Moe Greene
Encyclopedia
Moe Greene is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo
's 1969 novel The Godfather
and the first installment of the The Godfather
trilogy of films, in which he was portrayed by actor Alex Rocco
. Greene's character is heavily based on real-life gangster Bugsy Siegel
.
's top killers, Greene is credited with helping turn Las Vegas
into an international gambling and entertainment destination, bringing the interests of the world's most powerful organized crime
organizations to the town. Among these is Don Vito Corleone
, who bankrolled the creation of Greene's first hotel-casino. In return, Greene takes the Don's son Fredo
under his wing during the war between the Five Families
in New York
. Although Fredo is greatly influenced by the city and Greene, family heir Michael Corleone
disapproves of the effect on his brother, whom Greene abuses in public.
At a meeting with Greene, Michael expresses his disapproval and makes a stern offer to buy out Greene's entire interest in the casino as part of the Corleone's relocation to Nevada
. Offended, Greene angrily refuses, claiming that the Corleones have neither the favor nor the muscle required to drive him out of the business. In the film, Greene belittles Michael's credentials as a crime boss, saying, "I'm Moe Greene. I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!" In return, Michael has him murdered, although the method differs between the book and the film.
In the novel Greene is murdered by Michael's bodyguard and lieutenant Al Neri
not long after the meeting in Las Vegas. On the airplane ride home Michael asks Neri, "Did you make him good?" Neri taps his head and responds, "I got Moe Greene mugged and numbered up here." Not long afterward, Neri goes to Las Vegas as the family representative at the funeral of family friend Nino Valenti. During the course of that trip, he assassinates Greene.
In the film Michael lets the matter rest until he inherits the Corleone family on his father's death. On the day of his nephew's baptism
, he has Greene killed as part of his massive slaughter of the family's enemies. In one of the most famous scenes of the film, Greene is shot clean through the eye while getting a massage
in one of his hotels. The method in which he is killed, where the victim is shot through the eye, came to be known as a "Moe Greene Special." In real life, Bugsy Siegel
was shot twice in the head, but one bullet struck the bridge of the nose and passed behind his left eye, causing it to be blown from the socket. A widely-published photo of Siegel's body on a couch with the left eye missing and the second head wound unclear, led to the myth that he had been shot through that eye.
, when rival Hyman Roth
, formerly a partner of Greene's and a mentor to him, angrily cites his death to Michael as an example of Roth's willingness not to question or become involved with business-related killings, despite his friendship with the victim. Roth admits that Greene was hot-headed and pushed the limit too often, and that he ultimately brought on his own fate, but bemoans the fact there are no monuments or streets named after Greene despite his putting Las Vegas on the map. Nonetheless, Roth tries to eliminate Michael — first by trying to have him murdered, then by setting up a Congressional investigation into the Corleone family — in order to avenge Greene's death. Roth is unsuccessful, however, and is himself murdered on Michael's orders in the film's closing scenes.
Mario Puzo
Mario Gianluigi Puzo was an American author and screenwriter, known for his novels about the Mafia, including The Godfather , which he later co-adapted into a film by Francis Ford Coppola...
's 1969 novel The Godfather
The Godfather (novel)
The Godfather is a crime novel written by Italian American author Mario Puzo, originally published in 1969 by G. P. Putnam's Sons. It details the story of a fictitious Sicilian Mafia family based in New York City and headed by Don Vito Corleone, who became synonymous with the Italian Mafia...
and the first installment of the The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
trilogy of films, in which he was portrayed by actor Alex Rocco
Alex Rocco
Alex Rocco is an American actor. His roles have ranged from comedy to playing gangsters in Mafia movies.-Early life:...
. Greene's character is heavily based on real-life gangster Bugsy Siegel
Bugsy Siegel
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was an American gangster who was involved with the Genovese crime family...
.
The Godfather
Formerly one of Murder, Inc.Murder, Inc.
Murder, Inc. was the name given by the press to organized crime groups in the 1920s through the 1940s that resulted in hundreds of murders on behalf of the American Mafia and Jewish Mafia groups who together formed the early organized crime groups in New York and...
's top killers, Greene is credited with helping turn Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
into an international gambling and entertainment destination, bringing the interests of the world's most powerful organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
organizations to the town. Among these is Don Vito Corleone
Vito Corleone
Vito Andolini Corleone is a fictional character and the main character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather, as well as Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy, where he was portrayed by Marlon Brando in The Godfather and by Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II. Premiere Magazine listed Vito...
, who bankrolled the creation of Greene's first hotel-casino. In return, Greene takes the Don's son Fredo
Fredo Corleone
Frederico "Fredo" Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather. In the fictional universe of the novel and its film adaptation, he is the second son of Vito Corleone , head of a powerful Mafia family...
under his wing during the war between the Five Families
Five Families
The Five Families are the five original Italian-American Mafia crime families which have dominated organized crime in America since 1931. The Five Families in New York remain as the powerhouse of the Italian Mafia in the United States.-History:...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Although Fredo is greatly influenced by the city and Greene, family heir Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novels, The Godfather and The Sicilian. He is also the main character of the Godfather film trilogy that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, in which he was portrayed by Al Pacino, who was twice nominated for an Academy Award for his...
disapproves of the effect on his brother, whom Greene abuses in public.
At a meeting with Greene, Michael expresses his disapproval and makes a stern offer to buy out Greene's entire interest in the casino as part of the Corleone's relocation to Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. Offended, Greene angrily refuses, claiming that the Corleones have neither the favor nor the muscle required to drive him out of the business. In the film, Greene belittles Michael's credentials as a crime boss, saying, "I'm Moe Greene. I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!" In return, Michael has him murdered, although the method differs between the book and the film.
In the novel Greene is murdered by Michael's bodyguard and lieutenant Al Neri
Al Neri
Albert "Al" Neri is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and the three films based on it. In all three motion pictures, he is portrayed by actor Richard Bright. In The Godfather: The Game, he is voiced by Gary Chalk...
not long after the meeting in Las Vegas. On the airplane ride home Michael asks Neri, "Did you make him good?" Neri taps his head and responds, "I got Moe Greene mugged and numbered up here." Not long afterward, Neri goes to Las Vegas as the family representative at the funeral of family friend Nino Valenti. During the course of that trip, he assassinates Greene.
In the film Michael lets the matter rest until he inherits the Corleone family on his father's death. On the day of his nephew's baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, he has Greene killed as part of his massive slaughter of the family's enemies. In one of the most famous scenes of the film, Greene is shot clean through the eye while getting a massage
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
in one of his hotels. The method in which he is killed, where the victim is shot through the eye, came to be known as a "Moe Greene Special." In real life, Bugsy Siegel
Bugsy Siegel
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was an American gangster who was involved with the Genovese crime family...
was shot twice in the head, but one bullet struck the bridge of the nose and passed behind his left eye, causing it to be blown from the socket. A widely-published photo of Siegel's body on a couch with the left eye missing and the second head wound unclear, led to the myth that he had been shot through that eye.
The Godfather: Part II
Greene's death returns to haunt Michael in The Godfather Part IIThe Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American gangster film directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a script co-written with Mario Puzo. The film is both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, chronicling the story of the Corleone family following the events of the first film while also depicting the...
, when rival Hyman Roth
Hyman Roth
Hyman Roth is a fictional character, and the primary antagonist in The Godfather Part II, played by the actor and acting teacher Lee Strasberg, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role...
, formerly a partner of Greene's and a mentor to him, angrily cites his death to Michael as an example of Roth's willingness not to question or become involved with business-related killings, despite his friendship with the victim. Roth admits that Greene was hot-headed and pushed the limit too often, and that he ultimately brought on his own fate, but bemoans the fact there are no monuments or streets named after Greene despite his putting Las Vegas on the map. Nonetheless, Roth tries to eliminate Michael — first by trying to have him murdered, then by setting up a Congressional investigation into the Corleone family — in order to avenge Greene's death. Roth is unsuccessful, however, and is himself murdered on Michael's orders in the film's closing scenes.