nire - Scary because when you look at him, you know what he might do to you. Bussetta - Scariest because when you look at him, you don know what he can and will do to you.

I remember that face from watching it as a kid that's a face you don't forget.

My favourite comment from someone who reacted to "The Godfather II" on RU-vid: When Bussetta died: "Oh no! They killed Leonard Cohen!"

The character is a tribute to the nearly lost art of zero exposition actually adding to the story. His lack of dialogue or backstory leaves it to the viewer's imagination to fill in the blanks. This is hard to pull off effectively, but Cappolla does it perfectly here. The assassin hired to kill Michael iin Godfather 3 s a bit like this character, but the backstory offered for him made him less rather than more interesting. Likewise with "The Twins."

He always gave me this Anton Chigurgh vibe, like he could kill his way through half the country and sleep like a baby that same night. I also love his style. I hope I look half as stylish as Bussetta when I reach that age!

He always reminded me of George Raft (my mom had a boyfriend who could have been his twin brother) but he, Amerigo was a harder version.

Never cared for the term "Zip". My father was an Italian immigrant my mother was Italian American. I never heard the term used by anyone except other Italian Americans and it usually I became rather confrontational. The Irish had a whole list of categories. The immigrants were "Donkeys" those born here were "Narrowbacks". The poor were "Shanty Irish", the middle class were "Lace Curtain", and the wealthy were "Real Lace" I guess every group has similar terms. You don't hear them so much any more, which is a good thing.

I loved the part when Bussetta raised up the pillow against him before he was shot dead by the guards as if it was bulletproof....... 🤣

than mind you...michaels own body guard betrayed him in sicily....somebody that was approached ....don thomasino warned michael his enemies knew where he was....and the car that killed his wife (although intended for michael) was the result of such.....so michael clearly had to hand select his body guard

if i noticed him looking at me for more than a few seconds i would leave town.

Old time button man a legend a esteemed member of the 50 hit club

Thanks! I always wondered who that was. Now my fog's gone!

I always assumed Busetta was from Don Tomassino. Busetta was merely seconds away from snuffing out old man Roth. At least he got Johnny Ola.

he was about as intimidating as the guy who shovels your pizza pie out of da oven in half the pizzerias in Queens

Great piece...thank you! Total brilliance to act to such a degree without a single utterance...he wouldn't shake Fredo's hand without permission....love it. The beauty imho is the enigma of Bussetta...knowing that you don't know...and the point that he was Michaels dark side incarnate....wow! I always marveled at how Michael turned from "that's my family, Kaye, that's not me" to the character he became, with that shadow in Cuba.

How come Mrs.Roth's face is never shown? Never. If I were Fay Spain, I would have been livid.

The conflict between Italian American mobsters and zips isn't just because of bigotry or linguistic differences but because of the cultural differences between them. You must remember Italian Americans by the late 50's when the Godfather 2 took place were mostly US born and raised and even lots of their parents were at least raised here. By the early 2000's when the Sopranos took place most Italians and Italian mobsters grandparents and lots of their great grandparents were born here. So there's not much comparison in the cultures.

...Brought to you by Zip Recruiter!

Amerigo (Imre) Tot. He was born a few miles from my birthplace. I did not even know until now. He looks scary and merciless.

The shadow of the Don. Making the deal you can't turn down.

interesting you say mike couldn't trust al or rocoo since i think rocco opened the curtains in mike's bedroom. that's why he was sent on basically a suicide mission to take out hyman roth. and i think rocco knew mike knew and accepted his last job which was better than a hit like sal had to deal with

Bussetta wasn't loyal to Michael; he was loyal to Don Tommasino, who was only loyal to Michael because he held such great affection for Don Vito and gratitude for being spared death by Michael. Bussetta wasn't Michael's Luca Brasi; he was Don Tommasino's Luca Brasi. Neither Al Neri nor Rocco Lampone could have been Michael's Luca Brasi because although they made their bones under Michael as boss, they killed bosses (Lampone killed Philip Tattaglia; Neri killed Barzini), which made Michael a weak boss. By rights, both Neri and Lampone had a stronger claim to be Corleone boss than Michael, so if he died under their protection, there would be no retaliation. Michael knew this, which is why he went with the outside help. Don Tommasino held his loyalty to Vito because, after he helped Vito escape to America hidden in the horse cart, Vito's business and personal loyalty to Don Tommasino never wavered. It's hinted many times that the Tommasino and Andolini families were very close--which means that Don Tommasino and Antonio Andolini were likely best friends who loved each other--which is why Don Tommassino helped Vito escape. Don Vito never forgot this kindness and helped make Don Tommasino very rich and powerful within the Sicilian LCN (by giving him an American franchise to sell olive oil to millions of Italian immigrants while also providing ships, trucks, packaging and legitimacy for smuggling). All the while Don Vito also plotted to avenge his father's, mother's, and brother's death against Don Francesco Ciccio. Don Ciccio was the boss of Don Tommasino, but also was his enemy because he killed his best friend Antonio and also stood in the way of Don Tommasino's rise within LCN. On Don Vito's family trip to Corleone, he became the outside guy (or the "zip") for Don Tommasino in the killing of Don Ciccio. It was understood by Don Tommasino that Don Vito would need his introduction to Don Ciccio to be able to get close enough to exact both their revenges against him. Don Tommasino accepted the risk by posing the meeting as a tribute to Don Ciccio by Don Vito for going into the olive oil business. Don Tommasino even lost his ability to walk because of the murder of Don Ciccio by Don Vito, but then he became the boss of Sicily, which required even more loyalty to the Corleone's for making that happen. His fortune, family bonds, and loyalty grew with Don Vito because of this and he knew it. He also knew he owed additional loyalty to Michael not just because he was Vito's son or Antonio's grandson, but also because even though he was unable to prevent the murder of Michael's wife Appollonia while Michael was under his protection in Sicily, both Vito and Michael apparently forgave him and never exacted their revenge against him for that failure, which would have been their right. So in demonstration of his utter loyalty and gratitude to Vito and Michael, he sent his best bodyguard--Bussetta, to watch over Michael and protect him from any harm. This was probably also insured by the threat of Don Tommasino murdering whatever family Bussetta had in Sicily should he fail in the task as well as Corleone retaliation against Don Tommasino should Michael have been killed, but it was an extreme gesture of loyalty and support. That's why Pentangeli stutter-stepped when he saw Bussetta at the old Corleone compound--he knew exactly who he was and that his presence here meant that Michael had the full backing of Don Tommasino from Sicily. By the way, Don Tommasino is also the guy who made sure that Vincenzo Pentangeli, who was a Sicilian citizen who spoke no English, was at the Senate Hearing seated where his brother Frankie could see him and "help him in his time of need".

I do feel that Bussetta has a very Boba Fett from the original trilogy feel to him. He has a imposing aura to him and we never get to learn much about him, and the fact that he is not just old but a old assassin just makes him more intimidating. Beware of an old man in a profession where men die young and all that. That being said, I didn't know what a zip was before now, and with that knowledge I do find him way more interesting.

So basically he's the Godfather series' "Bob Fett." Distinct appearance, obviously lethal, enigmatic, no nonsense, just do the job type.

Tough as nails

Great analysis of this character. However, when you said that American mafiosi would have a language barrier with “zips” from Sicily is incorrect, since at the time, in order to be a member of the Mafia, one either had to be Sicilian or Neapolitan. They would’ve grown up talking in those dialects and not Italian of the rest of the country, especially those that emigrated from those regions.

My guilty pleasure 🙏

Amerigo Bussetta? His forename is never given. He’s never even named in the film.

In the UK, guns are a no no. When I walk my Shepherd I carry a huge heavy metal torch in my backpack - Al Neri’s weapon of choice if you’ve read the books. Nothing wrong with carrying a flashlight right?

I see him as a Bodyguard more than anything else: that shot when Michael travels by train, it was supper, but without conversation. Bodyguards are not paid to be your friend, Bussetta is the Mercedes Benz of bodyguards. Michael wanted a Low Profile, that means ONE bodyguard. A constant companion. Just two men on a train...

There are times a Zip or two could come in very handy.

At 4:48 you say "According to the wiki of the character....". What it the source of that wiki info ? Where is that info coming from ?

I understand Bussetta as a conshept.

I wish I had a Bussetta.

Did you change your intro?

I still think Lionel Stander, Max in "Heart to Heart", and a staple in 1930s 'B' movies would have been Prime Time for that role. He could have been brought in from St. Louis, and spoken to Hyman Roth in Yiddish; gaining his confidence then whacking him. Al Neri took care of Fredo later, so that's a moot point. It's interesting how the soldiers came into the hospital room after Bussetta whacks Ola, and didn't prevent him from going in there in the first place, by taking him out sooner. Roth probably wanted Ola taken out and let Michael's guy do the dirty work.

There's not much to read into here. Guy was a foreigner that could do dirty work, and then leave, he didn't speak English so he was less of a liability, he had no American connections other than Micheal.

Bussetta sounds like an Italian dish.

I like Line where he says ………

When it comes time to pull out the Luca Brasi.

Think Al Neri had taken over Tassio’s regime otherwise would have still been around. However, was back to replace him when Mike returned from Cuba.

The backstory is Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo wanted a mysterious bodyguard to show Michael’s distrust of everyone else. Everything this guy is saying isn’t even false. If you want to over analyze these things go ahead. But it’s a bit silly, and also just Fan Fiction.

That's his new Luca Brasi.

When Michael introduces Fredo to Amerigo, he says "My brother" in Italian. It's very difficult hear on the video.