Al Neri
From The Godfather Wiki
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| Al Neri | |
|---|---|
| Biographical information | |
| Gender |
Male |
| Eye color |
Blue |
| Hair color |
Dark Brown |
| Born |
May 16, 1915 |
| Family | |
| Title(s) | |
| Portrayed By | |
Al Neri is one of Michael Corleone's assassins, who later becomes the Corleone underboss. He is played by Richard Bright.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and Career with the Police Force
Al Neri began his career as a New York City policeman where he earned a reputation as a legitimately tough officer thanks to his fiece temper and quick reflexes. He frequently patrolled with a large flashlight which he used to great effect, either cracking the foreheads of Italian youths that ran with street gangs or shattering the windshields of diplomats who showed no regard for traffic laws. After his wife Rita left him in fear of his temper, he killed violent pimp Wax Baines by shattering his skull with the flashlight and was convicted of manslaughter.
Tom Hagen and Pete Clemenza saw in his record a parallel to Luca Brasi, Vito Corleone's previous enforcer, and arranged for his release from prison. Michael, appealing to Al's sense of loyalty and Sicilian roots, recruited him into Clemenza's regime where he "made his bones" and became Michael's chief lieutenant.
[edit] Career as a Corleone
Al Neri became responsible for undermining the power structure of the Barzini Family, and ordered the hits of traitor Jaggy Jovino, caporegimes Big Bobby Toro and Pietro Testa, consigliere Domenico Mazza and the Family underboss, Emilio Barzini Jr. All of these hits were carried out by Aldo Trapani.
When Michael ordered the assassination of the heads of the five New York Families, at the end of The Godfather: Part One, Al was responsible for the murder of Emilio Barzini, donning his old police uniform in order to arrange an ambush on the courthouse steps as Emilio was leaving. He also killed Philip Tattaglia's top button man shortly after with a meat cleaver.
[edit] The Move to Nevada
When Michael and his family moved to Nevada, Al became head of security for all hotels controlled by the Corleones.
In The Godfather: Part Two, Al is certainly seen to be an unofficial second-in-command to Michael. He functions as one of Michael's caporegimes after the betrayal of Salvatore Tessio, the death of Clemenza and the suicide of Frank Pentangeli. He is responsible for a prostitute's murder that guarantees the loyalty of Senator Pat Geary. He also forced Meyer Klingman, a rival hotel owner, into selling out to the Corleones. Al was also personally responsible for the assassination of Michael's brother Fredo Corleone, under Michael's orders for Fredo's previous betrayal.
Al remains loyal to Michael, and when his Michael's mother dies, he is seen at the funeral paying his respects.
In the 1960s, Al began to work closely with his nephew Tommy, who had also been accepted into the Family business. The two of them were instrumental in the search for the turncoat Nick Geraci, and interrogated Nick's father Fausto for information. Nick died from his wounds without revealing anything.
When the traitor was found, Al was injured in a shootout, but managed to survive and witness Nick's execution at the hands of Eddie Paradise.
[edit] Going Legitimate
By the time of The Godfather: Part Three, the aging assassin was still working for the Corleones, his loyalty to Michael extending to the new Don, Michael's nephew Vincent, who he assited in helping Michael escape a Commission meeting that was being attacked by Joey Zasa.
It was Al and Connie Corleone who gave the go-ahead for Vincent's assasination of Joey Zasa shortly after, despite his protests that it would never work. The assassin dressed as one of the bearers of the Virgin Mary, shooting Anthony Squigliaro with a shotgun and observing Joey's flight before he was shot down by Vincent.
Al's talents were called upon once again at the conclusion of the film when Vincent ordered him to kill Archbishop Gilday in revenge for the priest's intrigue against the family. He hid his gun beneath a box of chocolates, and shot the Archbishop as he ascended a spiral staircase, sending him plummeting down a hole in the centre.
[edit] Personality and Traits
Al Neri is most likely a Sociopath and Psychopath, as throughtout the series he kills a large number of people. This includes a prostitute who he killed in a very bloody way. He is well trusted by the Corleones and eventually becomes the Family's Underboss, this is a testament to his huge amount of loyalty. Whilst he was a Police officer he was famed for his explosive temper, quick reflexes and brute physical strength which led to him being inducted into Pete Clemenza's Regime.
[edit] Later Years
Al Neri stayed true to the corleone family over the years, but his days as an assassin was over by the middle of the 1980's.
[edit] Murders Commited by Al Neri
- Drug dealer and pimp Wax Baines when he was still a Police Officer.
- In the novel, it is heavily implied that Neri shoots Moe Greene to death, although the movie doesn't reveal Greene's murderer.
- Emilio Barzini.
- Barzini's Bodyguard.
- Barzini's Driver.
- Fabrizio, killed with a car-bomb off screen.
- A prostitute with the intention of blackmailing Pat Geary whereas the godfather revenge says that Neri give the dirty work to a unknow associate
- Fredo Corleone, for his betrayal of Michael.
- Sal Narducci's henchman, killed and buried in the desert of Nevada
Fausto Geraci, Sr, Nick Geraci's father, in an attempt to extort infomation about his son's where-abouts
- Anthony Squigliaro
- Archbishop Gilday
