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Corleone Family in Nevada
#1009431
04/11/21 03:50 AM
04/11/21 03:50 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 840
BarrettM
OP
Underboss
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OP
Underboss
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 840
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Hey fellas. I know this board is for very serious questions. I've developed a serious question lately, mostly centered about Part 2, but contextually some answers could be gleamed from I and III as well.
I've always been interested in the estate in Tahoe. I think we all know it. There was a thread recently about how some of the series' best plotting takes place off screen (Sollozzo and Tattaglia, Barzini and Tessio, and more). I was thinking about how so much of the family business in the Western US takes place offscreen too. In I, Michael talks pretty explicity, literally, in illuminating terms, about a move to Nevada. Carlo is in the room. Obviously we can assume the family is after the crown jewel of Las Vegas. In II, the cast never sets foot in Vegas proper. The rackets, vice, gambling, and brother physically appear to be spread out between the Reno era, generally around Nevada, and possibly northern rinky dink California. I believe Fredo refers to some of his rackets as Mickey Mouse clubs.
What I'm wondering is, what does the geography of the Corleone family look like in the West? Do you think they controlled an even distribution of Las Vegas down and west to San Jose? Do you think there were a few regimes in Las Vegas proper and then button men every few towns or so? Coppola and Puzo and the creative heads spent so much time describing the business at the top that the geography of the family is difficult to pin down. We know back in the heart of New York Tessio and Clemenza had specific regimes in specific areas. Maybe in the west there were a few made men every few towns, a regime in Reno, and a bulk of men near Vegas led by Neri?
I'm speculating and looking for a good discussion. Thanks!
To top it off, there were made men as far as Northern and even possibly Central California that belonged to the five families. Interesting stuff!
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Re: Corleone Family in Nevada
[Re: BarrettM]
#1009454
04/11/21 03:59 PM
04/11/21 03:59 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,697 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,697
AZ
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When Geary meets with Michael in his office during Anthony's party, he says "You [Michael] own or control three hotels--two in Vegas, one in Reno....now you're planning a move on the Tropigala" [he doesn't say where that hotel was]..
But, to your broader point, the movie never identifies any other businesses or rackets Michael might have had in Nevada, other than Fredo's brothel. This is a bit of a mystery: On the one hand, it would have been dangerous to Michael's "legitimate" front to have button men and rackets all over Nevada, or California, or elsewhere in the West, and it could have resulted in the Gaming Commission investigating him and yanking his licenses. On the other hand, he appears to have been a billionaire by the time of GF III, and I can't believe he made all that money from just four casinos.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: Corleone Family in Nevada
[Re: Turnbull]
#1009686
04/14/21 12:25 PM
04/14/21 12:25 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 773 Pittsburgh, PA
The Last Woltz
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 773
Pittsburgh, PA
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[quote=Lana] As for leaving Zasa out: it was a device for setting up the helicopter attack--except that Zasa had to have arranged the attack well in advance of having been left out of the divvying up of the casino assets.
I don't think snubbing Zasa was a plot device to explain the helicopter attack. As you note, that was clearly worked out well in advance. I actually don't think Zasa had much of a gripe. He was too young and new to the scene to have any long-standing casino investments. He just wanted to be taken care of in some way, which Michael pointedly didn't do, probably as payback for Zasa badmouthing him and also to remind Zasa who's boss. Zasa reacted so strongly because he had to create a pretext to get out of the room before the helicopter attack. Michael gave him an opening and he took full advantage.
"A man in my position cannot afford to be made to look ridiculous!"
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Re: Corleone Family in Nevada
[Re: The Last Woltz]
#1009708
04/14/21 03:20 PM
04/14/21 03:20 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,697 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,697
AZ
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[quote=Lana] As for leaving Zasa out: it was a device for setting up the helicopter attack--except that Zasa had to have arranged the attack well in advance of having been left out of the divvying up of the casino assets.
I don't think snubbing Zasa was a plot device to explain the helicopter attack. As you note, that was clearly worked out well in advance. That's one of the many, many script weaknesses--it's so obvious that he had to have worked it out in advance. Zasa reacted so strongly because he had to create a pretext to get out of the room before the helicopter attack. Michael gave him an opening and he took full advantage.
Yessiree, split second timing--just like Roth used to have that cop come into Richie's bar and interrupt Pentangeli's garrotting, as some here probably still believe.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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