Why go to your death? - Donnie Brasco (1997) Discussion

[–] cabal24 12 years ago

Oh they do. But those are the rules. The true hardcore mobsters- the one who believed completely in La Cosa Nostra would never break those rules. Thats what Sonny black was- a hardcore mobster. When you get called, you go. Thats it.

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[–] putter_b 12 years ago

Honor, it's all about honor with guys like Lefty and Sonny. They were old school, they knew that honor was held high, that even after they were gone that people would still respect that.

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[–] ladydesdemonna 12 years ago

I guess it never occured me to that these guys believe in something so strongly, they'd rather die than break the rules and be dishonored. It must be hard though - To go someplace knowing you probably won't be coming back.

I wonder what goes through their minds on the drive over....

If you can't stand the heat turn off the stove

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[–] cabal24 12 years ago

According to reports that came out about Joey massino (who ordered the hit on Sonny), when Sonny came in and was escorted down the stairs into a basement they shot him in the head. And it didnt kill him at first. He was tough enough to say "You going to do it right this time?" Then thy killed him.

Granted this may never have happened but if it did, he was tough beyond words.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] cocobug1 12 years ago

I agree that it's just the rule and a sign of honour being a man about it

More importantly, if Lefty hadn't gone, they could've gone after his family etc.

Do guys like "the thing"?
They like it better than no thing.

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[–] Mattfinbell 11 years ago

cocobug1

I agree that it's just the rule and a sign of honour being a man about it

More importantly, if Lefty hadn't gone, they could've gone after his family etc.

No not the Italians but who knows now in days!

The Cartels will go after your family

william-houston1

It's nothing to do with honour , well maybe a little but the reason they go is there are many ways to die. They can either go and be shot in the head or they can run and then when they get caught they die in horrible ways.

The main reason though is there friends and family , if lefty had run they would kill his wife and family and probably friends .

No not the La Cosa Nostra. But now! Who knows.

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[–] vicky_lc2001-1 10 years ago

Not sure they would've gone after his family since they're civilians but I think keeping the code would've made sure his family was taken cared like an insurance policy. But I'm basing that assumption on The Godfather alone, don't know how it really was like.

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[–] AfroGeek 12 years ago

He knows he's got nowhere to go. He's too old to run and he doesn't have the money or pull to set himself up anywhere else.

Amy: I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!

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[–] Lancer01 12 years ago

If you run they'll find you too. sort of like in the sopranos with numerous guys. they all know your habits and what you like, where you dine, etc...

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[–] william-houston1 12 years ago

It's nothing to do with honour , well maybe a little but the reason they go is there are many ways to die. They can either go and be shot in the head or they can run and then when they get caught they die in horrible ways.

The main reason though is there friends and family , if lefty had run they would kill his wife and family and probably friends .

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Little_Korean 12 years ago

Because if you don't go, you will definitely be marked for death. If you do go, there's a chance that all they want is to talk to you after all.

When darkness overcomes the heart, Lil' Slugger appears...

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[–] Bob_Fett 12 years ago

Because if you don't go, you will definitely be marked for death. If you do go, there's a chance that all they want is to talk to you after all.

When darkness overcomes the heart, Lil' Slugger appears

Regarding the last sentence...? What do you mean?

Lefty went to his death because he was committed to La Cosa Nostra and was a man of honor -- as paradoxical as that sounds being that he was in the mafia. Where was he going to hide? He didn't have the money go on the lamb.

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[–] Little_Korean 12 years ago

Regarding the last sentence...? What do you mean?

The 'When darkness...' bit? Nothing, just a signature! (from the anime Paranoia Agent, in case you were wondering)

When darkness overcomes the heart, Lil' Slugger appears...

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[–] deveed 12 years ago

Lefty went to his death because he was committed to La Cosa Nostra and was a man of honor -- as paradoxical as that sounds being that he was in the mafia.

You know it does seem like a paradox calling in the 'honor' code but I'd think the
Mafia no doubt usually rode on 'honor' since how else was anything going to get get done right? I don't know how Pistone ever did his job when being around with Lefty. If there's a paradox, it's kind of like the 'law' guy doing 'behind the back' things (being 'less honorable') on the bad guy who trusts him and takes him into his confidence. That has to tear apart individuals in a position like that especially if you have a relationship. And it was interesting to see Lefty not going crazy when he found out Pistone was a plant. Looks to me he was pretty realistic there. He knows how life can sometimes play out when it comes to betrayals and it didn't surprise him.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] cabal24 12 years ago

This rule goes back to the beginning. This was one of the originals that Charlie Lucky and the rest of his guys put together. Up until these rules, there was just a series of gangs that were constantly squabbling with each other over turf, money and personal vendettas.

Among these rules were

you always have to report when you are called
you never use violence against a made man without permission
you never commit adultry with a made mans wife
Italians only
No facial hair

And there were a few others. These rules were designed to keep control so they could be profitable instead of constantly fighting which was terrible for business. The reporting thing was done so bosses could call in their underlings without having to go search for them. Violation of this meant an immediate death sentence. They called them for everything from putting a hit on them to telling them to go get me a doughnut.

Remember, these are street thugs. Smarter street thugs created these rules.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] eunos735 11 years ago

"Exactly. And the "no facial hair" rule was so that the Luciano-era Cosa Nostra could set themselves apart and appear more Americanized than the older generation of Mafiosi, known derisively as "Mustache Petes," who all came of age in Sicily and Southern Italy."

This is somewhat true. The "No facial hair rule" as you call it was more symbolic than an attempt to appear "Americanized." There was a saying "No whiskers, only rats have whiskers." I think the directors did a GREAT job of blending this into the movie. In the beginning Donnie has a mustache and Lefty tells him to get rid of it. I thought this was a brilliant foreshadowing and a show that the directors did take their time to really research this culture well beyond what is known in "pop culture"

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[–] ladydesdemonna 11 years ago

The rule about no facial hair is interesting. To go slightly off topic - a few people mentioned Sonny didn't have enough money to go on the lam. Why not? Aren't made men paid well for their "services"?

If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen turn off the stove

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[–] cabal24 11 years ago

Its an interesting thing about mobsters. Most are broke and they just live score to score. SO they get a bunch of cash all at once, live high, blow through it and are broke again. The real Lefty was no different. He was a huge gambler and he was really bad at it too. There was even a little part of the book where he owed a bunch of money and it affected him getting made.

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[–] schumithecat 11 years ago

the movie shows how everyone has to pay the people above them. it is the guys at the very top who do well, the other guys have to always be passing much of their money up to their superiors. if a guy's schemes don't do well, the guy doesn't bring in any money. if his schemes do well, he has to share most of the money with his superiors.

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[–] MIJACology 11 years ago

Actually if you go back before the Luciano Era, the rule of having to report in when called probably pre-existed him in some form. How could a soldier in the old Mafia not come in when called by a Mustache?

Also, it wasn't Italians only. It was Sicilians only.

Big difference.

Sicilians made up the core of the original old Mafia.

For example, up until the reign of John Gotti, Neopolitans were not even allowed to be made Capos in the Gambino Family.

Carlo was Sicilian.

When Gotti was Boss, a Sicilian Capo named Antonino (Nino) Gaggi commanded him to appear before him at a meeting. Obviously Nino being a cousin of Paul Castellano (another Sicilian) did not approve of the Neapolitan Gotti taking over the Sicilian Gambino Family without Commission approval. Nino died in prison and was never able to fulfill his desire to take over the Gambino Family from Gotti as he (Nino) represented the old Sicilian establishment.

After Luciano, all Italians were recognized by Sicilians as eligible to become mafia members. Luciano's predecessors did not trust, nor want to associate with, Non Sicilians.

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