- "When the boss says push the button on a guy - I push the button, see, Senator?"
- ―Willie Cicci[src]
William "Willie" Cicci was a hitman and soldato in the Corleone family but later became the right-hand man of Frank Pentangeli.
Biography
He was born October 28, 1909. An employee of the Genco Pura Olive Oil Company since 1942, Willie Cicci was in reality a top enforcer and button man for the Corleone crime family. He was a high-ranking soldier in the regime of Santino Corleone.
Several key associates reported to him, including the Don's son-in-law, Carlo Rizzi. Cicci was also one of Sonny’s bodyguards during the five families war, and was present when Sonny beat Carlo outside of his sports book. After Sonny’s death, Cicci was transferred to Peter Clemenza’s regime.
Role in the war
Willie Cicci, about to murder Don Cuneo.
By 1955, Cicci had become prominent in the family and was well trusted enough to be assigned with the job of assassinating Don Carmine Cuneo on the day of Michael Rizzi's baptism in 1955. Cicci assassinated Don Cuneo in the revolving doors at The Elegante hotel after he got a haircut and shave at the barber shop while waiting for Cuneo to appear across the street. He was also one of the men assigned to eliminate Salvatore Tessio following his betrayal. Cicci drove Tessio to his death place but did not observe the execution itself for he felt sorry for Tessio and later regretted doing this hit.
The new regime
Willie Cicci, Fredo Corleone and Frank Pentangeli at Lake Tahoe.
When Michael Corleone moved to Nevada, Cicci remained in New York, working for Clemenza and later Frank Pentangeli, acting as his personal bodyguard and right-hand man, and was eventually promoted to Caporegime, running a subdivision in pentangeli’s regime. He went with Pentangeli to Anthony Corleone's first communion and party at Lake Tahoe and expressed his suspicions about the sudden death of Clemenza, who had supposedly died of a heart attack brought on by stress from the ongoing conflict with the Rosato Brothers. After the party, Cicci went with Pentangeli to a meeting with the Rosato Brothers, who then tried to kill Pentangeli but they were interrupted by the appearance of a bribed police officer. This resulted in a shootout between the gangsters and police officers, in which Cicci appeared to be shot in the middle stomach of the road after he unsteadily stood and fired his revolver. He was then hit by the Rosato’s car, and laid unconscious in the street.
The Senate hearings
Willie Cicci at the senate hearings in 1959.
Cicci recovered the next month and testified against Michael at the Senate hearings on organised crime, eventually betraying him, as he believed Michael had put out the hit on both him and pentangeli. Cicci states that Michael not only killed Virgil Sollozzo and Captain McCluskey in 1946, but orchestrated the mass murder of the other New York Dons in 1955, and forced him to help him murder Tessio and Don Cuneo. Damning as Cicci's testimony was, he is unable to directly implicate Michael in any murders for Michael got rid of all the security cameras on the day of Michael Rizzi's baptism. Willie also said he never received orders directly from Vito, Sonny, Fredo or Michael; he said there were always "buffers" between the button men and the Don, like that Clemenza. Pentangeli was brought in as a surprise witness to corroborate Cicci's testimony; as a capo there is no insulation and insult between Michael and himself or any of their assets. However, Frank was intimidated into silence and the hearings fell apart.
Personality and traits
A lank and lean retainer plus a fast learner, Cicci weaselly demeanour made other family members suspicious of him, particularly during the Five Families War in 1946. However, he was a loyal soldato for the most part, able to carry out orders swiftly and efficiently, although he did it only because he got paid for it, as he was all about the money. When he was arrested and put on trial, he went out of his way and started hating Michael and the rest of the mob with a burning passion for all they put him and his watermelon-like face through.
In the video game
Willie Cicci in the game.
- "We're gonna take down Cuneo, should be a piece of cake! I'll trap Cuneo in the door and you blast him to roast beef, capiche?"
- ―Willie Cicci[src]
In the game, he and Aldo Trapani killed Carmine Cuneo and his bodyguards in the Savannah Hotel when Michael had enough of Phillip and ordered Willie to prove his loyalty by killing him. After this, Cicci became capo and led the remains of Tessio's old crew, while he also led Aldo on his own missions, like how to deal with the court and people who saw Aldo bust up Tattaglia drugs.
Missions
Players (Favor 3: Destroy the Midtown Drug Market):
Willy Cicci - Cicci is a Corleone wise guy, but in actuality a soldato with a weasel-like demeanour but a strong work ethic, and he's fiercely loyal to the Corleones due to the pay he gets. He's been placed in charge of finishing Sollozzo's drug incursion once and for all for the Turk offended him once at the tea party.
Players (Favor 4: Intimidate a Grand Jury Member):
Willy Cicci - Cicci has moved from Madison Gardens where wrestlers are to a well-known Corleone hangout: Molesenni's in Little Italy. He's helped himself to a drink and is relaxing in Tigre's office, awaiting your arrival so he can explain to you how to turn the entire courtroom against Tattaglia drugs.
Behind the scenes
- Willie Cicci was originally intended to be one of the major characters in The Godfather Part III, but was written out and replaced by Joey Zasa following the death of the actor Joe Spinell. In The Godfather: The Game he is voiced by actor Gavin Hammon and looks less treacherous than in the movie.
- There are a lot of problems regarding his name. In The Godfather Part II, his name is written as "Willi Cicci" in the credits, while in the video game it's written as both "Willie" or "Willi", plus as "Sissy", "Sissi" and "Ciccci". In the video game, he takes over Tessio's hit contracts after his death, like the problems with Freddie Nobile and John Tattaglia. Also, in one of the hit mission contracts, if Aldo refuses to kill in Corleone name, he will say "Maybe later, Tessio, maybe later"... as the files had either not been updated or Aldo mistakes the two capos, which could be considering his similar Tessio and Willie look.
External Links
- Willi Sissy on the Made up Characters Wikia.