Sunday 4 September 2011

2122 The USA Mafia on TV

I continue to have a fascination hate relationship with the Italian Mafia of New York and other cities in the USA. The reality is that despite the considerable success of the Justice system in identifying, indicting and imprisoning members of individual gangs and their associates in the community the Five New York Families continue to operate.

The New York Families remain at the Apex of the Mafia worldwide because their earnings and organisation continue to be biggest. The tradition Sicilian unit is comparative small with a boss and underboss and captains and soldiers although their network of associates can be considerable in terms of politicians, law enforcement, government officials at various levels that they are able to intimidate and bribe to enable them to function. The significance of the New York five families is that they were able to control several units operating throughout the metropolitan area and in other cities and over a period of time to limit the extent of territorial and “business” warfare, rivalries and killings between the families. The extraordinary aspect of the American Mafia is that despite the serious and major effort of the Federal authorities over nearly a century to eradicate the criminal activities of the families and all the internal deaths within families as individuals bid for power, the families continue to operate, alongside other ethnic crime structures, particularly the new ones from Russia and other former Soviet controlled countries.

Some of the families have become known world wide because of the cinema, TV and books about them while others have been used as the basis for fictional films and TV series such as the Godfather, Goodfellows, the Sopranos and the Atlantic channel‘s Boardwalk Empire whose second series commences this week.

The most well known and successful of the five is the Gambino family whose name is that of the boss from 1957 to 1976 who kept their activities off the newspapers and concentrated on creating legitimate businesses to front the criminal activities. An earlier boss Albert Anastasia formed Murder Incorporated which was responsible for at least 400 deaths. Gambino was unusual dying in bed whereas most bosses are murdered. He was also unusual in not serving a day in prison and in his wise choice of successor, despite opposition. Paul Castellano who then concentrated on developing legitimate business. However Paul was assassinated from within because he restricted his personal involvement. The challenge came from John Gotti, who in turn was betrayed, unwittingly by one of his men called Ruggerio whose basement was bugged by the FBI and has been given the honour of giving his name to the opening episode of season three of the Soprano’s Mr Ruggerio’s Neighborhood. More on that in a mo.

Gotti had survived three Federal prosecutions until 1992 when he was finally convicted and is serving life with his son in “temporary” charge. An indication of the way things are is that Gotti was imprisoned because of a deal done with his underboss Salvatore Gravano who although indicted for 19 murders and sentenced to 20 years served only 5. Gotti’s son is also in prison awaiting trial

The second known family is the Genovese which was one time headed by Lucky Luciano who took over in 1931 after having survived a near fatal shooting by a rival gang. In fact his reign only lasted until 1936 when he fled to Sicily to escape Federal indictment. The family continues to operate.

Paul Vario one of the captains in the Luchese family is said to be the individual on whom Paul Cicero in Goodfellows is based. One of the rackets of the present day family is waste disposal “garbage” which has led to a current indictment is also the subject of the series three of the Sopranos. The fourth family is the Colombo and the fifth, the Bonanno family. Joe Bonanno wrote a book on his role as boss for over two decades which spanned World War II in which he was helpful to the allies in the invasion of Italy as were other mafia leaders. His book broke the official code of silence. His predecessor Charlie Luciano is credited with having formed the La Cosa Nostra the USA National Commission or syndicate which attempted to bring order within the crime families and deal with internal disputes as well as determine issues of family leadership.

While some of the families have done business directly in the State of New Jersey, there have been and remain separate families including the DeCavalcante family on whom the Sopranos is said to be based. Anthony “Tough Tony” Provenzano of the family became vice President of the Teamsters Union and is accused as one of those involved in the Murder of Jimmy Hoffa, also the subject of a film. The family are said to be associates of the Gambino family and in the Sopranos Tony’s adviser is the boss of the Five. Certainly the Di Meo family where Tony is the boss operates similar businesses to that of the DeCavalcante: construction, building and cement violations; drug trafficking; extortion; fencing; fraud; illegal gambling; hijacking; labor racketeering; loan sharking; money laundering; murder; and pier thefts and garbage disposal. Tony and his captains usually find time during the day to hang out at the Bada Bang strip and pole dancing club and where they also use the women when not with their mistresses or playing happy families at home. The present day DeCavalcante family was the subject of a USA TV programme in 2010 called Mob money.

There was much about the first two seasons of the Sopranos which was unfamiliar to me suggesting that I had not seen several of the episodes or that I had not paid the attention at the time of first viewing that the work deserves. When the series was first shown on British TV I was not impressed because of the subject matter which remains another glorification of the world of the Italian gangster but by the time of the third or fourth series I had watched one or more episodes in succession and was hooked and followed through to the end and then caught up with what I thought was the missed episodes when there was a re run, but all some time ago.

As said I have watched the series from the commencement, this time with intent to write with reflection and much has appeared new. This remained the position until the fourth episode of the third series which I remembered to a large extend once the main event took place. I thought the incident had occurred later in the series.

In the first episode the title Mr Ruggerio’s Neighborhood is the name of a plumber who is called in to repair the hot water system when it breaks down and floods the basement. Ruggerio as mentioned earlier is also the real name of a gang member whose basement was bugged leading to the indictment of John Gotti and in this episode following the loss of their blackmailed informant Pussy the Feds plan to place a bug in the basement which they know Tony uses to hold conversations with visiting gang members because the air conditioning system is so loud as to prevent being overhead by electronic listening devices from nearby or planted in the House. The FBI work out that they have a short slot during a day when the maid/cleaner arrives back from lunch and Carmela is out, Meadows is at Uni, AJ at school and Tony as usual is out on business or socializing eating huge meals with his underboss and captains.

The first FBI break in is to case the joint and work out where to the place the bug in the most effective position and to avoid its discovery. They notice that the hot water system is in a dangerous condition but cannot intervene so their planned revisit has to be aborted when the system breaks down. They are third time lucky

The episode also features the remaining Parisi twin, who is a cousin and members of the Tony’s crew. Tony had the twin Phillip executed because he was found to be spreading accurate rumours that Tony tried to suffocate his mother with a pillow when she as in hospital. Tony regrets the killing which turns up in a nightmare. His brother is usually seen in the background counting the cash and in fact is the accountant book keeper for the family. He is angry with Tony because of the death of the twin and is seen by the Feds in the grounds of Tony’s home with a gun. He cannot go through with the killing and pisses in pool instead. Carmela fancies the tennis coach who gives her and Adriana lessons but he announces he is leaving and introduces his sexy female replacement. She shows interest in Adriana.

In Proshai Livushka Tony mother Livia dies, not a planned event in the series but from the untimely death of the actress Nancy Marchand before the series commenced and which involved a series rewrite. Livia has a Russian nurse Svetlana who at the funeral moves the toast Proshai Livushka Farewell Little Livia. The funeral brings back Janice who Tony insisted leave town following his disposal of her lover who she murdered. The funeral, as with all funerals, can bring out the worst and the best of people. It is Carmela who introduces the reality pointing out that that Livia was dysfunctional and who did not want a funeral because she thought no one would attend. It was she who plotted to have her son killed.

Janice decides to stay and announces her intention to move into the family home in order she gets her share of the inheritance. She tells the live in nurse to leave and to hand back her mother’s collection of original and valuable Long Play records which she claims Livia gave to her. The relationship between Tony and his daughter deteriorates when she brings home her African Jewish American boyfriend which ignites Tony’s racism. Tony has a new panic attack as a consequence.

Later Tony settles down on his own with a DVD of James Cagney in The Public Enemy, the scene in which he dies but is comforted by his loving mother who is portrayed as a kindly soul who always sees the good in her son. Tony breaks down and cries although his tears are as much for his own childhood and the man he became with a criminal father and a calculating, manipulative, domineering and emotionally unstable mother. He begins to openly face the truth about his parents.

In Fortunate Son the focus begins with the elevation of Christopher to the captain’s position vacated by the killing of Pussy for having a wire. In addition to the basement listening devise the FBI had already found a replacement informant with a wire who attended the funeral in the previous episode. Christopher is excited when asked to bring his best suit and polish his shoes. In fact he is one of two new Captains who are warned that once they enter the family there is no getting out and that their loyalty and commitment supersedes everything including their blood families. There is the exchange of blood through thumb pricks and the final oath is taken while a picture of St burns in his hands as he utters “May I burn in Hell if I betray my friends.” Christopher notes what he regards as a bad omen a raven which lands on the open windowsill and appears to look upon him. Afterwards there is a private party at the Vesuvio restaurant at which girls from Bada Bing put on a girl on girl show for the starters.

Christopher is given a sports gambling racket to manage which should bring him a personal weekly income of at least $6000 after paying the soldiers and other expenses but from this he must pass up to the underboss 10% of which the main part goes up to Tony so if he fails to make the minimum amount the underboss adds interest because he has to make up the difference to ensure Tony always gets his share.

Christopher finds there is more to the role that just collecting the revenue especially when after a series of losses he is unable to give the minimum amount one week. He therefore decides to go along with a robbery at a Benefit concert being held at the University of Aprile junior. Jackie junior is posing a problem to Tony as he promised his father he would ensure that the son was kept out of the family business and would finish college and have a good professional career such as law, something which he also wants for his son AJ.

Jackie junior has other ideas and is also hostile to Tony because he believes Tony killed the Ritchie his Uncle, the lover of Janice. Tony denies this saying Ritchie was a rat and is now in a witness protection programme. Christopher ignores the request from Tony to ensure junior does not engage in criminal activities and joins him in the robbery in order to pay off the money owed to Paulie plus the $2000 dollars interest. Paulie tells Tony how Christopher made up the money which angers as it involved Aprile junior.

The continuing involvement of Dr Melfi is causing her “marital” problems with her former husband who she is dating, and with her consultant psycho analyst, and both want her to face the danger of the relationship and for her to address why she has the ongoing for Tony to be her patient. She is told to pass Tony to a behaviourist to deal with his panic attack problem because he is unwilling to do the work of facing up to his ongoing criminality and guilt at what he has done in the past. She tells Tony that he needs to keep a diary so they can work why he is having the panic attacks and that he should consider having sessions involving his wife so she can also ensure he is facing the truth and not putting his gloss on what he says.

Tony does confide the event which started the panic attack when he was a boy and witnessed his father chop someone fingers off as a punishment for not paying off a gambling debt.

While in a session Tony takes a call which upsets the good doctor which Tony apologises because it is his “busy season.” The call is from the former live in nurse to his mother who is upset that Janice has stolen her specially made $20000 artificial leg in retaliation for taking the gramophone records. The Russian girl is also connected to the former girl friend that Tony paid off but who stills needs his money and protection. In later episode the Russian girl friend rings Tony as home and realises he has a continuing problem despite paying her off.

Tony watches his son play school football and is call on to the field later in the game and recovers a fumble from a team mate. Tony wants to reward his son by going out for hot dogs but AJ wants to play his game console. Later AJ is told in front of the team that he is being appointed defensive captain because of his last performance. He then has a panic attack. Panic attacks run in the family from earlier generations to Tony.

In Employee of the Month Dr Melfi is attacked and raped in the stairwell to the base garage of her office. The culprit is identified as working for local trader where there is a photo of him as employee of the month. Because of an administrative error he is released on bail which results in Dr Melfi having nightmares in which a vicious dog protects her by taking on the rapist. She admits that she enjoyed what happened in the dream despite being warned that the animal represented Tony. At the end of the programme she reveals to Tony her anger at what happened to her and desire for revenge.

One of the soldiers that Tony is also considering making up is a former associate of Jackie Aprile who has a separate relationship from Tony with Jackie Junior. Ralf Cifaretto first encourages Jackie J to consider dating Meadow, Tony‘s daughter and then takes him on a criminal outing where the young man does well so Ralf gives him a big share of the take. Later Tony tells Ralf he is not to be made up because of involving Jackie J.

Tony has also told Janice to return the leg before she gets herself into greater trouble with the Russian Mafia. Janice ignores Tony and is badly beaten up raising the prospect of a gang war as Tony cannot allow his sister to be treated in this way, however much her behaviour deserved action being taken against her. Janice has found God again, as Tony reminds she has done so in the past.

Tony also has had to deal with disagreements over territory and income form the garbage business with several bombings.

He is also not happy when the underboss of a New York Family moves into an estate in New Jersey. The underboss dismisses Tony’ concerns that this is move on his territory saying that he already had a weekend/ vacation/flat which was too small and the new home is for his wife so she can spread her social wings. He invites Tony and his captains to a party and while they are impresses with property and estate revealing the gulf between their earnings and those of the New York Families they are apprehensive what this means for them

Thus the series is underway again after the death of the actress playing Livia.

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